Editorial
It is perhaps stating the obvious to say that Ireland has done extremely well economically over the last twenty years. By developing a skilled workforce, a responsive education system and a tax-efficient environment, we have managed to encourage multi-nationals to set up base here. For that, we are the envy of many economies throughout the world, many of whom regularly send ministerial delegations to find out how we achieved our economic success. The Digital Hub regularly gets visitors from far flung locations to look at what Ireland is doing in the digital media space.
However, the world and its mother also know that things are rapidly changing. Globalisation, that nascent beast from which our wealth derived, has now out-grown us and made it far easier for other countries to offer the same opportunities to large multi-nationals that we once offered. In response, the government have smartly realised that in a global economy, knowledge is key to survival. As such, we are investing billions into research & development to make Ireland an innovative, knowledge centre in line with the objectives of the Lisbon Agenda. In turn, the multi-nationals have largely stayed and moved their activities up the value chain from manufacturing to knowledge working. But for Ireland, that still only off-sets the problem for another little while. What happens when India and China catch up and start producing knowledge workers at the same rate, but in vaster numbers? Where do we go then?
The answer is quite simple: we must seek to emulate the United States and create large, sustainable, indigenous but globally-traded companies based out of Ireland. A simple answer, yes, but hard to achieve. Part of the problem is the very multi-nationals that have bought us our prosperity; like tall trees in the forest, they take most of the light and make it hard for saplings to grow. Many entrepreneurs, especially in the technology field, come from the multi-national sector where they learnt their trade – companies like Digital and Microsoft. Very often their start-ups concentrate on niche products or services that the multi-national organisation did not have (the gap in the market) – or they try to emulate a product or service offering in a better and more cost-effective way. These indigenous companies often become client companies of Enterprise Ireland and may go on to seek investment from the venture capital community. However, it seems inevitable that if they are successful in the short term, they will be bought out either through a merger or acquisition. For the venture capital investor, this ensures that they can exit with a high return. For the entrepreneur, it means cash in the pocket and the ability to move on to the next venture. However, for Ireland, it inevitably means that intellectual property is suddenly transported outside the country. The return on investment is restricted to some income from tax.
Part of the problem is that we don’t have the same culture of share-holding that exists in the United States. Often in the US workers are shareholders in the company they work for (thus incentivising them) or else their pensions are invested in shares in other US companies. This gives a sense of ownership and national pride that is intrinsically linked with the company – and by extension, the global success of the US economy. In Ireland, however, there seems to be a different attitude towards success.
 Leary, CEO of Ryanair |
For example, Ryanair - the European Low Fares airline - is, without doubt, a monumental Irish success; a European scale company built out of Ireland. However, it is constantly the target of derision and sniping by the media press which seem to have taken a philosophical disdain for the companies commercial low-fares approach.
Often on the letters pages of various newspapers – both broadsheet and tabloid – members of the Irish public join in the bashing. A much more positive approach would be to encourage Irish people to buy shares in such companies in their infancy, to support and benefit from its success. I’m sure then that the general travelling public – if they were shareholders – would be a little bit more appreciative of Ryanair’s cost-saving techniques.
But this attitude is not only aimed at publicly-listed companies. The Hub highlighted in a previous edition the lack of front page headlines accorded to Riverdeep when it merged with Houghton-Mifflin, easily the most audacious corporate move an Irish company has done in the last decade. Why is this? Why don’t we celebrate success?
We need to engender in our culture an understanding of investment. Rather then squirreling our disposable income away in low interest deposit accounts, we should encourage people to invest in Irish companies. Our education system should nurture in our children an appreciation of investment in the national economic well-being and personal wealth – in much the same way as they nurture an appreciation of civic duty, spirituality and personal hygiene. This may sound like a capitalist manifesto but in reality it is an extremely “socially-conscious” call. We need to build and maintain our wealth within the country if we are to function as a fully-inclusive society.
From an economic perspective, the outlook for Ireland is still very positive. Enterprise Ireland note that a number of companies in its 'scaling division', which focuses on grooming future Irish multinationals, are on track to hit €100m sales by 2010, with acquisition activity playing a big part in their growth. The State agency also say that a further 19 scaling companies, which cover all sectors, have surpassed thresholds of €10m, €15m and €20m in global sales last year.
