5-Week Digital Marketing Programme for Small Businesses in North Devon
Digital Marketing for Small Business is a 5-week, in-person programme delivered in North Devon for sole traders, start-ups and small business owners. Over five weekly sessions, participants improve their website, optimise their Google Business Profile, plan their social media and build a 90-day marketing plan for their own business. Councils, growth hubs and business support organisations commission it to help local businesses attract customers and grow.
Programme at a glance
| Length | 5 weeks |
|---|---|
| Delivery | In person, two sessions a week, 3 hours each |
| Location | Community venues in North Devon, agreed with the commissioner |
| Cohort size | 8–12 people |
| Entry requirements | Basic digital literacy |
| Participants work on | Their own business, every week |
| Participants finish with | A six-month omnichannel marketing plan |
| Reporting | Attendance, completion and business outcomes at six months |
Why fund small business digital skills
Sole traders and micro-businesses make up a large share of the rural economy, yet many rely on word of mouth and have little time for marketing. A short, practical programme, built around each business's own website and customers, delivers changes owners can see within weeks: more visibility, more enquiries and more confidence promoting their business.
Who the programme serves
Sole traders, freelancers and micro-businesses
Start-ups and newly self-employed people
Established small firms that have never planned their marketing
Businesses in priority sectors such as tourism, hospitality, food and drink, trades, retail and the creative industries
Programme structure
Know your customer. Participants define who they serve, what those customers search for and why they'd choose them.
A website that converts. Participants review their site through a customer's eyes and fix the gaps that lose enquiries, or plan a simple site if they don't have one.
Local visibility. Participants set up or improve their Google Business Profile and learn how to gather reviews and appear in local searches.
Focused social media. Participants choose the right one or two platforms and plan a month of content using free design and AI tools.
Measure and plan. Participants identify the few numbers that matter and build a realistic 90-day marketing plan.
Outcomes you can expect
Every participating business leaves with a six month marketing plan and ready-to-use content
Improved online visibility through optimised websites and Google Business Profiles
Increased enquiries and customers, tracked at six months.
Peer networks between local businesses that continue after the programme
Questions from commissioners
Can the programme be targeted at a specific sector or area?
Yes. We can recruit and tailor the programme for a sector, such as tourism businesses, or for businesses in a particular community.
Is it suitable for businesses with very low digital confidence?
Yes. It's designed for non-technical owners. If someone can use email and a smartphone, they can take part.
How do you measure business outcomes?
We record each business's starting point, such as Google Business Profile completeness and current enquiry levels, then follow up at three and six months, to report changes.
Can it run alongside other business support?
Yes. It works well as a practical module within wider start-up, growth or rural business programmes.
How much does it cost?
Cost depends on cohort size and venue. We'll provide an itemised proposal after our first conversation.
