Providing E-Business Knowledge that Works

Businesses targeted for inclusion will include rural and small-community businesses, consumer goods and services businesses, agricultural marketers/retailers, and agricultural producers who are selling value-added products and services.

Participants in our education program will be able to:

• Assess the role of e-business in their business or planned business.
• Understand the multiple dimensions of electronic business - from traditional business planning and communication techniques to the application of advanced information technology.
• Use the Internet to research new markets and suppliers, look in on the competition, and avoid being taken by online scams.
• Explore existing e-business web sites to study customer service techniques, logistics, transportation and handling, financial transactions, and marketing and corporate/investor relations.
• Understand the marketing power and operational obligations of an on-line presence.
• Develop a strategy for adding e-business to existing or new business plans.
• Develop and manage a customer-focused web site by working with an e-consultant and/or Web service provider to help select an Internet host, registering an appropriate domain name and creating an online storefront to the world.
• Develop an Internet Marketing Plan that will promote their web site and business effectively within the context of their overall Internet business strategy.