Latest Seminar Events

     February 27th: "Web Marketing: Blogging, Social Networking,
     e-Commerce and SEO"
     Location: MidMichigan Innovation Center in Midland, MI
     Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     60% discount for Chamber Members! Contact us to receive the discount
     code.

     Register Now!                                                                       Scroll for more info >          



Send three people to three 1-day classes and
get a new Web 2.0 site!

     Dates: April 17, May 1 and May 15
     Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
     Location: Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, MI
     Registration Deadline: April 3, 2008

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Ask us for a Free Web Assessment!

     Interested to know more about what you can do online? Ask us for a
     Free Web Assessment! It includes:

  • Initial meeting to assess your company and web needs
  • Follow-up meeting for the Web Assessment presentation
    and proposal on how to improve the site
03/26/2008 Web 2.0 Training Now Available to Mid-Michigan Companies Print E-mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2008

Contact:
Rebecca Kotz, Marketing Director
Bravo:Smart
(989) 839-7060
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web 2.0 Training Now Available to Mid-Michigan Companies

Mid-Michigan, USA (March 26, 2008) – Bravo:Smart is a web solutions company that empowers businesses to create real-time, dynamic experiences for their customers, constituents and communities. We offer both Web Site Services and WebSmart Training to provide businesses with a Web 2.0 presence and enable better communication with their audience. Before you invest any more time and money into your current website, consider this fresh, cost-effective approach from Mid-Michigan Innovation Center‟s newest tenant:

  • Bravo:Smart Web Site Services can help you increase traffic, customer retention and usability; create customer-driven marketing and graphics; and ensure design/architecture flexibility and innovation for your future needs. 
  • WebSmart Training is three 1-day classes and 90 days of hosting and technology support to empower businesses to create a Web 2.0 presence. Up to three employees from each business that registers will gain the tools, templates, resources and technologies to create and maintain a successful Web 2.0 presence. Within 90 days, each business will have a new website that is customer-focused, interactive and maintained/updated internally.

Most small businesses spend over $10,000 dollars for their website, with additional $1,000 yearly maintenance costs, and yet they tend to fall short of their website goals. According to a Gartner Group study, 50% of web sales are lost because visitors cannot easily find the content, products or services they're looking for on websites. A study published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction found that $25 billion in potential online sales are lost due to web performance issues.

So, what‟s the solution? Consumers are increasingly savvy about how they research products and services. They want their searches to be simple, with easy navigation and retrieval mechanisms. However, websites can no longer be only a brochure with stagnant pages. Consumers want real-time information, product/service reviews, easy-to-use features (shopping carts, message boards, customer reviews, blogs) and an overall memorable experience. They want Web 2.0. “Today‟s online presence needs to do more for the customer. Businesses are seeing an ever increasing bottom-line need to provide online services and an environment that supports an ‘online community’,” said Ken Kousky, Dow Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Saginaw Valley State University.

Web 2.0 is the new front door into your business. It is the second Internet generation and refers to user-generated content. It is about providing multiple interactive tools and resources for your audience to easily access and become engaged in both your business and other customers. However, this type of environment can be costly and inefficient to create and maintain, especially through one Webmaster or outside service providers. “At the end of the day, we are empowering employees to make content updates and changes to their website in a controlled environment. This allows companies to have immediacy in response to both their customers and changes in the marketplace,” said Luis Maury, President of Bravo:Smart.

WebSmart Training

WebSmart Training by Bravo:Smart is a workforce training initiative to help businesses create and maintain a successful Web 2.0 presence through internal resources. For only $3,500, Bravo:Smart will provide up to three employees per business with the training, workbooks, resources, templates and tools to create and update the content on your website. These tools are managed with a straightforward interface that is easy to use. No programming involved! We will also give you an environment to create your new site, with 90 days of hosting and technology support.

Within 90 days, your business can have a new site valued at up to $15,000, but your actual costs will be far less. In addition, never pay content update fees again! Every business walks away with a new website that is customer-focused and interactive, with the ability to manage the content internally.

The classes for Session 1 will be held on May 6, May 20 and June 3, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Saginaw Valley State University, Curtiss Hall, Room C141. The registration deadline is April 29, 2008. If you are unable to attend Session 1, there will be two more training sessions this fall.

To register for Session 1 or for more information, go to www.bravosmart.com. You can also call Rebecca Kotz at 989-839-7060 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4520 E. Ashman, Suite O l Midland, MI l (989) 839-7060 www.bravosmart.com