As part of its three-year strategy Transforming Irish Industry 2004-2007, EI set up its scaling division to work with eligible companies to grow them to a scale capable of competing more aggressively in international markets. Head of the division, Patricia McLister agrees that developing a solid base of Irish multinationals is a key element in Ireland's continued economic growth.
She also noted that acquisition as a strategic growth option has been a factor in more than 50% of scaling companies. This sentiment is further endorsed by the Irish technology Investment House, Whitebridge Capital, which is running a conference called “Creating Scale through Acquisition Conference" on the 18th of September at the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin. The
The firm, which specialises in the technology and life sciences sectors, said Irish firms need to make themselves capable of generating significantly higher revenues to complete on a global stage.
"If Irish technology companies are to really compete at an international level, they need to upscale their revenues to EUR100 million plus. One of the potential drivers to this is if acquisition-led strategy becomes an integral part of Irish companies. This approach is currently not widespread," said Mark Fenelon, director of Whitebridge Capital.
If there is any underlying subtext to this article, it is this: it is vital that Ireland encourages entrepreneurs to create companies of scale and the digital media industry is a perfect vehicle for that. Look at the success stories in recent years like Google and YouTube or the social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook. These companies have scaled with their customers and achieved global reach. They are very much American success stories built on simple ideas and invested in. Now they have become global brands. There is nothing to stop Irish companies emulating them - only ourselves and our mindset towards notions of success.
Social Networking
The Hub has never really been a big user of online social networking sites, preferring instead the face to face of a pub or restaurant. Having signed up to the granddaddy social networking site, LinkedIn, many moons ago, we found the experience cold and vaguely annoying. There was no palpable sense of networking or sharing of information. Instead, there was a begrudging sense of sharing contacts from the Linked In interface, which consistently tried to get you on to their subscription service to benefit from the full networking possibilities. Every now and again, we get a mail request from some Linked In subscriber who has found our name, but rarely is there any follow up.
As for the Web 2.0 craze, The Hub has dabbled with MySpace and Bebo but felt somewhat out of the loop, generationally speaking. MySpace was the hip “wunderkid” fuelled by music fans and bought by the far from hip News Corporation when Rupert Murdoch finally turned his magnanimous attention to the internet five years after everyone else had fled. Bebo, on the other hand, is more the teen delight – the online equivalent of the school playground – and has all the cliques and fashion statements that go along with it. None of this took The Hub’s fancy. |
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However, in recent weeks that has all changed thanks to the social networking phenomenon that is Facebook. Within a few days of reluctantly signing up, we have become well and truly addicted. Why? Well, there are a few simple things that differentiate Facebook from the others, in our opinion. One is that it is truly about “social networking” and you can only see another person’s profile when a friend request has been accepted.
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This gives the illusion of both privacy and exclusivity that I think appeals to a generation not comfortable with parading their every thought online. (However, privacy is still an illusion!) Secondly, is that it is driven by the image – “the face” – which re-inforces the social element. Among our peers – who are all over thirty – this has been the most phenomenal aspect. It literally has put us in contact with hundreds of friends that we had lost contact with. Within a matter of a week, The Hub had made and accepted over 50 friend requests – and this soon led to offline meetings arranged through Facebook. One single colleague (who has asked to remain nameless) claims that Facebook has re-invigorated his social life by re-introducing him to a whole coterie of ex-flings who are also single!
News feeds keep subscribers up to date with activities among the networks – everything from new photos and videos uploaded to new “applications”. And this is what is giving Facebook the necessary “stickiness” that we think will continue to distinguish it from its other rivals - the “applications”. Facebook made the very clever decision to “open source” access to its system allowing other developers – both commercial and amateur – to offer applications to the network. The Hub believes this is an important lesson for anyone thinking of entering into the Web 2.0 fray. The internet – in its collective consciousness - hates anything that is proprietary. Proprietariness is old media, old technology. It’s Web 1.0.
