To succeed in today's marketplace, entrepreneurs must know how to effectively market their product or service. This course offers you a step by step approach to attract and keep customers, all within a realistic budget. With an emphasis on customer-driven marketing decisions, you will learn how to build a strong brand, analyze which tactics to use, and implement your marketing plan. Whether you are starting a business or growing an existing one, you will take away practical marketing tips and tools that you can use to improve your marketing efforts.

Take away a practical strategy and techniques for implementing a social strategy for your organization or business. Learn the top five considerations when starting a social network as well as tips to manage an online community. Discover how to create your own private social network using the Ning platform. Discuss the top tools to use to manage your social media life and build integration into your website. See how Google Docs and Calendars work and how to use online video to further your business goals. Hear about mobile check-in applications and how companies are using coupon and deal sites. Get your company listed properly on local search engines so more customers can find you. Discuss how web design has changed and get feedback on your website while discovering usability testing and user interface design. Finally, learn how to manage this influx of information created by the new media revolution. Develop a manageable workflow and get productivity tips to be more efficient. Learn what you might be doing wrong in social media as well as essential policies to have in place for your employees and company. See what trends are on the horizon and where your goals fit with those new trends.

Unlock the power of color and transform your design skills with this comprehensive course on color theory and application. From understanding the science of light and pigment to exploring color perception, psychology, and harmony, you’ll gain a solid foundation for making informed design choices. Learn how to craft balanced, visually appealing color palettes, apply the 60–30–10 rule for effective hierarchy, and design confidently for both light and dark modes while keeping accessibility in mind. Through real-world examples, hands-on exercises, and step-by-step guidance, you’ll develop the ability to plan, test, and implement color strategies that elevate any project—whether it’s a website, app, or branding initiative. By the end of this course, you’ll not only understand color—you’ll be able to wield it as a powerful tool to engage, influence, and delight your audience.

Bring your ideas to life and leave a lasting impression with Microsoft PowerPoint. Master the tools and techniques that turn humdrum slides into dynamic presentations that will captivate your audience. With hands-on practice and real-world examples, learn design principles and multimedia elements such as images, videos, and charts that elevate you to the next level. Acquire critical know-how to deliver your presentations with confidence and ease. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned user, you'll find new ways to work smarter, not harder. You'll leave class with in-demand skills and the ability to create professional, visually appealing presentations that will engage your audience and help you stand out.

Get the keys to making online advertising work for you and your organization. See how pay-per-click advertising with Google AdWords works. Find out how to test low budget Adword campaigns. Learn how you can target local audiences. Then discover Facebook advertising and how you can determine the demographics and even numbers of people you want to reach. No experience necessary, but if you are at an advanced level, your instructor is an online ad expert and can answer your toughest questions as well.

Learn the basics of coastal navigation using local charts, parallel ruler, and dividers. Learn what the symbols mean, how to determine safe and dangerous routes, create courses, learn rules of the “road”, what aids to navigation look like and do, plan for emergencies and more. For kayakers, sailors, powerboaters, and future Registered Maine Guides. There is homework to complete between classes and students will have access to an online textbook. Students will need either a Casco Bay Chart or Penobscot Bay Chart, parallel ruler and dividers. This course is offered via Zoom over two sessions. This is a LEVEL 1 program.

All too often we have been conditioned to put others and their needs ahead of our own — from work, to community responsibilities, as well as friends and family. In this fun, informative hands-on workshop, you will be pampered and experience a veritable toolbox of artistic, practical and relaxing practices for a healthy, balanced and creative life. You’ll be introduced to a variety of books, ideas and tools such as The Artist’s Way, relaxation techniques from Movement for Makers, and things like nurturing teas, essential oils, yummy nourishing snacks, musical playlists and much more. Try your hand at a Japanese stitching technique called Sashiko and make a small Healing Meditation cloth to hang on your wall to remind you to B-R-E-A-T-H-E. You’ll learn the meditative form of drawing called Zentangle, and you’ll be able to make a tiny peace flag for your garden. This is NOT a lecture; you’ll be participating in a patchwork sampler of hands-on self-care practices to stop destructive patterns in their tracks before our bodies get the chance to rebel! Tea and Snacks provided.

Whether you are new to the world of printmaking, or an experienced printmaker, you will benefit from working alongside others in an experimental, supportive and convivial studio environment. You will have access to a small roller press and will explore various other printmaking tools and styles. This class will focus on intaglio printmaking techniques including engraving and drypoint printmaking. Don’t worry about a materials list, there are usually enough supplies for you to try out various techniques before deciding on a direction for your work. You will use your sketchbook to develop ideas for your prints, then decide which technique best suits your images. If you lack confidence, the Instructor and your studio mates will work with you to develop projects that will both help you learn the basics while also giving you freedom to express yourself in a way that’s meaningful to you. Contact Ed Higgins directly with any questions ed_higgins@icloud.com. *No Class: 11/25.