The Internet Marketing Academy Launches with Support from Yahoo and Google

April 21, 2009 - PRLog -- The Internet Marketing Academy ( http://internetmarketingacademy.com.au ) has launched in Australia with the aim to inspire and empower small- and medium-sized business owners to get the most out of the online space and grow their businesses.

The Academy has been developed in response to the demand from Australian businesses wanting to understand more about maximising their Internet marketing efforts and stay abreast of current digital trends.

The Academy is the brainchild of Internet marketing agency http://theOnlineCircle.com , and has the support of Yahoo! Marketing and Google as sponsors, who are committed to continuing the education of Australian businesses.

Prominent Melbourne-based Internet marketers and partners at The Online Circle, Jeff Richardson and Lucio Dias Riberio, founded the academy as a way to distill their knowledge into digestible three-hour sessions to help businesses generate genuine commercial value from the Internet.

Jeff Richardson, managing director and co-founder said: "Many businesses understand that the Internet is a rewarding marketing opportunity, but are not fitted with the skills or experience to achieve results. Many are struggling to keep up with the change in fast-moving environments.

"The Internet is the greatest thing in world communications since the Gutenberg Printing Press. But it's moving fast so it's impossible for the average businessman, focused on their business, to stay up-to-date. We want to help Australian businesses keep up and excel."

Lucio Dias Ribeiro, chief digital officer and co-founder added: "Every day I learn new things about how to optimise websites, engage with customers and prospects via social media and how to maximise value from online promotions. I want to share what I learnt yesterday because I know I'll be learning something new tomorrow."
These sessions, occurring in Melbourne and Geelong, cover all elements of marketing on the Internet providing practical knowledge and information about useful tools to attendees.

The sessions include presentations from industry leaders and representatives from Yahoo! Marketing in a format that encourages interactive education, and actionable outcomes.

Attendees will have the opportunity to stay after each seminar to discuss their business needs with the presenters and will receive The Online Circle's Guide to Business along with a $100 voucher for a Yahoo! advertising campaign and a $75 voucher for a Google AdWords campaign.

The session concludes with 'Next Steps', where attendees will re-visit their business needs, clarify the tactics covered and set actionable tasks.

The Academy has also developed a Business Needs list with marketing objectives including: building awareness, building understanding, creating a market position, customer acquisition, customer retention, increased sales from existing clients, referrals and direct sales.

The Business Needs list can be downloaded from:
http://internetmarketingacademy.com.au/Internet-Marketing...

The full agenda can be viewed here:
http://internetmarketingacademy.com.au/internet-marketing...

# # #

About IMA:
Jeff Richardson - co-founder
With over 25 years experience in marketing communications he developed his first Internet-based business in 1998.
Ten years on he has continued to learn, and execute in the online world both with his own business applications and to his clients.
Member of Australian Mensa, his business passion is in developing strategies that help companies grow.
Richardson is currently the managing director of the online marketing agency The Online Circle.
Lucio Ribeiro - co-founder
15 years marketing experience, he has work for advertising agencies such as Lintas, McCann-Erickson, Lowe, and MRM, with global and local brands (Unilever, GM, Microsoft, AMRO Bank, Purina, Nestle and more) and local brands in Australia and South America.
Passionate Internet marketer he was recently acknowledged as a global leader in SEO in an international poll by Marketing Today website and his marketing blog http://www.marketingeasy.net is ranked among Australia's best.