So what are these applications? Well, at present they sound incredibly banal but are extremely effective in maintaining and driving traffic and activity on the website. Popular applications include Movie Comparison (sponsored by the movie site Flixster) which allow Facebook users to rate a series of films and then challenge anyone in their network to a similar test. The outcome is effectively a “social matching” tool – which outlines whether you are “soul mates” or “should divorce”. |
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Likewise, other applications allow you to share music tastes, cities you’ve visited and alcohol among other social pursuits. One particularly smart application called “The Sorting Hat” will appeal to any Harry Potter fans. It puts you through a quiz that sorts you into what guild you’d be in if you went to Hogwarts School for Wizardry. One can easily see how these simple, smart applications can softly sell commercial product (like Harry Potter) without being in your face (though they will be in your Facebook!). All the while, with the help of these applications, your network grows and becomes ironically, more intimate.
A harsh lesson that Facebook teaches is the fickle nature of the web. Only last year MySpace was the “belle of the ball” with Murdoch’s $500 million spend looking like a smart bet – but now it looks like Facebook – fuelled by its popularity among university graduates with free time and disposable income – may well usurp the throne. That is until the next big thing.
And the next big thing might have its European offices based out of The Digital Hub: It’s called Moli (www.moli.com) and its mantra is “Content, Collaboration, Commerce, Control – Expect More. Do More.” Moli, according to its EMEA Finance Director, Gavan Walsh, sees itself as the next generation of “Networking Online” and is aiming to provide compelling editorial content combined with powerful content sharing and e-commerce tools.
Moli is perhaps unique in that not only is it aimed at individuals, users can also set up organisational and business accounts to enable them to communicate, collaborate and sell their goods and services through the network. It is currently in its National Public Beta Test in the US along with the UK and Ireland.
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One important defining feature that Moli has is that it gives users control over their privacy and online security, something that is becoming more important – especially to older web users. This is an issue that has plagued other social networking sites. Moli has three levels of “permissions” – Public (open to everyone), Private (users know it exists but need permission to access) and Hidden (invisible and access through invite only).
Another unusual aspect to its strategy is that Moli has also taken a more” broadcast” approach in terms of content, as opposed to the User-generated approach favoured by most social networking sites. Moli instead offers original content, including webisodes and other HD video programming. There is also rich editorial content – produced by a seasoned editorial staff of journalists, bloggers and video producers – in eight categories: Arts & Entertainment, Fashion and Design, Life and Love, Sports and Fitness, Travel and Leisure, Business, Technology and Worthy Causes. There is also editorial content from a range of content partners being provided.
Moli aims to supply most of the commonly used web tools in one place - Media Sharing applications, Blogs, Message Boards, Mail, Video Chat, Calendars, Bulletins, RSS feeds
The site will soon also provide secure transactional features for Member stores that allow members to create their own online stores and sell merchandise to other Moli users. Like Facebook and MySpace, page design can be easily customised through “Drag and Drop” (Ajax) Technology.
News
GAME :ON, A Cyber Games Festival
Home to a number of Irish and international Games companies, The Digital Hub is also host this September to GAME :ON, a Cyber Games Festival, the highlight of which is the Irish Final of World Cyber Games. If you are not a “Cyber Athlete”, don’t worry there are also a number of other fun events for everyone.
Saturday 8th September
Digital Treasure Hunt
Have fun and win some prizes in a great family day out. 4 clues will be posted online, starting on Saturday 8th Sept with the first clue on www.worldcybergamesireland.com. Each clue will follow throughout the week, collect the answers and bring them to Digital Exchange, Crane St on September 15th at 12 noon, to be entered into a draw to win.
Monday 10th of September
Industry Seminar Talk Digital: “Social Networking in Games”
Panellists:
John Breslin - DERI, NUI Galway, founder of Boards.ie
Mark Taylor - Head of Content, Eircom
Jamie McCormick - Operations Manager, Xbox Live Gaming Centre
Peter Lynch - CEO Eirplay Games
Joe Drumgoole - CEO Putplace.com
A representative from www.moli.com
Chair: John Collins -The Irish Times
Venue: Presentation Room, Digital Depot, Roe Lane, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8 (Off Thomas Street)
Time: 1pm
Registration: Register to attend by emailing exhibit@thedigitalhub with “Talk Digital” as the subject heading. Please note there is limited availability
Tuesday 11th – Thursday 13th of September
Digital Hub Companies Games League – Heats
Please note this is only open to Digital Hub Companies only
Venue: Cobblestone café, Digital Exchange, Crane Street, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8
Time: 1pm – 2pm daily
Thursday 13th September
ReelTime - Digital Film Screening
Screening of the 1982 classic film Tron.
