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‘How to’ Technical Training

For Online Digital Tools

Providing Practical Training to Small Businesses

The Smart Bear has been delivering technical training in a variety of ‘online’ and ‘mobile’ subjects since 2013, throughout Greater Manchester and Yorkshire, and now we’ve expanded into Lancashire and Cheshire.

Experienced and Qualified Trainer based in Tameside, Manchester

Suzi Brown has over a decade experience online working with small businesses and charities, and holds a BTEC in Education and Training. Sessions can take place online, off-site, or at your office. And, it can be delivered to small groups or individually (one to one).

Prices start from £50 per half hour for online training, and there’s no minimum time obligation. All training takes place online so why not invite team members – and it’s recorded for you to refer back to later.

How we differ from other training providers

Online tools are very useful and there are a lot of courses out there designed to show you what to do when you are using them.

Rather than tell you WHY you should be using certain tools, we’re helping with the HOW, covering technical aspects like:

  • What are hashtags and how do you research and use them on different platforms
  • What are CRMs and how do you set one up
  • What’s the best software for scheduling social media
  • How do you design social media posts in Canva
  • How do you design and send a newsletter campaign to different customers etc
  • Can your blog automatically post to social media or your newsletter
  • How to set up Whatsapp for Business
  • How to set up booking software and connect it to your website
  • How to get information from GA4 Google Analytics
  • …..the list goes on!

The sessions are bespoke and you can mix and match subjects – some of the platforms we provide training for include:

  • Google My Business
  • Google Docs & Forms
  • Mailchimp, Mailerlite, Freshmail, Zoho & Aweber
  • Shopify, Woocommerce
  • WordPress
  • Freeagent, Zoho Invoices, Invoice2go and other invoicing software
  • CRMs like Capsule CRM or Zoho CRM
  • Squarespace, Weebly, Wix, Kajabi, Google Sites, INOS & GoDaddy Builder
  • Trello, Asana, Zoho projects and other project management software
  • Dropbox and Google Drive
  • Teams, Skype or Zoom
  • Canva and Picmonkey
  • Buffer or Hootsuite
  • Youtube or Vimeo
  • Pinterest or Instagram
  • LinkedIn, Tiktok or Threads
  • Email software like Gmail, Gsuite, Zoho mail
  • Editing your domain DNS
  • ….and other online or mobile apps.

Get in touch to discuss your training needs!

Get in touch to book a training session

Frequently Asked Questions About Digital Online Tools Training

Can I mix different tools and platforms in one training session?

Absolutely! This is one of the biggest advantages of our bespoke approach. Many small businesses need help connecting different tools together or understanding how various platforms work as part of their overall digital ecosystem, not in isolation.
For instance, you might want a session that covers setting up Mailchimp for your newsletter, designing the email graphics in Canva, and then understanding how to track the results in Google Analytics – all in one go. Or you might need help connecting your booking software to your WordPress website and then setting up automated confirmation emails.
Because we charge by the half hour with no minimum commitment, you can structure sessions around your actual projects and workflows rather than being forced into single-platform courses. Just let us know what you’re trying to accomplish, and we’ll design the training around your specific goals and the combination of tools you need to use.

Do I need to know which tools I want to learn before booking, or can you help me decide?

You definitely don’t need to have it all figured out before booking.
Many clients come to us knowing they need to solve a problem – like “I need to send regular newsletters” or “I want to schedule social media posts in advance” – but they’re not sure which tools are best for their situation. Part of our service includes recommending appropriate tools based on your budget, technical confidence, and specific business needs.
For example, if you need email marketing software, we’ll help you understand the differences between Mailchimp, MailerLite, and other options, considering factors like your subscriber numbers, whether you need automation, your budget, and how technical you are.
During your initial consultation (which is free), we can discuss what you’re trying to achieve and recommend the most suitable tools and training approach. We’re not affiliated with any particular platforms, so our recommendations are genuinely based on what will work best for you, not what earns us commission.

How does the pricing work, and is there a minimum time commitment?

Training is charged at £50 per half hour for online sessions, and there’s no minimum time requirement at all. This flexible approach means you only pay for exactly what you need.
If you just need 30 minutes to learn one specific task – like setting up WhatsApp Business or creating a form in Google Forms – that’s perfectly fine. Many clients start with a one-hour session to tackle a particular challenge, then book additional time later when new questions arise or they’re ready to learn more advanced features.
All online sessions are recorded and provided to you afterwards, so you have a permanent reference guide tailored to your specific setup.
You can book sessions as frequently or infrequently as works for your schedule and budget – some clients book regular monthly sessions to gradually build their skills, while others book ad-hoc when they hit a specific roadblock or want to implement something new. For team training or in-person sessions at your office, pricing is bespoke depending on group size, location, and duration – just get in touch for a quote.

What level of technical knowledge do I need to have before attending training?

No prior technical knowledge is required – we work with everyone from complete beginners who’ve never used the tools before, through to intermediate users who want to learn more advanced features or solve specific technical challenges.
At the start of each session, we assess your current knowledge level and comfort with technology, then pitch the training accordingly. If you’re brand new to a tool like Canva or Mailchimp, we’ll start with the absolute fundamentals and build from there. If you’re already using a platform but struggling with a particular feature – like setting up automation in your CRM or understanding how to read your Google Analytics data – we’ll focus specifically on those areas without wasting time on basics you already know. Because sessions are bespoke and recorded, you can revisit any concepts you found challenging and go at your own pace. We also work across Greater Manchester and beyond (now including Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire), both online and in-person, so whether you prefer face-to-face guidance or the convenience of online training from your own workspace, we can accommodate your learning style and location preferences.

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