TORTOLA, BVI-The COSME programme aims to improve the business environment for micro, small to medium businesses. COSME supports entrepreneurs by providing how-to workshops that guide them on growing and improving their businesses.
This week in Sint Maarten COSME sponsored the hands-on workshop, Social Media for the Future of Your Business. It was fully subscribed by entrepreneurs with businesses in Sint Maarten, Saba, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Anguilla. This workshop was designed by the marketing and technology agency Electric Villages, in small casual formats, ensuring the information is comprehensive and easy to implement once the entrepreneurs returned to their own offices.
Successful social media in combination with a strong business offering in the OCT region will contribute positively to the growth of these businesses, leading to overall island growth in the business sector.
“Social Media presents a very accessible opportunity for the entrepreneur to develop advertising and reach beyond immediate country borders.” said Diana Hendrickson-Fleming, COSME Key Expert. Entrepreneurs with an understanding of how to match their target customer to the right social media platform will stay competitive in a local and global marketplace. This four-day workshop was hands-on allowing entrepreneurs to develop social media content plans that matched their unique business strategies, and implement these strategies on the social media platforms Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter.
With 41.9 percent of the Caribbean population engaged on the Internet, OCT prepared this workshop for businesses to take advantage of this economic opportunity by expanding their reach with effective social media performance. The success of the workshop was noted by several entrepreneurs. “Even though I am an avid social media user, this workshop opened my eyes to the full potential of social media for the purposes of marketing my startup business. I feel that this will propel my company into success when I put all that I have learned into full use.” said Marejah Smith of TwizTours & Rentals, Anguilla.
COSME will continue to support entrepreneurs in the region with additional Social Media workshops taking place until the end of 2016.