When it comes to marketing for small businesses, money isn't everything! In this course, you'll learn how to use the same marketing tricks the big companies employ—without making a big dent in your wallet.  

As you build your own customized marketing plan step-by-step, you'll discover how to attract your target audiences, entice customers to buy your product or service, and keep buyers coming back for more. In addition, you'll find out how to generate the referrals that are crucial to your company's success. You'll get tips on evaluating your tactics, tracking your results, and fine-tuning your approach so it gets better every year. Best of all, the small business marketing strategies you'll learn will fit into any budget—and some are even free! 

With the help of videos, spreadsheets, and hands-on activities, you'll build your skills in each lesson. You'll master cost-effective strategies including strategic partnerships, local marketing, search engine optimization, social networking, e-mail marketing, lead generation, and niche marketing. Along the way, you'll see many real-world examples from other small businesses much like yours. 

Whether you’re new to advertising or looking for a refresher, this course will make you a marketing pro. And by the time you're done, you’ll have a personalized plan of action for increasing your sales—all on a shoestring budget.

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking “Get Adobe Flash Player” and “Get Adobe Reader”).

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Glynns Thomas.

Glynns Thomas has 20 years of advertising and marketing experience. She has worked for several of the world’s best-known advertising agencies and was a Vice President of Internet Marketing at Wells Fargo Bank. Today, she’s an independent small business marketing consultant and a volunteer with SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business, providing marketing advice to small businesses across the nation.

“ This course was much more than I expected. It answered all my questions, and much much more. Thank you for giving me all the helpful advice I needed, and so fast.... Thank you, thank you. ”

“ As a business owner this course was immensely helpful. I'm currently operating my second business and I feel that I've always been lacking in my marketing efforts. Owning a business doesn't afford much time so this was the perfect opportunity to learn at my own pace. The course and instructor provided so many ideas that I have a year's worth of work to do! I'm happy about this as it opened my mind and hopefully opportunities to increase my sales. In fact, I have already implemented several marketing strategies based on this course. I can't thank the teacher enough for her detailed and prompt responses to my questions and those of others which I found helpful as well. I would highly recommend this course. Very up to date and well presented. ”

“ Excellent course. I am in the process of starting a business and this course could not have come at a better time. I feel that I am now well equipped to start my marketing campaign and I am much more confident about marketing my business. ”

“ This course exceeded my expectations! I learned so much valuable information. I cannot wait to utilize all my new knowledge. Glynns taught in an easy-to-follow format. The informative was fresh and extremely useful. My interest in marketing has grown to a whole new level. Thank you Glynns!! ”

“ This course was very thorough and informative. The information was presented clearly and logically with alot of extra resources added through the supplementary materials and discussion area answers. Our instructor, Glynns, proved to be exceptionally knowledgeable in all areas of our study. In addition, she spent alot of time supplying very complete, personalized answers and suggestions in our discussion areas. Her guidance will surely help our marketing efforts! Thanks for a great course! ”

“ This class has been extremely helpful in moving towards a postive and successful future. I have learned things that have made the bigger picture much clearer and given me skills that I feel will definitely help me in my endeavor. Thank you. ”

“ So much great material here -- good resources and action planning aids. All done in a to-the-point but thorough enough way. Thanks for sharing your expertise! ”

“ This instructor, she is fabulous. Jam-packed the course with detailed insightful information (including examples) for the perfectly identified audience. The instructor's marketing experience, teaching expertise, and excellent communication skills are apparent on every page. Highly recommend. ”

“ I absolutely loved the class! I walked away more educated than I was when I started and I had a great time completing the class. ”

“ This was the first class, in a long time, where I felt like I really got my money's worth...and then some. Glynns Thomas is a true teacher, her class was effective, efficient and applicable. I really appreciated the step-by-step approach, and her way of explaining and teaching. It made you stretch, but it wasn't out of reach. I feel like I have a road map, directions and "how to" for my new business. Thank you! ”