ELIZABETHTOWN — Bladen County business owners looking to attract new customers and strengthen their online presence will have an opportunity to learn new marketing strategies through a series of free seminars beginning in September.
The Small Business Center at Bladen Community College, in partnership with the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, will offer a four-part Lunch & Learn Marketing Series covering Google, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
The monthly seminars will be held from noon to 1 p.m. at the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce conference room, 207 E. Broad St. in Elizabethtown.
There is no charge to attend the seminars. Lunch will be available for purchase through the Chamber for a nominal cost.
The series begins Tuesday, Sept. 1, with “Get Found on Google,” a seminar focusing on helping businesses become more visible when potential customers search online.
Participants will learn about search engine optimization, commonly known as SEO, and how keywords and website improvements can help businesses appear higher in Google search results. The class will also introduce participants to an SEO audit tool that can be used to evaluate their websites.
The second seminar, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6, will turn its attention to Facebook.
“Facebook Shops & Marketplace: Turn Followers into Customers” will focus on businesses that sell products online or operate local retail locations. Participants will learn how to establish a Facebook shop, create listings, reach potential local customers and use Facebook Marketplace as another avenue for generating sales.
Instagram will be the focus of the third Lunch & Learn on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
“Master Instagram Marketing: Grow Your Business” will examine ways businesses can use Instagram to build an audience and turn followers into customers.
Topics will include hashtags, Instagram Stories, developing a marketing strategy and using Instagram Shopping to promote and sell products.
The final seminar in the series will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1, and will focus on LinkedIn.
“Learn How to Use LinkedIn to Grow Your Business” will teach participants how to establish a stronger professional presence on the platform, use LinkedIn for networking and position themselves as knowledgeable voices within their industries.
While social media is often associated with large companies and national brands, online marketing has become increasingly important for small and locally owned businesses as customers turn to internet searches and social platforms when deciding where to shop, eat or purchase services.
For businesses operating in communities such as Elizabethtown, Bladenboro, White Lake and elsewhere in Bladen County, those tools can also provide relatively inexpensive ways to reach customers beyond traditional advertising and word of mouth.
The four seminars are intended to provide practical information that business owners can put to use without requiring them to have extensive marketing or technical experience.
The Lunch & Learn Marketing Series is one of several services available through Bladen Community College’s Small Business Center.
In addition to seminars covering business startup and development, the center offers one-on-one counseling for entrepreneurs and existing business owners interested in growing or improving their operations.
All four marketing seminars are free, but participants should register for the individual sessions they plan to attend.
Additional information about Small Business Center programs and registration is available through Bladen Community College’s Small Business Center. Business owners interested in one-on-one counseling may also contact the center at 910-879-5572 to schedule an appointment.
