FREE Media Training Courses for Tourism Related Businesses in Mid Wales

Most of the workshops are "seminar" style, but a few are "hands on", which involves the use of a PC. The "hands on" workshops assume a basic familiarity with a PC eg: use of a mouse, creating and moving files etc.

All workshops will be for a limited number of delegates, so that you will have plenty of chance to talk directly with the tutor - book early to avoid disappointment!

Taking Digital Photographs for Leaflets & Websites		Internet & Email Security
Scanning Photographs for Leaflets & Websites		Planning a Successful Website
Editing & Using Photographs for Leaflets & Websites		Basic Graphic Design for Printed Marketing Materials
Copywriting for Publicity Materials		Marketing Your Website
Copywriting for Websites		Practical Graphic Design for Printed Marketing Materials
Introduction to Using Email for Tourism

Workshop 1 - half day - 24 November 2005 (am)

Taking Digital Photographs for Leaflets and Websites

This workshop will look at the practical aspects of taking your own photographs for producing marketing leaflets and for inclusion in websites. It will cover a basic introduction to the use of a digital camera, plus information on the composition of photographs for use in publicity leaflets and on a website.

You are encouraged to bring along you own digital camera, although a limited number of other cameras will be available. You are also encouraged to bring along digital images that they have previously taken for discussion with the group (on CD, floppy disk or memory chip).

Workshop 2 - half day - 24 November 2005 (pm) *hands on*

Scanning Photographs for Leaflets and Websites

This workshop will show you how to scan photographic prints (and slides) for use in printed items such as leaflets and for use on the web.

You are encouraged to bring along you own prints to try your hand at scanning. The workshop will also cover some basic principles of scanning and using photographs, including the importance of resolution, the essential difference between web and printed images and simple ways to improve images.

Workshop 3 - one day - 1 December 2005 *hands on*

Editing and Using Photographs for Leaflets and Websites

This workshop follows on from workshops 1 and 2, but can also stand alone if you are happy with the use of a digital camera and/or a scanner.

This workshop will cover the basic theory of computer-based images - whether from a digital camera or scanned from prints/slides, including resolution and images types. It will use affordable image editing software to show basic editing of images, such as cropping, balancing and effects. It will include advice on how to import and use images in printed materials, such as leaflets, and on the web.

You are encouraged to bring along you own digital camera images (on CD, floppy disk or memory chip) and/or you own photographic prints or slides, or even drawings or paintings.

Workshop 4 - half day - 8 December 2005 (am)

Copywriting for Publicity Materials

This workshop will introduce the basic principles of writing text well for marketing materials, such as printed leaflets, letters, posters and brochures.

We will encourage you to consider the purpose of your publicity materials, your target audience and how to address them appropriately. You are encouraged to bring along examples that you may be working on, either at an early stage, or complete work for discussion and support.

This workshop also provides a good background for workshop 5 'copywriting for websites'.

Workshop 5 - half day - 8 December 2005 (pm)

Copywriting for Websites

This workshop will show you how to write text content for a simple website.

This workshop is less concerned with the basics of writing, which is covered in workshop 4 'copywriting for publicity materials', but shows the specialist skills and knowledge required for writing for the web. In particular, there will be good coverage of the concept of key phrases and the way these should be incorporated into a website to maximise its effectiveness.

Workshop 6 - half day - 12 January 2006 (am)

Introduction to Using Email for Tourism

This workshop is a basic introduction to email for those who are unfamiliar with email, or indeed those who are nervous of the technology. It will cover the fundamentals of using an email account to send and receive emails.

You will also be shown appropriate ways to compose email messages in response to customer enquiries and will be introduced to the etiquette of email.

There will also be an introduction to the ways in which email can be used effectively as a marketing tool for a tourism business, including emailshots. The important subjects of data protection and ethics will also be covered.

Workshop 7 - half day - 12 January 2006 (pm)

Internet and Email Security

This workshop looks at three very important parts of modern security - protecting your computer from viruses, protecting your computer from 'spam' and protecting your computer from hackers.

You will learn about the risks from viruses, trojans, hackers and others who are intent on damaging your computer. It also considers the best ways of dealing with 'spam' - unwanted bulk junk emails. The workshop includes freeware software for virus protection, spam control and firewall security.

Workshop 8 - one day - 19 January 2006

Planning a Successful Website

This workshop is ideal for those who are intending to build or purchase a websites, or who are looking to overhaul their existing website.

You will be given the step by step points that should ideally be covered before a web project is begun - but in reality are often re-examined for improving an existing site.

Topics include choosing names, planning the theme and 'look' of a site, writing content for the site, key words, marketing the site and an introduction to search engine optimisation.

Workshop 9 - one day - 26 January 2006

Basic Graphic Design for Printed Marketing Materials

This workshop will study the art of professional design for the non-professional. There are very simple principles which will turn an amateur design - whether for a letterhead, poster or leaflet - into a professional piece of work.

You are encouraged to bring samples of your own work, or materials that you have gathered from elsewhere (including competitors!) to discuss with the group. Samples will also be provided by the tutor for analysis and you will come away with an understanding of the golden rules of graphic design, including both text and image work.

Workshop 10 - one day - 2 February 2006

Marketing your Website

This workshop extends the ideas introduced in workshop 8 'planning a successful website', but is also suitable for those wanting to focus on the marketing of a site, including search engine optimisation. (You do not have to have attended workshop 8, although you may find it helpful.)

You will be shown all the important aspects of a website marketing plan and will learn about search engine optimisation. This includes optimising written content and images, use of key phrases, use of optimising tools, submission to search engines and directories and paid-for marketing.

Workshop 11 - one day - 9 February 2006 *hands on*

Practical Graphic Design for Printed Marketing Materials

This workshop is a practical extension of workshop 9 'basic graphic design for printed marketing materials'.

You will be introduced to a cost-effective piece of design software (CorelDraw) and will learn to manipulate text and images, as well as to use colour in designs for items such as leaflets.