E-Commerce and Web Marketing Seminar Comes to Ohio University May 12

Contact: Lisa Dael, Division of Lifelong Learning, Office of Community and Professional Programs, (740) 593-9925

ATHENS, Ohio (May 10, 2000) -- The Internet has changed business more than any other technological innovation. Companies, in their rush to be on the Web, haven't put much thought into how to effectively transfer their business to the computer screen. While many established businesses are failing in the cyber-world, new site-smart businesses are thriving. A seminar on the Ohio University campus May 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. can help you learn to make the Web work for your business.

"E-Commerce and Web Marketing Essentials" is a hands-on seminar designed to help sort out all the new information needed to establish or improve Internet business. This workshop is especially recommended to those who own, manage, market, advertise or create Web pages and for those who work in sales for companies of any size and specialty. Whether participants have an existing Web page or not, they can benefit from the step-by-step guide to creating a compelling and successful Web site. Participants need not be Webmasters to understand the concepts presented.

The seminar will cover concepts like catching the customer's eye, making it easy to buy products and make returns, processing an order from start to finish, easing site navigation, turning an existing site into one that sells and ensuring security on the Web. Participants will go home with answers to all of their questions along with a workbook with E-commerce strategies, tips, tools and common mistakes.

The instructor, Brian Gibson, is the CEO and founder of GateHost Inc., a company that designs and hosts corporate Web sites. He publishes a monthly newsletter on the Web, "Gibson's NetGazette," and literally wrote the book on Internet business, "Doing Business on the Internet." He presents seminars throughout the year and across the country on various Internet topics.

The seminar is sponsored by the Ohio University Division of Lifelong Learning, the Small Business Development Center of Southeast Ohio, the Innovation Center and the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. Cost is $129 per person, and group discounts are available. Lunch is not included. For more information or to register for the seminar, call (740) 593-1521 or e-mail community.education@ohiou.edu.