Qualification - Associate Diploma In E Commerce

E COMMERCE ONLINE COURSE

Many students choose to study this course for one simple reason -despite being a relatively small institution, we have been achieving an extraordinary amount of success with e commerce ever since the early days of the internet. Put simply, we know how to make e commerce work.

The proof is in the pudding: simply do a few internet searches for things such as distance education in Australia, or Horticulture Distance Education (on google in any country). We have a fraction of the budget of large universities; but we consistently rank better than most of them on web searches.

Being successful at e commerce involves a great deal more than web rankings (though this is part of the equation); and this course is designed to lay a carefully conceived foundation of skills needed not only to be successful now; but to build your a capacity to evolve your knowledge and skills as the world changes. Not all courses even aim to do this ....but this one does! 

COURSE STRUCTURE

Fifteen modules must be completed as follows:

Module 1. Writing a Web Site (HTML)

• Introduction to the Internet and HTML
• The most important HTML Tags
• Simplification through HTML Construction Software
• Creating Links
• Loading a Site onto the Internet
• Adding Graphics
• Designing a Web Site that Works
• Advanced Features

Module 2  ASP.net

This module will expand on website database development techniques and more using Microsofts ASP.NET technology.

Module 3 Digital Photography

• Introduction To Digital Technology How images are captured and stored, categories of equipment & software, scope of applications
• Equipment
• Digital Technology - Colour, resolution, sensors
• Digital Cameras
• Taking Photographs
• Scanners
• Uploading Images
• The Digital Darkroom
• Compositing & Imaging - Production & manipulation of images
• Special Effects
• Outputs & Applications- Printers, The Internet

Module 4  E Commerce

• Introduction – what is e-commerce (more than the internet)
• Success and failure – what makes the difference
• Promotional strategies – are different on the internet
• Optimizing web site potential
• Increasing web site exposure
• Automating supply of goods, services and cash flow
• Managing constant change
• Dealing with e-commerce problems

Module 5  Visual Basic.Net

• Introduction
• The Variables
• Understanding conditional statements
• I/O handling
• Controls and Objects – An Introduction
• Structured Programming using Modules
• Properties, methods, events & classes
• Inheritance
• Polymorphism
• Using controls
• Debugging
• Developing a complete VB.NET application

Module 6  Photoshop

• Learning The Menus
• Working with Digital Image Files
• Understanding the Tool Palette
• Using Layers, Actions and History
• Digital Painting, Shapes and Colours
• Selecting, Resizing, Transforming and Masking
• Adjustments and modifications
• Adding Filters and Styles
• Preparing Files for Print and Web

Module 7  Publishing I (Introduction to Publishing)

• Nature and Scope of the Publishing world
• Desktop Publishing A
• Desktop Publishing B
• Illustration: Graphics
• Illustration: Photography
• Research Skills : Market Research, researching an article, etc
• Marketing of Publications
• Ethics & the law in publishing
• Developing a publishing project

Module 8  Freelance Writing

• Introduction
• Basic Writing Skills
• The Publishing World
• Manuscripts
• Planning
• Newspaper Writing
• Magazine Writing
• Writing books
• Writing advertising
• Special project

Module 9  Marketing (Foundations)

Marketing is the cornerstone of most modern businesses. Lack of marketing knowledge is frequently the reason why a good business concept does not succeed. This module deals with all aspects of marketing from presentation and packaging, to advertising and selling, developing in you an acute awareness of what is needed to achieve and maintain a good market share.

Module 10  Sales Management

• Developing Sales Concepts
• Developing Sales Relationships
• Sales Ethics
• Building Product Knowledge
• Developing a Customer Strategy
• Presentation Strategy Options
• Closing a Sale
• Managing Yourself
• Managing a Sales Team

Module 11  Advertising & Promotions

• Analysing the market
• Target Marketing
• Display and Display Techniques
• Advertising and Promotions strategy
• New product development
• Sales Techniques – General
• Writing Advertisements
• Electronic Marketing
• Direct Mailing
• Exhibitions and Shows

Module 12  Marketing Systems

• Marketing systems
• Retailing systems and strategies
• Wholesaling systems and strategies
• Product presentation and packaging
• Negotiating skills
• Marketing organisations
• International marketing
• International marketing 2
• Analysing the market
• The marketing mix

Module 13 Bookkeeping I

This is a basic bookkeeping course, which focuses on the nature of accounting for small business, mainly service firms. The course consists of 13 lessons. (This module also qualifies you for membership of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers)

Module 14  Research Project I

The Research Project involves some theoretical studies followed by designing, conducting and writing up research on a relevant topic. Selection of the topic, and progress in this project is monitored and guided by a tutor.

Module 15  Industry Meetings (100 hours)

Industry Meetings involves attendance at committee meetings, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, or any other events that are relevant. The student needs to submit documentary proof of attendance (eg. references, testimonials, receipts etc)

What's Different About this Diploma?

Options to choose electives that you don't find in similar diplomas elsewhere.

A longer, more in depth diploma than what is offered at many other colleges (Compare the duration -1500 hours). Study more, learn more, go further in your career or business.

