Published: May 18th, 2020
A series of webinars designed to help Marches businesses develop their export markets and learn new skills – whilst navigating their way through the coronavirus outbreak – has been launched by the Department for International Trade.
Experts from DIT say the events – open to all interested Marches businesses – will give them the help and advice they need to sell overseas with confidence, provide solutions to exporting problems and pass on new skills and knowledge.
The events kick off with a series of four e-commerce webinars led by expert trainer Sarah Lumley-Holmes to boost your key digital skills and enhance your company’s online presence.
They start on May 21 at 10am with a webinar called Website Internationalisation & eMarketplaces, where you can learn how to to increase your chances of international sales not only through your website but also by exploring which eMarketplaces are available and how to access them.
Sarah’s second webinar explores the importance of localisation and standing out in search engines and takes place on May 28 at 10am. It will help you to ensure your website and social media content are appropriate for your target market and that your website is visible when international customers use a search engine.
The third webinar will examine the best ways of using social media channels and content marketing to find new clients, and is being held on June 4 at 10am.
The series concludes with a look at the basics of online advertising on June 5 at 10am.
DIT experts are also staging a live export masterclass – a series of five two-hour sessions of live audio and visual presentation, including questions and answers. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or during the event.
The virtual training sessions will be delivered by Tim Hiscock of Strong & Herd, an export training company who have many years experience supporting businesses in international trade as well as delivering impactful virtual sessions.
They start with a session called International Market Research: Auditing Existing Markets and Identifying Markets of Opportunity on May 27 at 10am.
The session will review the competitive situation and current state of play, looking at methods of evaluation and setting priorities while explaining how to monitor the ongoing situation, identify changes, and how to respond appropriately.
On June 2 the focus turns to how best to reach new markets overseas with a 10am session called International Routes to Market: Auditing existing routes, mitigating risk, and opening new channels.
Tim will show companies how to review current routes to market and how alternatives may offer a means of retaining business, winning new customers and identifying new opportunities post Covid-19.
Further sessions – on June 9, 11 and 18 and all at 10am – will look at managing international supply chains, international logistics and shipping and selling internationally in the post-Covid marketplace.
More information can be found here.