Businesses in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex are being offered free government-funded training to make sure their websites are up to scratch, and to promote business growth.

ee-net, a network of business specialists supported by EEDA, is offering the training, which runs between November and January.

Sharon Sumner from Planet Web Software, who has ten years experience promoting websites, is running online marketing training sessions around the region.

'Online marketing can be a minefield if approached in the wrong way, you can waste your time and money very easily.'

'Even if you don't have your website yet, getting the marketing strategy right can not only help you save time and money but should influence how you have your website designed,' she said.

Other topics covered in the ee-net training series are how to grow an established business and how to ensure your products and services meet customer needs.

Businesses can register for the free training online at http://www.ee-net.co.uk/registration.php, or call Alison Medlock from YTKO on 01603 618 687.

Details of the training sessions are outlined below:

Going for growth - routes, resources and risk

Cambridgeshire: Tuesday 21st November 2006, 1pm to 4pm
St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS

Suffolk: Friday 8th December 2006, 1pm to 4pm
IP City Centre, 1 Bath Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8SD

Key Skills to get Sales Online

Cambridgeshire: Thursday 30th November 2006, 10am to 1pm
St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS

Suffolk: Tuesday 12th December 2006, 10am to 1pm
IP City Centre, 1 Bath Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8SD

Essex: Wednesday 17th January 2007, 10am to 1pm
Essex Technology & Innovation Centre, The Gables, Fyfield Road, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0GA

Sales by numbers

Cambridgeshire only: Friday 26th January 2007, 10am to 1pm
The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB2 4AT