Making the web work for you: e-business workshops

Does your tourism website attract enough visitors? Are they the right kind of people? Does it translate into bookings and profits? Are you really confident your site is doing all it can for your business?

Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with the Scottish Tourism Forum and VisitScotland, are poised to tackle these questions with an e-business workshop, designed specifically for people involved in the tourist industry, to your local area.

As tourism businesses know by now, a company web presence is a vital part of any business strategy.  But getting a website to perform is not always easy. Help is at hand, though, with this latest Level 2 interactive workshop which is aimed at businesses that have some understanding of their existing online presence, but would like even more.

Expert instructors will explain various ways to market a business online; case studies will be used as examples. Also examined will be ways to improve the functionality of an existing site to obtain smoother user experience and streamlined business processes. The principal aim of the workshops is to demonstrate how to e-market effectively and how e-commerce can be implemented to suit the scale of a business at minimum cost.


The programme of workshops is as follows: 

Lochgilphead:  Tuesday 30th October 2007, The Enterprise Centre

Fort William:  Wednesday 31st October 2007,  Lochaber College

Portree:  Thursday 1st November 2007, Sabhal Mor Ostaig

Stornoway:  Tuesday 13th November 2007, HIE Innse Gall

Elgin:  Thursday 15th November 2007, Horizon Scotland

Inverness:  Friday 16th November 2007, The Green House

Wick:  March 2008

Kirkwall:  March 2008

Lerwick:  March 2008

Places on the one-day workshops (9.30am-4.30pm) are limited. The £25 + VAT per seat cost includes refreshments and buffet lunch. To book a place contact Elaine at the Scottish Tourism Forum office (email events@stforum.co.uk or call tel. 0131 220 6321).

Previous HIE e-business workshops attended by tourism operators have been well received. Here is a sample of the feedback:

"Very useful and interesting event. High quality speakers."

"Excellent value for money!"

“I’m going to update my website strategy.”

“I’ve now got the confidence to change my website and update it regularly.”

"Very enjoyable and eye opening in some ways"

"Very worthwhile!"

“I’m going to make the recommended changes and hoist up my web ratings”

“I’m off to review my site and prepare a new a site for a new holiday letting business”