The American Library Association (ALA) recently announced that Fayetteville Public Library (FPL) has been selected to participate in Libraries Lead with Digital Skills, an initiative of ALA and the Public Library Association (PLA), sponsored by Grow with Google, the tech company’s economic opportunity initiative.
“We are thrilled to be one of the Arkansas libraries chosen for this funding,” said Heather Robideaux, manager of adult services at FPL. “The opportunity to integrate our own program offerings with Grow with Google training materials is invaluable to our patrons as we strive to empower small businesses to grow online and to assist job seekers as they prepare for and find work.”
As part of the funding, FPL will host a series of free “Grow Your Small Business” workshops throughout the day on Friday, September 20 geared to help small businesses flourish through improved digital skills. Workshop topics include:
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WORKSHOP 1: “Get Your Business Online with Google” | 9–10 a.m.
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Learn about Google My Business, a free tool for local businesses who want to connect with customers on Google Search and Maps.
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WORKSHOP 2: “Reach Customers Online with Google” | 10–11 a.m.
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Learn how to find customers online and how to promote your business using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Smart Campaigns in Google Ads; additional tools such as Google My Business and Google Trends will also be introduced.
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WORKSHOP 3: “Using Data to Drive Business Growth” | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
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Learn how data and analytics can help your business gain insight into how consumers engage online using Google Analytics to analyze customer trends.
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WORKSHOP 4: “HR Struggles and Solutions for Small Business” | 12–1 p.m.
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Lindsi Huffaker, FPL’s Human Resource Manager, offers insights on common challenges most small businesses face in terms of human resources.
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WORKSHOP 5: “Light Lunch and Networking” | 1–2 p.m.
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FPL will host a casual lunch break and provide businesses a chance to network with other attendees.
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WORKSHOP 6: “Target New Customers with ReferenceUSA” | 2–3 p.m.
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Join a ReferenceUSA representative for a detailed look into how this free library service can help your business with market research and finding new potential customers.
Each workshop requires separate registration which can be found on the FPL website at https://www.faylib.org/calendar. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet to the workshops.
For more information, contact Heather Robideaux at 479-856-7207, or email her at hrobideaux@faylib.org.
About Grow with Google:
The Grow with Google initiative draws on Google’s 20-year history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow. Through this initiative, Google aims to help everyone across America – those who make up the workforce of today and those who will drive the workforce of tomorrow – access the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses. Grow With Google has made a commitment to deliver free, in-person workshops for job seekers, small businesses, and library staff in all 50 states. Learn more about the tour and upcoming events at grow.google/events.
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