More than 80 local business owners and operators attended a series of workshops delivered by Google and Venture Centre New Zealand at the Base Station Coworking and Collaboration Space on Thursday 13 July.
Todd Muller, MP for the Bay of Plenty joined the event and spoke about the importance of local businesses getting online to reach new customers and grow.
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| Bay of Plenty MP, Todd Muller, Venture Centre’s Jo Allum and Google’s Jean Magalhaes (photo credit - Richard Robinson Photography) |
Jo Allum from Venture Centre said there was strong demand for digital skills training in the Western Bay region, with research suggesting about 40 per cent of business owners in Tauranga and Western Bay didn’t feel they had the skills needed to make the most of technology.
Participants had the chance to ask questions and share their experiences about building and managing a website, e-commerce, digital advertising and how to be found online. The workshop covered a range of tools and tips, including how businesses can claim their listing on Google My Business.
NZ businesses have much to gain from getting online and many are already doing great things.
A recent report by Oxford Economics looked at how the internet is fueling small business exports in New Zealand. Research found that if every small business in NZ with five or more staff went online, there would be an extra 2,200 businesses exporting and generating more sales.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to get the skills they need to succeed online. Got a question about getting your business online? Get in touch with our Small Business Team!