Learn how businesses can grow their exports and increase online international customers with help from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Global eCommerce revenue for businesses is expected to grow to $4,198.5 billion in U.S. dollars by 2025.
On this week’s free webinar, SBDC director Kelly Bearden is joined by James Bledsoe, Director of the eCommerce Solutions Center for the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Andy Seeto, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fresno, CA. The duo provide details of the Website Globalization Review (WGR) Gap Analysis that provides technical and strategic assessment of a business’s ecommerce sales channel efforts. WGR is a search engine optimization diagnostic service that helps businesses grow and increase online international consumers.
Kelly begins the webinar with a look at available capital resources programs, current trends facing small businesses, and more.
This marks the 318th episode of the weekly “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center provides free one-on-one consulting to help small business owners. New and existing businesses can sign up for assistance by clicking here!
TIMESTAMPS - The bold blue link below is a direct link to when James Bledsoe begins his presentation: How to Leverage eCommerce to Grow Your Exports
00:00 Intro
00:32 What’s up today May 1, 2024
02:53 Poll Question #1 How impacted is your business, or you personally, by high interest rates?
04:35 Poll Question #2 "Mayday Malone" Sam Malone was a character in what 80's tv comedy?
06:35 Kelly introduces Andy Seeto, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fresno
07:45 Andy Seeto begins to speak and introduces James Bledsoe, Director of the eCommerce Solutions Center for the U.S. Department of Commerce
10:03 James Bledsoe begins to speak
10:54 eCommerce is Growing
11:26 The global eCommerce revenue is expected to grow to $4,198.5 billion U.S. by 2025
12:07 eCommerce Solutions Center (ESC) Overview
13:29 Internationalization Best Practices
15:32 WGR Gap Analysis Service - “Website Internationalization for Overseas Sales” https://www.trade.gov/ecommerce-resource-videos
17:12 eCommerce Frontline Library - Short articles on small business ecommerce topics from U.S. Commercial Service Trade Specialist experts, updated quarterly www.trade.gov/ecommerce-frontline
18:41 Grow Your Exports Series with ITA and IBT Online https://www.trade.gov/ecommerce-grow-your-exports
19:30 eCommerce Research https://www.trade.gov/report/ecommerce-resource-guide
20:28 eCommerce Business Service Provider (BSP) Directory https://www.trade.gov/ecommerce-bsp-directory
21:31 CS Programs & Resources - https://www.trade.gov/ecommerce
25:48 Connect with your local Trade Specialist www.trade.gov/commercial-services-offices-us
26:34 Kelly rejoins James for discussion
27:00 Question and Answer with attendees
28:34 Andy Seeto discusses Export Documentation & Logistics 10-part Series https://events.trade.gov/en/ExportDocumentationandLogisticsWebinarSeries...
31:05 Economic Corner
32:25 Why interest rates matter
33:21 Capital Corridor – Lines of credit, a great source of funds
37:24 Want to Run a Home Daycare Business?
38:35 Community Calendar – Kern County Economic Summit May 11, 2024 streaming on https://www.kget.com/
39:40 Have you received unsolicited email from SBDC offering small business loans or grants?
40:49 Sign up for our CSUB SBDC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc
41:18 See what tools the SBDC has for your business
