Dumfries & Galloway VS Quality Assurance Workshops

VisitScotland are holding four Quality Assurance workshops over the coming weeks to try and demystify the schemes and increase participation, with the help of Dumfries & Galloway Council.

These are informal sessions including presentations by both VisitScotland and Dumfries & Galloway Council. They will focus on Quality Assurance and what that means for a business by way of features and benefits. At the same time they will try and demystify the grading system. D&G Council will talk about the support they can give and also mention their Financial Assistance for Small Business Grant Scheme, which is now open.

Attendees will be not receive any hard sell. VisitScotland assures members that businesses should only join VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme if they can see a business benefit.

Forthcoming CPD Opportunities for May

Visit Scotland Highland Tourism Tour

Caithness Horizon Centre – Monday 11 May – 11am to 3pm

Portree VisitScotland Information Centre – Wednesday 13 May – 11am to 3pm

Fort William VisitScotland Information Centre – Friday 15 May – 11am to 3pm

One to one appointments with your Visit Scotland Industry Relationship Manager. Learn more about the different ways your business can tap into opportunities available to promote your business and make the most of your visitscotland.com listing.

Delegates will also be given the opportunity to hear about the importance of offering a quality experience for visitors, with help from VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance Schemes.

More on this event – http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/events_and_training/submit_event/event_repository/highland_tourism_tour.aspx

Visit Scotland Accessible Tourism Workshop

Enterprise Building, Stirling – Tuesday 12 May – 13:30 to 15:30

This workshop will help you to describe your business facilities and services to visitors with a range of access needs. Participants will be given simple, practical help to develop an access statement or guide.

More on this event – http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/events_and_training/submit_event/event_repository/accessible_tourism_workshop,_s.aspx

Going for growth… investing in Perthshire’s Visitor economy

Perth Concert Hall, Perth. – 14 May – 10:00 to 12:00

Free event to find out about plans for the region and how your business can benefit from future opportunities.

A line-up of exciting speakers throughout the morning:

• Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, will share with us the importance of our thriving sector and the ripple effect that places it at the heart of the Scottish economy.
• Jane Ferguson, Director of Audiences and Media at the V&A Museum of Design Dundee will highlight the regional impact for tourism that this major national development will bring in 2018 and on the run up to opening.
• John McCrone, City Development Manager from Perth & Kinross Council will discuss plans for Perth City looking towards 2020
• Gwilym Gibbons, local Perth figure, will talk to us about the future of Perth Theatre, progress so far, future aspirations and business benefits.

Help is at hand – to provide you with practical help and advice for any business query, we have invited the following exhibitors to come along for the morning; Business Gateway, Federation of Small Businesses, Scottish Enterprise, Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, VisitScotland and Perth & Kinross Council.

You’ll also have the chance to network with other local businesses over tea and coffee.

More on this event – http://www.visitscotland.org/business_support/events_and_training/submit_event/event_repository/going_for_growth_investing.aspx

Free Tourism Webinars

19 May – 09:30 – 10:15 – Leisure Cycling
21 May – 09:30 – 10:15 – Marine Tourism
27 May – 09:30 – 10:15 – Cultural Tourism
1 May – 11:00 – 11:45 – Food & Drink Tourism

• Hear about how to make the most of new markets
• Learn what other businesses have done to maximise business opportunities
• Pick up some practical tips to capitalise on your local culture
• Ask questions and receive an instant reply all without leaving your business

Sign up now – http://www.hie.co.uk/growth-sectors/tourism/tourism-intelligence/webinar-series/registration-form.html

Facebook Masterclass for Business

15 May – 09:30 – 12:30

Venue : Milngavie Enterprise Centre, Ellangowan Court, Milngavie, G62 8PH, East Dunbartonshire

Event description

There’s more to Facebook than simply updating your status. This workshop will look at:

• Experienced a drop in your reach figures – what you need to know about Edgerank
• How to attract more ‘real’ likes
• The best ways to engage your audience
• The best apps to enhance your Facebook page
• Why you shouldn’t schedule posts or repeat content
• How you can monetise Facebook
• Facebook advertising and boosting posts – when should you do it
• Why Facebook fans are different from Twitter followers
• Managing your reputation – how do you deal with a complaint/bad review
• Linking with other pages for a greater reach
• Competitions – which types get the desired results

This workshop will give you practical ideas and best practice tips on the most effective ways to use Facebook for your business and ultimately engage your target audience.

More on this event – http://www.bgateway.com/events/event?id=c0d22928-8e2d-4baa-bb5b-a48700acc15a

Improve Your Search Engine Ranking

27 May – 13:30 – 16:30

Venue : The Falkirk Stadium, 3rd Floor, Falkirk, FK2 9EE, Falkirk

The workshop will look at:

• how search engines work
• the importance of good copy and meta data
• registering with major search engines
• updating the site
• how to measure the improvement to your site

By the end of the workshop you will have the relevant knowledge to enable you to improve your search engine positioning.

More on this event – http://www.bgateway.com/events/event?id=849576e4-8132-4fb0-b270-a43c00c666a0

Google Analytics

8 May – 10:00 – 13:00%