Venue: Digital Exchange, Crane Street, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8 (Near Guinness Storehouse)
Time: 6.30pm
Tickets: Entry is free, but as public viewing is limited please request a ticket in advance by emailing exhibit@thedigitalhub.com or call 01 4806200
Saturday 15th of September
World Cyber Games Ireland Final
Gamers from all over Ireland will meet in The Digital Hub to battle it out for an opportunity to represent Ireland in the Grand Final Seattle, USA.
Venue: Digital Exchange, Crane Street, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8 (Near Guinness Storehouse)
Time: 10am Registration for participants, Public viewing from 12 noon, Award ceremony and announcement of Team Ireland ~ 9pm
Tickets: Entry is free, but as public viewing is limited please request a ticket in advance by emailing exhibit@thedigitalhub.com or call 01 4806200
Games Master class
Need to up your skills on PGR3 or Guitar Hero? Find out how from Ireland’s foremost games players. They will be in The Digital Hub to teach you all the tricks of the trade and shortcuts in selected Xbox and PC games.
Venue: Digital Exchange, Crane Street, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8 (Near Guinness Storehouse)
Time: 3pm and 5pm
Tickets: Entry is free, but as public viewing is limited please request a ticket in advance by emailing exhibit@thedigitalhub.com or call 01 4806200
Digital Hub Open House
Come visit CTRL<space> where you can explore the close relationship between technology and creativity. Have a go at playing the latest games, singing karaoke, editing videos or record your own newscast!
Meet Ireland’s Dare to Be Digital team who recently returned from Protoplay 2007 (www.daretobedigital.com/protoplay/) and ask them questions on gaming, game development and their Dare experience.
Check out the games that were created at this year’s Mission Maker Summer Camp and at other fun stuff that has been created in the Digital Hub Learning Initiative Courses.
Venue: Digital Exchange, Crane Street, The Digital Hub, Dublin 8 (Near Guinness Storehouse)
Time: From 12pm
Tickets: Entry is free, but as public viewing is limited please request a ticket in advance by emailing exhibit@thedigitalhub.com or call 01 4806200
Lead Tutor required for Digital Media Workshops
Exploration Station and the Digital Hub Development Agency plans to deliver a series of multimedia workshops to Youth Workers who will then deliver the workshops to their youth groups. The Lead Tutor will train the Youth Workers in a series of digital media workshops. The Youth Workers will have had some experience in using digital media with their groups but may also require some post workshop support.
Exploration Station will be Ireland’s first purpose-built interactive centre designed to inspire a passion for discovery. This Project will give disadvantaged teens the opportunity to give input to the start up of a national institution. The young people will learn to use digital technologies such as film making, animation, photography, open source software and digital map making in innovative new ways.
This project will run for one year commencing with planning in August 2007.
The Lead Tutor will be expected to have excellent digital media skills and have taught young people in the past. He or she will have 20 hours development time, 40 hours contact time and 10 hours evaluation time and will be assisted by an Assistant Tutor during the contact time of the course. This effectively translates into 10 workshop sessions with the Youth Workers. The Lead Tutor will be expected to work closely with the Community Projects Co-ordinator to compile a final report on the conclusion of the project. The Lead Tutor will report to the Digital Hub Development Agency who will contract him or her to provide the services outlined above. The Lead Tutor will be expected to augment/develop existing workshop templates as well as creating some new ones.
Roles and Responsibilities
• To contribute to the course design
• To attend regular meetings with the Project partners at key milestones
• To lead the workshops with each group
Interested candidates should have some of the following experience:
• Knowledge of digital technology to a training level of some of basic digital media skills:
• Ability to work with community organisations
• Good time management skills
• Experience of working with children in formal/informal educational settings
• Experience creating Digital Media courses suitable for younger audiences
• Good communication skills, good team working and community relations skills.
