Business encouraged to use technology class
Having a fabulous looking Web site is one thing for a business. More important is how it’s used.
To help area businesses gain that insight, Penn State Fayette is offering a second 12-hour workshop that gives hands-on experience in how best to work online.
“The class is more for the person who is already in business,’ Lucinda Barron Robbins, extension agent, said.
“Some (businesses) already have a Web site but they really aren’t communicating with their customers. This class helps correct that,’ Kim Dillinger, program coordinator, said.
The class, offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Continuing Education and Outreach department, costs $150 and is held in four, three-hour sessions. Scholarship money is available and can cut the cost of the class to $50, on a first-come, first-served basis. Scholarship applicants must be connected with the Fayette Enterprise Community program.
Classes will be scheduled once interest is gauged.
Robbins and Dillinger explained the class is part of Penn State’s Access Pennsylvania Main Street program.
“This program will help small to medium sized business owners learn how to use new communication technology to improve their businesses and increase profits,’ Robbins, program instructor, said.
“It’s not just selling items from a Web site but using new tools like the Internet to be more effective and more efficient in business,’ she added.
She said a “substantial portion’ of the class consists of hands-on exploration of the Internet.
Designed for people of all computer skill levels, the course can help business people use the Internet as a research tool to find new markets, suppliers or check out their competition; decide if a Web site is right for the business; learn how to plan a Web site and effectively promote it; improve relations with customers and enhance customer communications; and learn how to incorporate the Internet into a business plan.
Created by Penn State, the course will be held at the university’s E-Business Support Center at Uniontown Mall in the mall corridor leading to Roomful Express Furniture.
People interested in participating can call 724-434-1296, 724-430-4210 or e-mail krd12@psu.edu to reserve a seat. Payments will be accepted at the workshop.
“The first class we held (in 2002) went extremely well. Everybody who participated indicated they would recommend it to others. In fact, each night we held the class, the people stayed well past the allotted time,’ Robbins said.
“A lot of businesses really don’t recognize the full potential technology offers. A few years ago, everybody had to have a Web site. People put out their Web site but still don’t really know what to do with it, how to use the positive efficiencies that go with it. It goes beyond just marketing but gets into supply and distribution, online buying and what your competitor is doing,’ Robbins said.
Dillinger added, “Some small businesses are still suspicious as to how safe it is to do business online. Some people looking at a Web site might also be unable to find the businesses’ telephone number or address. This class can help business overcome those problems.’
“We will look over the good and the bad Web sites. The course is geared to the business person and not the academic,’ Robbins said.
Emphasizing that it is a collaboration between Penn State Extension and Continuing Education, Robbins added computer classes will also be held at the Uniontown Mall campus aimed at business and professional people.
“This site is not just a public relations wing of Penn State but a fully working center,’ she said.
In addition to the online training, the center is also involved in small business support activities. For example, in February, the center will host a small business plan development class over 12 weeks/36 hours. “This will be hands-on to get a new business startup plan as part of the class. This will cover all types of businesses,’ Robbins said.
“We are also working with the Small Business Development Center at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, the area chambers of commerce and the Private Industry Council as a strong core of support for small business in technology, planning, marketing and education.
“We are saying that our growth is going to come from small business development. But there are many people who have walked away from an idea they had because the support wasn’t there,’ Dillinger said.