A stronger focus on learning (some colleges focus more on assessment than we do -but we believe that what you learn is what makes the difference)

Learn to Market anything Online

Internet marketing is relatively recent in the history of marketing.  Many people were initially reluctant to invest large resources into advertising their businesses or products in this way, however, as time has gone by more and more people rely on the internet to advertise their products. Even small-town businesses (such as tradespeople for example) now advertise on the internet. This is mainly due to customer demand; customers like the ease in which they can (usually) find what they are looking for when they use the internet.  So if the local plumber realises this (and advertises on the internet); they may be the first person the customer contacts. The internet has, in many respects, replaced phone books. The customer may not want to look any further than what they find on the internet e.g. the plumber’s website, or phone number, or reviews about their services are all at the click of a button.  This type of quick and easy access is what most customers are looking for today, therefore Internet marketing is a good way to capture new business.  It may not be the ONLY way, but for most modern business it is definitely an important way. Internet Marketing should be a vital component in every businesses marketing mix.

Internet marketing may involve promoting or selling online, including:

• Company websites and targeted landing pages
• Advertisements – placed on anything viewed over the internet from websites to newsletters, search engine advertising, social media, games and blogs etc.
• Newsletters
• Social media accounts
• Blogs
• Online shops
• Direct communication (talking with someone) or messaging (e.g. phone, viber, skype, texting), online chat
• Video conferencing
• Broadcasting –TV, radio, video, podcasts (e.g. You Tube), corporate TV programs etc.
• Sponsorships
• Games/gaming
• Directory listings (Free or Paid)
• Subscription services
• Email – e.g. direct emailing mail lists of targeted customers, media releases
• Review sites
• Affiliate Marketing
  
  

The term “Internet Marketing” is sometimes referred to as “Digital Marketing”.  But regardless of its name, internet marketing requires an online channel - which relies on a range of communication tools and access platforms that allow businesses to build relationships with new customers, as well as develop their relationships with existing customers. The access platforms range from smart phones, computers, laptops, tablets to digital televisions. These hardware platforms are used by internet marketers (e-marketers) to deliver marketing content and allow for some form of interaction with the customers via various communication tools such as websites, blogs, newsletters, e-mail, instant messaging, sms, etc.

The internet is a massive resource. There are many millions of websites out there. Some of them may be old websites and obsolete, but never deleted. Some may be very small, set up by someone and never looked at again, but still be current.  People can (fairly easily) gather information at the touch of a few buttons.  If a person wants to find out about a particular service or location and it takes time too much time to find it, they may give up.  So businesses need to ensure their services and products are easy to find and the information on the sites are relevant and up to date. 

Businesses, both large and small, advertise online - but how? They may use a combination of online advertising sites through search engines like Google or social media, which we will discuss shortly.  Many businesses now have their own website, or even more than one website.  On that website, they will usually advertise their products or services, give the potential customer a bit of information about their business offerings and so on. A lot of information can be placed on a website. If you conduct a search on the internet for anything, your search results will come back with hundreds and thousands of websites – the ones that will show up on the top of the search results will be the ones that are most relevant to your search terms, related to your location and also the previous information that you have looked at on your web browser.  Imagine, you own a holiday home by the sea and set up your website, but no one looks at it. If you do a search for “holiday home, ABC Town”, probably hundreds of websites will come up – the one that is highest up the search list (has the most relevant content to your search terms) and has the most visual appeal will be the one that the customer will look at (in depth) first.  If your website for your holiday home lacks appropriate content and visual appeal – they may never read further, irrelevant of the fact that your house may be a lot better than the one with the better targeted website. 

Businesses sometimes also use other sites to advertise or list their products.  There are many websites that may allow you to do this, some may be free, but others will require that you pay to advertise.  So the holiday home in ABC Town might also advertise on a holiday homes website, or a website about ABC Town.  Or perhaps they offer special services, such as they accept dogs or encourage cyclists or are close to a golf course.  Consequently, they might also advertise their holiday home on websites for golfing holidays, selling golfing equipment, on sites selling pet products and so on; they can ‘piggy-back’ their advert for their holiday home on the back of associated sites – this can broaden business potential, if done well.  Some businesses (say for example the pet supply business) may do a ‘contra’ deal with you – they advertise free on your website in return for you advertising free on theirs.  The opportunity to broaden advertising scope is therefore much more available than it once was.  The holiday home owner is not simply relying on word of mouth or paid advertising any more, but can generate huge interest with potentially hundreds and thousands of interested people viewing their website.

A website is often the starting point for a new business – it is the virtual shop front, in which customers will judge you and evaluate whether your goods and services are a fit to meet their needs. Customers expect you to have a website if you have a business.  Everywhere you look you are being directed to a website - for example even print media and poster advertising will often refer the customer to a website (in fact more often than not these days); if you watch adverts on television now, you will often be told to go to the firm’s website for more information or even their Facebook page.  So you can see how important a website can be to generate interest and hopefully generate business.
A website alone is often not enough though; most businesses will conduct marketing via their website, but often also through print media, posters, TV and radio, or simply a card in the local post office or shop, word of mouth, advertising on listings, websites and so on.  Some will also write blogs, newsletters, ezines or even produce an internet style TV program to broaden their marketing. It really depends on the individual business and how much marketing they wish to do or can afford to do. Larger businesses will employ people (and even teams of people), or outsource to do their marketing including internet marketing. A smaller business may rely on their website, perhaps a blog, social media and other advertising.  This course will concentrate on how to promote your services and products via the internet.

Selecting the right medium for your target audience is important. You would need to ensure that the different channels that you select are appropriate for your target audience and brand personality.