PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) are sponsoring four free workshops this month to help small businesses improve their bottom line.
“Our goal is to give companies the resources to be successful in today's economy. Where else can you get guidance from a team of consultants that might cost thousands of dollars if you were to engage them yourself," said Mollis.
Gil Lantini of Focus Business Solutions will present “Internet Marketing 101” Wed., Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at RIEDC, 315 Iron Horse Way, Suite 101, Providence.
The workshop will explore how search engines work, how to gain better visibility using low-cost Internet promotional tools and transitioning from traditional marketing budgets to the Internet.
David Lucier of Lucier CPA and David Nash of Engage Marketing will present "How to Start and Run a Successful Small Business" Wed., Nov. 17, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 875 Centerville Road, Building 2, Unit 5, Warwick.
The workshop will cover how to reduce your taxes, the 20 biggest pitfalls in starting and running a small business and how to price a product or service.
Juan Gomez and Jeshua Zapata of Xzito Creative Solutions will present "Planting the Seeds for High Website Traffic" Thurs., Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at RIEDC.
Pick up tips about using paid listings on major search engines, creating banner ads on other websites, maximizing keyword relevance, using directories and developing online marketing strategies that create visibility.
Lucier and John Polumbo of Strategic Sales will present “Business Accelerator” Tues., Nov. 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 875 Centerville Road, Building 2, Unit 5, Warwick.
Learn how to create a 3-to-5-year marketing plan that includes new business development, pricing strategies and relationship management.
To register for the free workshops, contact ECC at 278-9154 or eperry@riedc.com.
The workshops are offered through "We Mean Business," which is a joint venture between the Secretary of State's First Stop Business Information Center and Every Company Counts (ECC), the small business initiative of RIEDC. We Mean Business connects business owners with the local, state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations that impact their companies.
The Secretary of State's office works with almost every company registered to do business in Rhode Island. The office oversees recording commercial liens, protecting corporate trademarks and providing advice to start-up businesses.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about the programs and services the Secretary of State offers Rhode Islanders, visit sos.ri.gov.
RIEDC's mission is to create jobs, help companies expand and develop their workforce, and identify opportunities to bring new companies into our state. RIEDC offers a host of programs, both in-house and in collaboration with partner organizations, to support the businesses of Rhode Island and to achieve the goals of job retention and sustainable job growth. For more information, visit riedc.com.