Workshops and Seminars

Tell a story. Market a promotion. Build brand awareness. Prompt an action. Do all these things and more using a single graphic. Visual marketing is more likely to catch a customer’s attention, though to stand out, it must have a fresh, relevant image and high-quality design. You can use Canva to achieve this.

Canva is a free, easy-to-master content creator for visual marketing. You can create a custom project, logo, infographic, flyer, social media post, web banner, and much more. Canva is well suited to small businesses, as it offers social media graphic templates already sized for each platform; an array of stock images, illustrations, and fonts; a comprehensive editing panel; visual hierarchy for the various components of your design; and high download quality.

This workshop is for small business owners who want to:

• Improve the look and feel of their visual marketing
• Create a brand that is consistent in all areas of visual marketing
• Better understand the capabilities of the Canva design platform

Date: Tuesday, 9 March 2021
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

Make that best first impression with head-turning branding. Do this in a way that creates trust and a clear message to your best customers. Learn how your brand personality can be effectively communicated through your most essential visual elements. I will take you though the process and best practices for choosing the right brand colours, typography, logo, layout, and imagery for your brand. Get my top tips of the trade and must dos for crafting a memorable visual brand experience that connects and converts.

Date: Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Online Event

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If 2020 stole your focus, it’s time to get it back! Be inspired and motivated by all the things you can achieve with your business this year, focussing on achievable and measurable successes. Let’s step away from feeling overwhelmed by how the small business landscape has changed, and instead reframe these changes to see the opportunities now available to you.

This session aims to guide participants through new approaches to support their business in 2021 and beyond.

Date: Thursday, 11 March 2021
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

Search Engine Optimisation is a marketing method that increases your website’s visibility in search engine results. Gone are the days of White Pages listings—now we’re talking Google and Amazon. Mobile technology has given control to consumers, so you need to position your small business where it can be found online.

Keywords play a pivotal role in SEO, alongside content, website updates, and various types of links.

This workshop is for small business owners who want to:

• Learn about Search Engine Optimisation
• Understand how to improve their website’s visibility in search rankings
• Walk away with practical knowledge and the confidence to optimise their website!

Date: Tuesday, 16 March 2021
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

Email marketing is a low-cost way to promote your small business. Frequent email campaigns can have a positive effect on brand loyalty and awareness if used to inform, engage and reward participants. So how do you make your campaign stand out in the surge of emails landing in a customer’s inbox daily?

Develop strategies that align with your business goals. Improve customer loyalty and market share. Send content that consumers value. You can take advantage of email marketing to encourage online sales, traffic to your online store, and authentic customer recommendations.

This workshop is for small business owners who want to:

• Understand email marketing and its place in small business
• Learn how to create professional email marketing campaigns
• Connect with customers—and stay connected (no unsubscribes!

Date: Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Time: 5:00pm- 7:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

COVID-19 has fundamentally changed consumer behaviour and changed the way people do business. The long-lasting impact remains to be seen, but certain aspects of the next normal have settled. This workshop will look at current and predicted business and consumer trends to help you get the most business out of 2021.

From a digital marketing standpoint, small businesses are in a great position to capitalise on new opportunities and transform their business.

Here's a quick taste of some of the topics we'll discuss:

• Using your social media more productively
• Creating live interactions digitally to keep your customers engaged
• Working with a remote workforce

This session aims to guide participants through new approaches to support their business in 2021 and beyond.

Date: Thursday, 18 March 2021
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

When it comes to building trust, connection and recognition, your brand voice and personality will leave a lasting impression on your potential customers. Learn how to define, clarify and amplify your brand voice and brand personality in a way that speaks directly to your customers and helps you stand out from the crowd.

We will also explore how you can effectively apply these aspects of your brand voice and personality into your copy and messaging in a way that is truly unique and cuts through your competition.

Date: Tuesday, 23 March 2021
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online Event

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This workshop will help you develop a strong personal brand; one that communicates your brand values, mission and bigger vision to the world with integrity and authenticity.

Learn the process for defining the key aspects of your personal brand that will make an impact on growing your audience and the strategy for applying this throughout all areas of your business. The aim? To help you build expertise, credibility, community and elevate your personal brand.

Date: Wednesday, 24 March 2021
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Online Event

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You want to take your business online—but what are your goals? And how much does it cost? Understand the key components of a smart digital strategy and how much to budget to achieve each goal.

This workshop will help you plan for taking your business online.

Here's a quick taste of some of the topics we'll discuss:

• What are your set up costs, maintenance and hosting expenses
• Basics of a lean digital strategy that can be scaled
• The pros and cons of DIY vs getting a professional to assist.

This practical session aims to debunk any fears you might have about getting yourself online and succeeding.

Date: Thursday, 25 March 2021
Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

Building a rich and loyal community can be the backbone of marketing success for a small business. Customer communities can be used to familiarise prospective customers with your products or services, increase trust in your brand, and build a stronger personal relationship with your existing customers. Understanding why you’re building a community from the outset, and how to best foster it, will keep the group focused and in alignment with your business goals.

This workshop aims to give you the direction you need to build and foster your own community of customers both on and offline.

Date: Tuesday, 30 March 2021
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

There’s a difference between being on Instagram and using Instagram to boost business. Instagram is a powerful social platform for small businesses selling visually appealing products or services. Feature your brand to followers while using trending hashtags to expand your reach.

Instagram is an incredibly powerful social media platform—the second most engaged network after Facebook. Learn tools and tactics to engage with your audience and how to turn conversations into conversions.

This workshop is for small business owners who want to:

• Start an Instagram account for their small business
• Grow an Instagram following
• Better utilise Instagram for their small business

Date: Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Online Event

Book Here

WANT TO GET YOUR BUSINESS MOVING?

Are you looking to start a small business but not sure how?
Do you own a business and need expert advice on how to grow and thrive?
The Victorian Government’s Small Business Bus is coming to Hamilton 26th April 2021 at the front of the National Bank.

The Small Business Bus offers:

• FREE confidential mentoring provided by a small business specialist

• ADVICE on developing your business idea, formulating a business plan, marketing your business, improving your understanding of cash flow management and more

• Friendly ASSISTANCE from a Small Business Victoria information officer

• INFORMATION about Small Business Victoria’s programs and services

Book a session and discover how the Small Business Bus can help you plan,
start or grow your business. Visit business.vic.gov.au/sbb or call the Business
Victoria Contact Centre on 13 22 15

Book here

We have engaged the services of several experienced independent business and support advisors to assist Greater Hamilton businesses through this crisis.

Colin Thompson, from the Small Business Mentoring Service can help you to understand and apply for the Economic Support packages offered by government and banks.

To arrange a time to speak with Colin or one of our other trusted advisors, contact Council’s Business Development Officer, Daniel Shaw, via ecodev@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au or 0429 578 216.

Business Victoria, which is a State Government initiative, is a useful resource providing businesses with support and advice on marketing, sales and online, hiring and managing staff and exporting. Business Victoria also offers useful advice on starting and setting up a business including this checklist.