OSU Institute of Technology will host Web Building 101, a small business website workshop that offers an introduction to websites and how they can be utilized by small businesses.

The workshop is slated for Oct. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the OSUIT campus in the Donald W. Reynolds Training Center, 1801 E. Fourth St., in Okmulgee.

“With the internet and e-commerce now a major factor in how consumers shop and buy, it’s vital that small businesses have an online presence,” said Mark Hays, director of OSUIT’s Economic Development and Training Center. “This workshop will equip those small businesses with the skills and tools they need to make that online presence a reality.”

The cost to attend is $25 per person and those interested can register or get more information at reiwbc.org. The REI Women’s Business Center is the main sponsor of the workshop.

Participants will learn about web hosting, what to include on their site, and how to find an appropriate domain name. They will also learn about website marketing and how to optimize their site so search engines find it quicker and easier.

“True to OSU Institute of Technology’s mission, this workshop involves hands-on learning. Those who come and participate will go through a storyboarding exercise and actually build a website,” Hays said.

The workshop’s presenter is Dr. Brian Whitacre, an assistant professor and extension economist in the agricultural economics department at Oklahoma State University.

His research focuses on the role of broadband internet access in economic development. He has an active e-commerce program that helps rural businesses understand the importance of the internet and discover ways they can take advantage of it.

The Web Building 101 workshop is sponsored by OSU Institute of Technology, the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, Okmulgee Main Street, Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee Area Development Corporation, OSU Extension, OkSBDC, Muscogee Creek Nation and REI Women’s Business Center.