The University of Minnesota Extension has been offering hands-on, ebusiness training throughout the state, often through the MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) program. We’ve featured some stories about the training. This week I’ve received a nice testimonial from an attendee from the classes held in Lac qui Parle (on their tricked out Computer Commuter). I wanted to share the testimonial because I think it gives a good glimpse at what happens in the class and what it means to the attendees.

So shared with permission from the owner of The Cellar Door…

When I took the Computer Commuter Classes on Websites & Social Media I had 50 people who “liked” my business on Facebook. Today I have 206 and it continues to grow every week. Neil showed me how to switch back & forth from my personal site to my store site & how to utilize it. I post pictures of each item that comes in and nearly every picture is either commented on or liked. Sometimes it is shared with a Facebook page that has an audience of 1000+. Customers have come in to purchase something, solely because of a picture that was posed.

An important component has been making it personal, another idea that came from the classes. Facebook helps me connect with younger customers. During the class I realized that my website pictures were slow to download and have since updated the site to make it faster and more entertaining. I have enjoyed continual increase in sales and traffic.
These classes really helped me use the internet to my advantage at little or no cost. It has saved my hours of time trying to figure these things out on my own. At one of the classes I learned how to email a survey. After our Retail Group events, I am able to send one out and receiver invaluable feedback from other retailers in a fraction of the time it took me before learning about this tool.

These classes have been a springboard of ideas for me as an entrepreneur in a small town with limited resources.

Thank you.
Annette Seivert, owner of The Cellar Door in Dawson, MN