Training and Consultancy

Embrace The Space

Our flagship product with regular full day events hosted online, or at venues across Scotland. Aimed at SME businesses but open to everyone. Discounts for multiple bookings with networking lunch provided. Highly popular with 100% of attendees saying they’d recommend it to a friend and that they consider it value for money. Packed with interactive, engaging content using modern learning methods, group work, discussions and videos. Running approximately every 2 months. More information and tickets from www.embracethespace.co.uk

ChatGPT and the rise of AI

This practical workshop or webinar (which can be delivered over 1 or 2 half day sessions) will examine how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help revolutionise the creation of content for marketing and wider day to day business activities.

AI isn’t the future, it’s here now, with free tools and systems that can help businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes, from private sector Start-ups, to public sector learning institutions.  AI changes everything!

This session will include:

• What is Artificial Intelligence?
• Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and MidJourney)
• Automating Digital Content for Blogs, Social Media, and PR
• Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
• The pros and cons of AI usage
• AI within Education – ban it, or embrace it?

We know you’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but don’t get caught up in the hype – get real practical advice you can implement today using AI tools like Canva, MidJourney, Adobe Firefly and D-ID  to create amazing graphics and videos to help with marketing and promotion. From logos to product prototypes and more, creating visual content is easier than ever before!  We’ll explore how to generate text using tools like ChatGPT – from social media updates and blogs, to web content, powerpoints and job adverts.  Businesses need to write, and we’ll show you how the AI can help.

Finally we’ll help you join the dots, and use this AI toolkit to help develop and grow your business.  From writing strategic business plans, to monthly social media calendars.  From brainstorming new branding, to becoming a spreadsheet and data expert. AI can help with strategic business requirements or day to day activities, and this event will show you how AI is fundamentally changing the business landscape.

Who should attend?:

• Any business owner who wants to develop greater awareness of the impact of AI
• Staff working within Business Development and Innovation (arm yourself with greater knowledge to better support your clients)
• Marketing staff who need to create content on a daily basis
• Lecturers and Teaching professionals concerned about the impact of AI to learning

This session is also available as a 1 hour “conference session” guaranteed to ‘wow’ your event attendees!

SQA Diploma in Digital Marketing

The SQA Diploma in Digital Marketing (at SCQF Level 6) is delivered in partnership between NSDesign and Training Matters.

The blended learning programme offers a methodical approach to the development of digital marketing skills by utilising an online portfolio support system allowing candidates to work at their own pace, at the most convenient time and location for themselves.  This system also encourages online communication between candidates encouraging the exchange of good practice between professionals.  All online programmes are supported by tutorials and coaching.

This programme is fully funded for all eligible  participants.

More information can be found on the Digital Diploma Page.

Cyber Security Essentials

With more and more business processes moving into the cloud, we need to be more cautious than ever, defending against hacks, exploits and scams.  This practical half day workshop will look at website security, social media safety, password protection and more.  Aimed at small business owners who want to embrace online opportunities, but who understand the real dangers and their impact in today’s connected world.

“Excellent workshop – Gary’s tips and advice were easy to understand and very relevant.  I’ll ensure to educate our staff on all the key points – especially the guidance on passwords!” – Vikki Westwood, Wellwood Communications.

Creating Video Content for YouTube and More

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram – they all want you to create videos for their platforms knowing it’s what people want to watch, but where do you begin?

This practical workshop aims to give you the skills and confidence to create video content. We’ll help you brainstorm ideas, and show you how to turn these ideas into videos your customers will want to watch. From archived videos on a YouTube playlist, to live video streaming on Facebook – we’ll look at simple effective ways to create engaging video that make an impact.

Get Your Business Noticed - Media Relations Training

A full day course for businesses who want to receive free, positive coverage in newspapers, on radio and television. You’ll learn how the media works, how to make contact with journalists, how to write press releases, give broadcast interviews and raise your profile significantly. This course is led by Colin Kelly, a former BBC journalist and STV television presenter.

E-Biz

A series of workshops for small businesses who want to get started with a digital, online presence.

Basics of Business Online

Thinking of starting a business? Then it’s time to start thinking about that business online. From considering your business name, and ensuring you can get a domain name to match, to establishing your first online presence, and getting started with Social Media. This first workshop in our “E-Biz” series is for people in the early start-up phase (or pre-start up), who don’t yet have a website. We’ll give you all the options, and help answer any questions to get you business online.

Better Business Websites

What makes a good website? What does your design say about your business? Is your website content appropriate for your audience? And how do you implement ecommerce to start selling? These are just some of the questions we cover in the 2nd “E-Biz” workshop which aims to make your existing website better through its’ design, content, usability and sales capability.

