Training Classes Set for Wayland Business Association Members To Learn To Use the Group’s Web Site

Wayland Business Association (WBA) members have two opportunities this month to learn how to use the WBA Web site to increase business. Training classes will be held Tuesday, October 6 and Thursday, October 22 at Wayland High School, 5-6:30pm in the computer training lab (ME3).  Members will learn how to log in their personal account at www.waylandbusinessassociation.org and take advantage of new functions to promote their business. They will be able to build a Web page and create online ads for their business that will display on the Web site.

Executive Committee member and Webmaster Cliff Kolovson will conduct the brief, hands-on training classes in one of the high school’s computer labs. Members will log in to their accounts and directly edit their profiles and advertisements while in class. Kolovson will answer questions and help members set up their pages.

Over the past year or so, the WBA has increased the functionality of its Web site so that communication with members is done through email directly from the Web site. Members are able to make reservations for WBA dinner meetings online and select their dinner choice. They even can make reservations for guests.

The Web site has significantly reduced the workload for the volunteer board members. In the past, invoicing and dinner invitations and reservations were done by mail and phone calls. Web site development costs were less than the cost of hiring an administrator for a year.

New Member Benefit – Advertising via Web.  This year the board added an important benefit for members via the Web site: Free Advertising. This new feature, launched over the summer, lets members offer two promotions. One offer is ONLY to other members – available when a member is logged into their account. The other is an offer to the general public that’s available to any visitor to the WBA’s Web site.  These ads are part of the WBA’s campaign this year to promote “doing business locally.” The WBA is reaching out in several ways, including having a table at Russell’s Garden Center’s weekly Farmer’s Market to promote the association and doing business locally.

Online Member Directory Listings.  The main feature of the Web site is the group’s online Web directory – where each member has their own Web page or directory listing. Each listing can be customized by the member, including adding a photo and their company logo. Kolovson will help members edit, size and upload photos and logos.

Training Classes.  There is no need to sign up for the training classes… just show up on either day at the high school. You should come to the session prepared with basic information about your business, a copy of your logo and/or a photo for your business on a CD-ROM or USB flash memory stick. For more information, email Kolovson at cliff@pointed.com.
Classes will begin promptly at 5, although members may join the class in progress at any time. There will be a brief presentation and demonstration, and then a hands-on session with Q&A.
Background.

The WBA was formed more than 30 years ago based on a mission of community support. In 2009, the Wayland Business Association grew to 97 members, and supported several new community organizations with grants. The business group also changed its annual fundraising event from an auction to a night at a Vokes Theatre production.
For more information email info@waylandbusinessassociation.org or call any of the officers shown on the Web site: www.waylandbusinessassociation.org.

WBA members can learn to use special and new features of the group’s Web site, www.waylandbusinessassociation.org, at two training classes in October at Wayland High School’s computer lab, ME3. Above is a typical member online directory listing. Members can edit their listing as often as they would like.

 
WBA members can learn to use the new advertising features of the group’s Web site, www.waylandbusinessassociation.org, at two training classes in October at Wayland High School’s computer lab, ME3. This image shows some of the advertising offers made by members to the public. Two ads (one to the public and one to other members) are free with membership.

 

Share:

Leave a Reply (full real name required)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *