Everyone talks about using the Internet and social 
networking to make money and grow their business but for most business people web-based business development this opens up an unknown and confusing world.
But the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Innovation Centre is going to demystify the black art of the online world in a one-day intensive seminar, presented by experts in the field who know the secrets to using the Internet for business development.
The Digital Futures program, on Friday 4 September, will provide insight into capitalising on Web 2.0, the new evolutionary stage of the Internet, and using websites to generate revenue. The experts will also look at profiting from business traffic.
Colin Graham, Innovation Centre CEO said that there were currently more than 1.6 billion Internet users and although there was a huge amount of information online, the web remained a massive untapped resource available to anyone.
“There are over 190 million websites, with web usage increasing every day but using the online world to grow your business and maximise profit remains a black art so Digital Futures is an opportunity to learn those skills and reap the benefits,” Colin said.
Steve Huff, from Sixty Second Parent, has extensive business experience gained both on and offline, and will draw comparisons to each within his session – The Business Model, in order to question what it really meant to go online.
“Too often, people have an online presence that is not used to its highest capabilities, and it does not become a profitable tool for the company. The Internet is constantly being advanced and it is up to us to keep up with it,” Colin said.
With years of experience within the marketing field, Yean Cheong, Director at Mitchell Communications Group, will highlight the importance of Building Your Online Strategy in her presentation.
Colin said that strategy was key to maintaining a productive presence online and was important in order to identify the outcomes from your investments and to meet the desired results for the future.
Russell Bullen, director of Online Marketing Collective, will share his knowledge of online technologies and the moving trends that impact on the digital world. He will help participants to become more conscious operators through his presentation The Situation and Taking Business Online.
Digital Futures is not only about maximising online opportunities but also, driving, capturing and converting traffic, which will be the focus of a presentation by Matt Forman, Managing Director of Triffika. Edmund Pelgen, the founder of Market Reach, will then discuss the strategies to put in place in order to Evaluate, Improve, Retain and Grow business.
Colin said that Digital Futures was for anybody that has a website or an online presence, particularly businesses. “It provides the advice needed to use the web as a productive business tool instead of a dormant space.”
Digital Futures will be on Friday, September 4 2009 at Sunshine Coast Innovation Centre. Tickets are $295+GST but if you book and pay before August 14, you will receive a $50 discount. As part of your registration you will also receive a complementary Online Strategic Consultation with Russell Bullen, of the Online Marketing Collective, valued at $150, as well as a complementary Optimising Your Site for Google consultation with Matt Forman, of Traffica, valued at $150. (Conditions apply) To register visit the new Innovation Centre website – www.innovation-centre.com.au – or call 07 5450 2600.