Workshops aim to commence October 2007
Closing date for applications: Friday 21st September 2007
Please forward (by post or email) a letter of application together with current Curriculum Vitae to:
Justine Murphy
Liberties Learning Initiative
Digital Hub
Crane Street, Dublin 8
Telephone: 01-480 600
Email:
learning@thedigitalhub.com
Projected Weekends:
The Digital Hub has launched the second series of Projected Weekends. Last year saw the successful pilot project which attracted participation of many national and international artists. We are now opening the call for this year’s series that will run from Sept 2007 through to March 2008. If you have work that you would like to see projected outdoors in The Digital Hub, send your proposal to email address below. This is an open call; there is no deadline for submissions. All work of any subject and discipline will be considered. As the areas that are being used to display the projects are residential areas, sound will not be played on the street.
More info: exhibit@thedigitalhub.com. www.myspace.com/projectedweekends
or contact Elaine Tel: 01 4806200
Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund
The Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund is funded by Irish Aid and run by Connect-World. It is a grant scheme aimed at assisting and promoting more and better quality media coverage of development issues in the Irish media. For more information, go to www.connect-world.net and follow the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund button.
Upcoming Deadlines are as follows:
Applicants Workshop Tuesday 18 September 2007
Standard Grant Round II Monday 1 October 2007
TV Seed Grant Monday 3 March 2008
Standard Grant Round I Wednesday 30 April 2008
Standard Grant Round II Tuesday 30 September 2008
Connect-World will host workshops to help applicants prepare an application for the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund. The workshops will introduce participants to a range of development issues and provide information on how to make an application for funding. There will be a workshop on the Standard Grant and another on the TV Seed Production Grant, with a buffet lunch in between. The workshops will take place on Tuesday 18 September at the Mercer Hotel, Mercer Street, Dublin 2.
Places at the workshops will fill quickly, so please book your place as soon as possible by emailing mediafund@connect-world.net or calling 01-4806222.
Community Radio & Computer Skills
Course: Community Radio & Computer Skills
Date: Commencement on 5th October 2007 for 24 weeks duration
Class Times: Thursday (TBC) 10.00am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Fees: Full Course Fee €840 & Reduced Course Fee €275
Description: This course is delivered by The Digital Hub / Liberties Learning Initiative, to help learners prepare for life-long learning and to seek opportunities in voluntary or paid work in community radio or progression to further education in radio and media production. No previous experience required, but you must be over 18 years of age at time of registration.
Units of Study:
- Understanding Community Radio
- Radio Studio Interviewing
- Location Recording for Radio
- Using a Computer and Managing Files
- Basic Concepts of Information Technology
- Introduction to Digital Audio Editing
- Word Processing
- Using the Internet for Information and Communications
- Research for Radio
- Introduction to Live Radio Broadcasting
Other information:
How to apply: Please contact learning@thedigitalhub.com or 4806200 to request an application form
Closing date for applications: 7th September 2007
No of places available: 12
Certification:
FETAC Level 4 Modules: Community Radio, L 12144 & Information Technology Skills, B10135
Registration: 5th October 2007
Co-ordinator: Bríd Milliken
If you would like more information on any of our digital media courses please email learning@thedigitalhub.com or call 01 4806200
Events
September 4th: First Tuesday - The future of Irish telecoms 2007
Location: The Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Golden Lane,, Dublin 8, Ireland
Time: 18:30
Price: EUR20
Chairman: Guy Johnson - European Telecommunications Management. Panel: Smart Telecom - Garfield Connolly; ALTO - Liam O'Halloran; Eircom - Speaker TBC; IEDR - David Curtin.
More info: david@investnet.ie
http://www.firsttuesday.ie
Tel: +353 1 7008508
September 5th: Global Security Week Seminar - Privacy in the 21st Century
Location: Jury’s Croke Park Hotel, Dublin.
Time: 2pm
Price: Free
The seminar will highlight how businesses and individuals can better protect personal information. To discuss this topic are the following keynote speakers: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner -- Tony Delaney, Assistant Commissioner; Microsoft - Caspar Bowden, Microsoft, Chief Privacy Advisor EMEA.
