COUNCILS
The Southern Business Mentoring Program in Adelaide announces its extension service.
The Southern Business Mentoring Program is a free advice service available to established and start up businesses in the southern Adelaide area. If you live in, or your business is located in, any of the following council areas you are eligible to access the program.
- City of Yankalilla
- City of Onkaparinga
- City of Marion
- City of Holdfast Bay
EXTENSION SERVICE
Introduced in August 2023, the Southern Business Mentoring Program Extension Service provides an additional three appointments with your chosen mentor. It is an initiative of the Government of South Australia’s Office for Small and Family Business and the South Australian Small Business Strategy 2023 – 2030.
After the initial, free consultation, businesses can book in for a further 3 sessions at $25/session.
DIGITAL MARKETING HELP
Fiona Blinco, of DIY Digital, is the digital marketing advisor with the Southern Business Mentor Program. You can boost your business in this 1:1 one hour jam packed session with practical digital marketing advice, including:
- Understanding website jargon
- Learning about hosting and domain names
- Improving your website look
- Planning what to write on your website
- How to get images for your website
- Recommending the best do-it-yourself website platforms
- Exploring e-commerce solutions
- Optimising Etsy listings
- Using ebay, Amazon and other online marketplaces
- Understanding online bookings, directories and calendars
- Search Engine Optimisation strategies
- Getting your Google My Business listing up & running
- Getting reviews and optimising your Google My Business listing
- Using email to promote your business without spamming people
- Discovering if Google Ads is right for your business
- Trouble shooting Google Ads
- Choosing the best 3 marketing strategies for you and your business
The confidential consultation is available to ask those curly questions and help you navigate the plethora of digital marketing options for your business.
The service extension in 2023 means that you can have
- 1 session with Fiona for free
- subsequent sessions (up to 3) for $25/each
HOW IT WORKS
Zoom
Consultation sessions are held via zoom. Session dates and times are available to book via eventbrite.
Zoom allows us to see and hear each other as well share screens. Screen sharing is useful to demonstrate the number of free, online tools that are available to businesses in their digital marketing.
Face-to-Face
From time to time, on site face-to-face sessions are available at
- Cove Civic Centre, Hallett Cove
- Tonsley, Clovelly Park
- Noarlunga Library
- Yankalilla Library
Dates and times for face-to-face sessions are listed on our seminars page.
Lorraine McLoughlin
Author
My session on Marketing in a digital world was extraordinary. I learned very appropriate information and strategies and came away enthused and buoyed up with energy and ideas.
Fiona had done her homework, and checked out my website and work and therefore had many recommendations for improvements and tactics to work at promoting my books.
Alan Crocker
Please Yourself Travel
Fiona has the (unique in this space) ability to explain complex matters in a simple way, enabling the participant to move forward from where they are at.
She was very responsive to questions during our coaching session. I now have a way forward with SEO for my website.
Fiona's skills are very valuable in a space so crammed with "technonerds".
Tom Anthoney
Willunga Physio
Fiona gave me some great marketing advice, via a Zoom meeting. She shared some great tips, and showed me how to do things myself by sharing her screen and walking me through it.
I highly recommend her and the Council's On Business Program.
Leonard Vallido
Exportia
Excellent SEO Training Session! Great session!
Fiona was able to take the concepts and makes them easy to understand. I learned a lot and she was able to answer our questions.
Her suggestions were really helpful too.
Sarah Simmonds
Simmonds Heating and Cooling
I met with Fiona today at the library who was AMAZING! She gave me so many great ideas and things to work on. Very grateful for her time.
Thank you for putting me onto the sessions.
Neville Antic
D8 Training
I loved meeting with you, your passion in this area is 2nd to none. Thank you for all the tips and tricks you have given me.
I am already working thru some of the tips you shared and will go start on the blogs as well. 😊
OTHER ADVISORS & DISCIPLINES
We recommend starting with one of the general business advisors. If you are launching a new business, a general advisor can assist you with information to help you get started. If you are an established business, the advisors can assist with looking at profit margins, goal setting and dusting off those business plans to give you effective focus and direction.
Follow up the general business session with a jam packed digital marketing session with Fiona Blinco of DIY Digital.
There are also several other advisors in the program. South Australian businesses in the Cities of Holdfast Bay, Marion, Onkaparinga and Yankalilla can also book a free session with advisors in the following disciplines:
- Social Media
- Strategic Marketing
- Retail
- Tourism
- HR, WHS and Workforce Planning
- Grant writing
- Sustainability
To find out more and make a booking visit the Southern Business Mentoring Program website.