Are you a small business owner struggling to stand out online? This 5-week training program brought to you by the OCIE SBDC is your key to online success. We’ll cover all the fundamentals of building a website that not only looks good but drives customers to your door.

Week 1: Introduction to Online Presence and Planning Your Website

• Introduction to e-commerce and its benefits for small businesses
• Understanding the role of a website in building your brand and reaching customers
• Understanding your target audience and designing for their needs
• Choosing a domain name and hosting

Week 2: Setting Up and Designing Your Website

• Introduction to website and e-commerce platforms
• Basics of website design and user experience (UX), including mobile-responsive design
• Design basics: Color schemes, fonts, and layouts
• Content creation and copywriting
• Basics of search engine optimization (SEO) to increase your site’s visibility

Week 3: Adding Products and Setting Up E-Commerce Functions

• Setting up your product catalog and compelling product pages
• Best practices for product photography and descriptions
• Organizing your products into categories for easy navigation
• Introduction to shopping cart functionality and payment gateways
• Understanding shipping options and taxes

Week 4: Advanced E-Commerce Features and Marketing Your Website

• Setting up customer reviews and ratings
• Inventory management and dropshipping integration
• Overview of digital marketing channels (social media, email marketing, etc.)
• Introduction to content marketing and blogging for SEO
• Pre-launch checklist: Testing website functionality, mobile responsiveness, and loading speed
• Strategies for a successful launch: Special promotions, email campaigns, and social media announcements

Week 5: Analyzing Performance and Next Steps

• Setting up Google Analytics
• Key performance indicators (KPIs) to watch
• A/B testing basics for optimizing conversion rates
• Scaling your online business
• Keeping your website updated and engaging over time