More info: brian@globalsecurityweek.com
http://bhconsulting.blogs365.org/wordpress/?p=123
Tel: 01-4404065
September 5th: IIA Debate: You can't make money out of Blogs!
Location: The Vaults, IFSC, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 6:30pm
Price: EUR10 Members (EUR20 Non-Members)
The IIA Autumn Debate addresses the thorny question of monetising Blogs. Come along for a stimulating discussion and to heckle from the audience!
More info: events@iia.ie
http://www.iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=152
Tel: 01-542 4154
September 13th: Online Marketing Best Practices
Location: Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Rd,, Dublin 4.
Time: 9:30am
Price: EUR255 Members (EUR365 Non Members)
The IIA presents a full day course that reviews all the key techniques needed to execute a successful and effective Internet Marketing strategy.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://www.iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=156
Tel: 01-542 4154
September 14th: EnterpriseSTART Programme
Location: Dublin Region, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 18:00
Price: EUR275
Enterprise Ireland is continuing its EnterpriseSTART programme in the fourth quarter of 2007. Delivered over six weekends, this programme offers a unique, realistic market-place perspective on what is involved in creating a competitive and sustainable enterprise. With minimum academic involvement, each topic is brought to you by business people and entrepreneurs with specific expertise in starting and developing new businesses. The heavily subsidized cost (75%) per participant is EUR275. The next programme dates and locations are: September 14th 2007 IT Tallaght, Dublin 24; October 6th 2007 DBIC Guinness Enterprise Centre Dublin 2; and November 2nd 2007 IT Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Potential candidates can book a place by emailing eva.murdoch@enterprise-ireland.com
More info: eva.murdoch@enterprise-ireland.com
http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/startbusiness
Tel: 01 6092153
September 15th: World Cyber Games 2007 -- Ireland Championship Preliminary
Location: The Digital Hub, Dublin 8, Ireland
Time: 8am
Following on from the success of what turned out to be one of Ireland's largest and most successful LANs, the Irish Finals of World Cyber Games, will be held again this year in The Digital Hub on the 15th and 16th of September. Gamers from all over Ireland will battle it out to earn a place on Team Ireland, who will represent the nation at the Grand Final of World Cyber Games in Seattle. If you think you have what it takes to compete in the Grand Final against some of the World's top gamers, visit the web site for details on participating in the Irish heats or e-mail your enquiry. Limited spectator tickets will be available for the final on 15th of September. Email exhibit@thedigitalhub.com for a ticket.
More info: exhibit@thedigitalhub.com
http://www.worldcybergamesireland.com
Tel: +353 (0)1 480 6200
September 18th: Is Your Website Working for You?
Location: The Edge, May's Meadow, Laganbank Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Time: 2pm
Price: EUR30 Members (EUR45 Non-Members)
The IIA and B4B, the Networking Forum for Northern Ireland, present a half day seminar designed to get the most from your website and to make it truly work for your business. The world marketplace has become much smaller with the extensive use of the internet. This opens up almost every market as a potential customer base for Northern Ireland organisations. To ensure business success, you need to integrate your online strategy with your offline strategy and use all the internet technologies and services that are now available to you. The IIA and B4B invite you to this afternoon seminar designed to show you what makes a successful online business model, the essence of good website design, how to drive traffic to your site and how to incorporate new media such as blogging and podcasting into your internet marketing mix.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=155
Tel: +353 1 542 4154
September 20th: IT Village at the Building Exhibition
Location: Simmonscourt, RDS, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 11am
Price: Free for trade. Public EUR15
The IT Village is Ireland's first 'IT in Construction' show and takes place alongside the Building Exhibition - Ireland's biggest building industry event RDS 20th - 22nd September, 2007. The show is running in association with the Construction Information Technology Alliance (CITA) and will allow visitors to see the latest technological advances, view demonstrations of hardware and software and try all the latest products before they buy.