Getting found Online

The 3rd of our “E-Biz” workshops explains the concepts of Search Engine Optimisation – getting your business higher up the Google rankings, and driving more people to your website. You’ll see that SEO isn’t all smoke and mirrors, and with even a basic understanding you’ll make a significant improvement in site traffic and conversions.

Advancing Your Analytics

The 4th and final “E-biz” Workshop looks to help you gain more insight (actionable insight!) into what visitors are doing (or not doing) on your business website or via company marketing online. beginning with an ‘introduction to Analytics’ it quickly moves on to discuss three core Google tools (Analytics, Webmaster Tools & AdWords) and how they can be used to measure user behaviour, drive efficiency, improve performance and (importantly!) have a direct impact on online costs / budgets.

Anti-Social Media

Social Media is a hot topic right now, with businesses scrambling to get to grips with the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  But it isn’t always fun selfies and cat videos.  For businesses who trip up on social, the results can be dramatic, with consequences impacting you, your staff, your brand reputation and more.

This workshop aims to highlight where social media can go wrong in business, showing real world examples, the devastating outcomes, and discussing ways to mitigate the risks of it happening to you.  From defamation and getting sued on Twitter, to recruitment nightmares from Googling candidates.  From inappropriate images on Facebook, to password hacks and data theft.  This is a workshop you will not want to miss – your reputation depends on it!

Can be delivered as a half-day workshop, or as a shorter (fun, fast and furious) conference or event seminar.

Social Now to Social Wow! - delivering first class service through social media

A fun, and engaging workshop discussing what ‘great social service’ looks like in today’s connected world. We’ll look at examples from a variety of companies and ask if we really deliver quality customer service, or do we focus on the numbers. Do we look for opportunities to wow customers or do we just react to complaints.

Customer service is the “new marketing” – with your next customer checking to see how you supported the last one. You’re not judged on the complaint – you’re judged on how you respond. Be remembered for all the right reasons, and learn how to deliver outstanding customer service via your social media channels.

Advanced Hootsuite

If you’re looking to do social media better, then learning how to master Hootsuite should be top of your agenda.

In this advanced half day masterclass, we’ll show you what’s possible through the world’s most popular social media dashboard.

At NSDesign, the staff are Hootsuite Certified (meaning we know the software inside out), we are official Hootsuite Partners, and Gary’s also been honoured with a Hootsuite Ambassador role.

Sign up for your free 30 day Hootsuite Pro trial, then give us a shout when you’re ready to take things to the next level!

Digital Marketing Strategy

Typically delivered as a series of 3 x half-day workshops, our ‘Digital Marketing Strategy’ programme has participants working on producing an actual strategy document around the areas of digital marketing that will most benefit them. It helps business owners self-evaluate what they currently do, comparing their competitors, understanding where they want to go, and how they might use the digital tools available to them to get there, lots of group discussion, practical exercises, and some great info on thinking about all the various options open to them, which to use and why.

Content Is King

You’ve got a website, but what should it say? You’re on social networks but don’t know what to do. And you’d love to blog, but don’t think you’re good at writing. This half day course gives you all the answers and inspiration you need while building your confidence. Develop your story telling skills. Learn how to find and engage an audience and discover why some messages cut through and help achieve your business aims while others are ignore, or even do your business damage.

eCommerce with Shopify

Shopify is the world’s largest and most popular e-commerce platform used by millions to bring their businesses online. It’s well known for it ease of use and simple set up. In this webinar you’ll learn what e-commerce means for your business and what Shopify actually is. We’ll show you how to use the seller’s dashboard and take you around an example store so you can see if Shopify is the right fit for you.

We’ll show you how to build your own store using Shopify for free using a trial. From products to payments and shipping to stock control, guide you through all the basics that you need to know to get started.and finish with a discussion about how to promote your new online store online using digital marketing.

If you have something amazing to sell, sell it online and boost your sales with Shopify.

You won’t need a Shopify account before the session starts, just bring your business ideas and your laptop – we’ll guide you from there.

Build a WordPress Website

Every business needs a website, and if budget is tight, then you might prefer to build one yourself. Introducing WordPress – one of the most popular web building systems used on millions of sites across the world. You’ll learn how to create a WordPress account, choose a theme (a design), create web pages containing your text and images, and also be introduced to Blogging! By the end of the session you’ll have the beginnings of your very first online presence.

Creating Killer Graphics with Canva

Get your laptop and join us for a fantastic practical beginner’s workshop and learn how to design simple but beautiful graphics using Canva the FREE simple online tool. Thee creations can then be used to market your business – online and off.

Creating stunning images for presentations, your website/blog, email newsletters and any social media channels.

This workshop is not exclusively for online marketing, you will learn to create images for print as well – e.g business cards, flyers, posters or invitations.

At the end of this session, you will be able to edit pictures, design cover photos, collages and create stellar images to market your business both offline and on.