Facebook launches an online training platform for Estonian SMBs. Cooperation with EVEA

Facebook has just announced the launch of the Boost with Facebook platformin Estonia – a hub for free and interactive online training for SMBs. On the website there will be published webinars on web presence, creative content creation and examples of effective use of digital tools by Estonian companies to help them rebuild operation after the lockdown. All trainings will be available on the site from 26th of October. 

The global health crisis has disrupted the daily operations of almost all companies. However, it is a particular challenge for the smallest ones – many of them had to suspend their activity completely, while for others it has become incomparably more difficult to gain customers, whose consumers behaviours changed with the pandemic. . Adapting to the new normal often means for small businesses changing their business model and moving a large part of it to online. This can help maintain liquidity and jobs, but for some companies it is a difficult task. It is with this in mind that Facebook has decided to launch a free training programme for entrepreneurs. As Jacob Turowski, Head of Public Policy, Central and Eastern Europe at Facebook, explains “We are aware that many of the problems faced by entrepreneurs today will not go away immediately even when restrictions are lifted. In order to help them survive this difficult time, we want to help them to use the potential offered by the Internet and free Facebook and Instagram tools. We aim to reach as many small and medium-sized companies as possible with useful knowledge.” The Boost with Facebook platform launch will be inaugurated with a live online event on October 26th – free Facebook Live digital tools workshop, where participants will discover how to grow online presence, raise awareness of offerings, or learn more about digital marketing. So did Emma and Theo, an Estonian brand specialised in creating and selling premium children’s and women’s clothes, manufactured from quality materials and fabrics. Triin and Erki, the founders, used Facebook to promote their business from the beginning. They use the Facebook Catalogue, which helps to promote their full range of products and drive traffic to their website. However, running personalised ads on both Facebook and Instagram has proven to be the most effective tactic for the business. This has been seen clearly from their 2021 Back to School ad campaign, which returned 3.62 times their initial ad spend! Facebook launches the Boost with Facebook platform in cooperation with Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Estonian Association of SME’s and in partnership with Httpool – local reseller. The President of EVEA – Estonian Association of SMEs, Heiki Rits pointed out, that “Social media marketing (SMM) and e-commerce are the important pillars of digital transition of businesses, but there is a big gap in how actively Estonian large and small companies use SMM: according to Statistics Estonia, in 2021 it was used by 84% of large companies, while for example among small companies with 10-19 employees it was used by only 43%, which means there is a big potential to be unleashed”. Mr. Rits added, that “EVEA is very pleased that Facebook has now a dedicated staff for Estonia and the Baltics and in co-operation we together can bring digital transition to every, even the smallest business in the country.”