Our guest blogger, Aaron Miller (pictured left), serves as the Director of the International Business Development program for the Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at George Mason University (GMU). Throughout his professional career, Miller has worked with numerous small businesses, trade professionals, economic development organizations and universities to deliver trainings focused on the core aspects of global commerce, as well as new trade policies and programs affecting America’s small business community.

As the COVID-19 pandemic reshapes our world, the volume and size of online commercial transactions have increased dramatically. In fact, a new study by IBM has shown that the pandemic has accelerated the shift away from physical stores to digital channels by roughly five years. For many business owners, it has become clear that their future might depend on a thoughtful, forward-thinking ecommerce strategy with internationalization as a core component. It is in response to these pressures that the Virginia SBDC at GMU teamed up with Getting to Global to develop a tailored approach for ecommerce success for small businesses across Virginia.

The International eCommerce Accelerator Program is an advisor-led online program that will help B2B and B2C businesses build their personalized ecommerce action plan. From launching a new site to optimizing a marketplace presence around the world, advisors will walk companies through all the steps of building an actionable ecommerce strategy. The cohort will run from March 25 through the week of April 12, meeting once a week. Participants will learn vital ecommerce strategies, such as selecting the right sales channels, building a new ecommerce website, optimizing an existing website, localizing a website, adapting an ecommerce website for international visitors, and selling on marketplaces here and abroad.

“We created the program to give companies of all sizes and all sectors a clear path to ecommerce adoption. Participants will discover smart, incremental, and cost-effective ways to embrace ecommerce and be global on day one.” – Patrick Perreault, CEO, Getting to Global

Space is limited! Interested companies must apply here for consideration by March 19 or contact Aaron Miller, directly.

Image Credit (Aaron Miller): Creative Services, George Mason University

Image Credit: Virginia SBDC