More info: tim@exhibitionsireland.com http://www.irishbuildingexhibition.com/itvillage.htm
Tel: 00353 (0) 1 288 8821
September 25th: The Internet and eCommerce: Make Money from your Website
Location: Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo, Ireland
Time: 2pm
Price: EUR20
Introducing speakers from eBay, OSD, Realex Payments and NCBI, the IIA and Sligo County Enterprise Board present a half day eBusiness Seminar. You have a website but now you need to drive traffic to your site and really integrate it into your business model. This half day seminar will explore how you can generate sales leads online, how to make your site accessible to all and when does it make sense to incorporate eCommerce and ePayments into your site. eBay will also present the opportunities to use eBay.ie as a business tool.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=153
Tel: 01-542 4154
September 27th: Internet Marketing for 21st Century Businesses
Location: Viking Ramada Hotel, Waterford, Ireland
Time: 9am
Price: 90 (SME), 295 (Large)
This seminar overflows with ideas, tips, insider secrets and strategies for turning your website into a highly trained 24/7 global sales executive. Presented as a programme of the 2007 National Centre of Excellence, the seminar will teach you how to design and build effective internet marketing campaigns for sales lead generation. The seminar is non-technical and is aimed at owner managers in the SME sector and senior marketing management in larger companies.
More info: seminars@praxisnow.ie
http://www.praxisnow.ie/NCE.htm
Tel: 01-2360076
September 27th: How to Raise Venture Capital
Location: The Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship, 3013 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin.
Time: 8am
Price: EUR495
This interactive one day course on how to raise venture capital has been designed by the Irish Venture Capital Association (IVCA) in conjunction with the Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship. The course objective is to outline the process involved in raising venture capital. The course is primarily targeted an entrepreneurs (Owner/Manager) of either new, or existing companies. To find out more visit the website.
More info: jennifer.pepper@ryanacademy.dcu.ie
http://url.ie/563
Tel: 01-7006762
October 16th: 2007 TIF Conference -- Beyond Broadband
Location: Mansion House, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 8:30am
Price: EUR350 + VAT
2007 has seen an upsurge in the technologies and ideas that will drive the next generation of telecommunications networks. The telecoms industry and telecoms users are facing an era of substantial change, where old technologies will be enhanced, combined or even replaced by the very latest developments. How we tackle this future is the theme of the 2007 TIF Conference -- how do we move 'Beyond Broadband'?
More info: carolyn.doumeni@ibec.ie
http://www.tif.ie/conference
Tel: 01 605 1528
October 18th: Running a Google AdWords Campaign
Location: Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Rd, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 2pm
Price: EUR145 Members (EUR210 Non Members)
The IIA presents a half day seminar on Google AdWords (Pay-Per-Click) campaign as part of the Online Marketing series. It has been shown that 40 percent of search-engine users click on the AdWords that are presented on any search. This seminar will clearly explain the advantages of running an AdWords campaign, how the process works with the most frequently used search engine, and most importantly how to monitor your results. You will be taken through a live tutorial to set up your own Pay-Per-Click campaign. Member rates apply to both MII and IIA members. An Advanced Search Engine Optimisation course is being run on the same day, to make a full day course. Visit www.iia.ie for discounted rate.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://www.iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=159
Tel: 01-542 4154
October 18th: Advanced Search Engine Optimisation
Location: Engineers Ireland, 22 Clyde Rd, Dublin 4, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 9.30 am
Price: EUR145 Members (EUR210 Non Members)
The IIA presents a half-day seminar on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). This advanced SEO workshop provides delegates with understanding and skills to further improve the visibility of their website in the search engines. This course is not for beginners -- you must have a basic knowledge of SEO (and possibly attended a previous SEO course) and you now want to step up your SEO efforts. This course is open to both MII and IIA members. A Google AdWords course is being run on the same day - if you wish to sit both courses, you benefit from a discount. See www.iia.ie for further details.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://www.iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=158
Tel: 01-542 4154
October 23rd: Take your Website to the Next Level
Location: Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Dublin, Ireland
Time: 2pm
Price: EUR25
The IIA together with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Enterprise Board are holding a half day seminar on eBusiness. Are you a small business owner looking to generate more revenue from your eBusiness activities? This afternoon seminar is designed to help you maximise your business's online presence by showing you how to build a successful website, how to integrate eCommerce and ePayment solutions into your website and how to successfully measure your web site traffic.
More info: events@iia.ie
http://www.iia.ie/events.asp?eventid=157
Tel: 01-542 4154