Released May 14, 2008

Technology impacts businesses and communities in their economic development efforts. Learn how to move your online storefront to the next level with the help of a Web site checklist. Get suggestions on Web site organization, content and analysis. Learn about marketing and analytical tools and how to make the online experience better for your customers.

Free and open to everyone

In this month’s hour-long entrepreneur’s webinar, Connie Hancock, extension educator with the University of Nebraska, will provide tips and strategies for success in the e-commerce marketplace. Hancock helps communities and businesses understand the impact of technology.

Hancock will explain the importance of an online presence and why an online network or community is critical in today’s business environment. She’ll talk about how to create a marketing plan using Web 2.0 tools, which tools might best suit marketing your product and business, search engine optimization and some basic online marketing techniques.

The May 22 program begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The Web meeting room opens 15 minutes before the start time. Go to http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/ecop/ to view. Newcomers to online learning are invited.

Seminar host

Entrepreneurs and Their Communities is a national effort of eXtension, http://www.extension.org. Information is organized for two audience groups: (1) entrepreneurs and resource providers and (2) entrepreneur-ready communities.

In many communities, entrepreneurship is emerging as a critical strategy to complement the industrial recruitment and business retention and expansion efforts. The entrepreneurs eXtension Web site is a growing resource center for local leaders, business representatives, government officials, service providers, nonprofit organizations, education officials and others.

A team of extension specialists and researchers working in land-grant universities across the country contribute the content. Resources include frequently asked questions, information briefs, research highlights and a calendar of events.

Next month’s session on June 18 is on engaging youth in entrepreneurship. Learn how Kentucky and North Dakota are using different strategies to engage youth as future entrepreneurs.

eXtension

eXtension is an educational partnership helping Americans improve their lives with access to timely, objective, research-based information and educational opportunities. eXtension’s interactive Web site, http://www.extension.org, is customized with links to local Cooperative Extension Web sites. Land-grant colleges were founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all, that colleges should teach liberal and practical subjects and share knowledge with people throughout their states.

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Contacts: Mary Peabody, University of Vermont, (802) 223-2389 extension 13, mary.peabody@uvm.edu

Connie Hancock, University of Nebraska, (308) 254-4455, chancock@unl.edu

Lynette Spicer, Iowa State University, (515) 294-1327, lspicer@iastate.edu