DDU Newsletter for September 2009: Issue 71
Monthly news and events from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's Digital Development Unit...
Included in this edition:
Explore social media and how it can be utilised in your business at this free event
Home Office offer grants to retailers to purchase security/crime prevention equipment
Another online lesson in Search Engine Optimisation from leading expert Jan Klin
Smart Marketing using Social Media
Only limited places now available. Because of the popularity of this event, we are intending to run it again in December. Please book to register interest.
When you don’t spend time creating an effective Social Media marketing strategy for your business, you potentially leave yourself wide open to wasting precious time (and money) defending your market share in damage control mode, suffering from lost revenue and missing out on new sales opportunities.
At this FREE seminar, David Batty of Sector Software will look at why you have no choice but to take part in Social Media – whether or not you want to. This event will show you how to control Social Media and how it can go wrong.
Date: Thursday 24th September 8:30am for 9:00am start, buffet breakfast provided
Venue: Turf Moor Enterprise Haven, Burnley Football Club, Burnley BB10 4BZ
Manufactuers' Survive & Thrive
Essential recession-beating help and advice to boost your competitiveness.
Following the success of the Manufacturers’ Survive & Thrive Workshops in March and with further funding support from the North West Regional Development Agency, The Manufacturing Institute is hosting a series of FREE in-depth Masterclasses.
Masterclass One: Boost your revenue and profit, Tuesday 22nd September 9:00am to 4:30pm
Haydock Park Racecourse, Merseyside WA12 0HQ
Find out more and book online>>
Masterclass Two: Recession Beaters, Wednesday 30th Setpember 9:00am to 4:30 pm
Reebok Stadium, Burnden Way, Bolton BL6 6JW
Find out more and book online>>
Search Engine Optimisation - Free online lessons
We at the DDU have always emphasised the importance of Search Engine Optimisation in order to have a successful online business. We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer you free valuable SEO information from one of the leaders in this field. Jan Klin has presented a number of our popular events and has kindly agreed to release his online lessons to us each month for us to distribute to you.
"Here's lesson 5 for the SEO of your site. In this important lesson you'll learn how to structure the title tag on your homepage. This tag is the most important line of code you have as far as SEO is concerned. Once the search engine spiders see that this tag is aligned to your homepage content (ie that it includes the same keyphrases) then you will get rankings...." Jan Klin, Jan Klin & Associates www.janklin.com
Lesson 5 - Homepage Title Tag >>
If you missed the previous lessons you can see them all on our website
Small Retailers Capital Grant Fund
The government have announced a £5million fund for Small Retailers in 50 priority areas to purchase security/crime prevetion equipment to reduce crime. Small grants of £3,000 are available for small retailers or up to £50,000 for partnership grants for those working together in partnership to reduce crime.
Promote entrepreneurship in your local community
The Darwen Aldridge Community Academy (DACA) opened in September 2008 and specialises in entrepreneurship. Its aim is to integrate its unique specialism into the wider curriculum and the local community, and DACA has forged links with many local businesses to support its entrepreneurial approach.
The launch event on 23rd September begins at 4.30pm and will be a great opportunity to find out more about the DACA Career Academy at the same time as networking with other local businesses. Please email Val Townsend on val.townsend@daca.uk.com or call 01254 819500 to book your place.
Money Saving Tips from Microsoft
Time is money, and in the current economic climate every small business is looking to streamline costs and reduce outgoings. But at the same time you need to be competitive and present a professional ‘big company’ image. Here are Microsoft's top ten tips to help you and your business deliver more with less.
Local News for September 2009
Poop idea could clean up!
The Poopsta is a simple but very efficient innovation in collecting dog waste. It is essentially a plastic dome and the collection is powered by a humble elastic band. The invention is the idea of 70 year old Maurice Glynn who contacted the Digital Development Unit to help bring his innovative idea to market.
Maurice explains: “When people first see the Poopsta in action they are amazed. It’s one of those jaw dropping, ‘why didn’t I think of that’ solutions that stops people in their tracks"
Dental practice brushes up on technology
Standish St Dental Practice is a long established private dental practice based in the centre of Burnley. Operating since 1988 they have established a strong reputation for both health and cosmetic based dentistry. The company recognised the need for a marketing presence in order to attract new clients and maintain their existing client base.
With the assistance of the Digital Development Unit the business identified the need for a content managed web site which would help to establish them as the expert source of information regarding all areas of dentistry.
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