OTC offering Social Media classes for businesses

Small business owners, looking to make better use of Facebook, Twitter and online blogs to promote and enhance their services and markets, are invited to enroll in a series of one-night classes offered by Ozarks Technical Community College’s Community Enrichment Center.

The Social Media for Business series will explore all aspects of how to use the various social media outlets to market businesses or to share personal and professional news with others around the world.

Sarah Austin, owner of Austin Creative and an adjunct instructor at OTC will teach the Twitter and blogging classes. She heads up the Springfield Bloggers Association and manages multiple Twitter accounts.

Amy Pope, multimedia sales manager with the News-Leader Media Group, will teach the Facebook classes. She is responsible for growing online revenue by utilizing the company’s websites, mobile, email and social media.

The programs are:

•Twitter for Small Business I (CEC 400): Tuesday, July 20, from 6-8:30 p.m. Participants will learn the basic and advanced functions of Twitter. The cost is $35. The senior rate is $25.

•Twitter for Small Business II (CEC 500): Thursday, July 22, from 6-8:30 p.m. Participants will discuss the tools for managing and enhancing Twitter accounts, along with strategies for incorporating Twitter into their marketing plan. Cost is $35. Senior rate $25.

•Blogging for Small Business (CEC 521): Tuesday, July 27, 5:30-9 p.m. Participants will learn how to set up a basic blog, discuss the benefits of blogging for their business and brainstorm ideas for their own blogs. Cost is $49. Senior rate $25.

• Facebook Marketing I (CEC 550): Wednesday, July 21, from 6-8 p.m. Participants will gain an understanding of how a professional presence on Facebook is valuable. They will learn the details of setting up a fan page as a marketing tool. Cost is $35. Senior rate $25.

•Facebook Marketing II (CEC 560): Wednesday, July 28, from 6-8 p.m. Participants will learn how to take their Facebook page to the next level and increase their fan base by utilizing photos and videos to tell their story and produce effective content posts. Cost is $35. Senior rate $25.

 To register for any or all of the classes, call 447-8888.