Does your business need funding for SEO or ecommerce? What about an App? In my latest radio segment on Midlands 103FM Business Show with Claire O’Brien, we talk about business funding available for SEO or ecommerce websites from your Local Enterprise Office. There is 2500 euros up for grabs for those businesses who meet the criteria.
Digital Trading Voucher Scheme Overview
As I mentioned in our previous Digital Trading Voucher article, the government reports that only 23% of Irish businesses currently use eCommerce websites in any meaningful way. On the other hand they also estimate that of all the online purchases done in Ireland, a whopping 70% are done in overseas markets. This means that Irish people who are shopping online are doing so on sites located in other countries. This is most likely down to the fact that Irish Businesses have not embraced (white hat) SEO techniques, or have a good ecommerce site set up.
The government launched the Digital Trading Voucher Scheme (under the National Digital Strategy) to help businesses develop their digital presence. Their aim is to get 2000 businesses trading online by the end of 2015. The Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources has joined with the Local Enterprise Offices to help deliver this strategy.
What’s in it for my business and how does it work?
The voucher scheme offers funding of up to €2,5000, or 50% of eligible expenditure (net of VAT) whichever is the lesser. Remember thought that this is match funding so if you get approval for €2,500, your business will have to get the other €2,500 to put towards the costs of your project.
Voucher approval must be gotten prior to spending any money on your project as you cannot claim retrospectively. Only 3rd party costs will be approved so you can’t get funding for any of the work you may be able to do yourself. All 3rd party supplier invoices will only be paid to those businesses whose invoices contain correct business details, i.e. Tax and Business Registration Details).
What are considered Eligible Businesses?
Depending on how progressive your Local Enterprise Offices are, the projects that will be considered are undertaken by those businesses who have a limited trading online presence, have less than 10 employees, turnover of less than €2 million. The funding is open to all businesses who are registered and trading for at least 12 months, this includes sole traders.
What is an eligible project for the voucher?
Again, depending on how progressive your Local Enterprise Office is, the following will be considered:
IT consultation
SEO consultation & strategy
Development/upgrade of an e-commerce website
Online booking system/payments system
Purchase of internet related software
Purchase of online advertising (i.e. Google Adwords) but can’t make up more than 30% of the approved voucher costs
App development (or multi-platform web pages)
Digital marketing strategy implementation
consultations with ICT experts for early adopters of online strategy
Training to establish and manage online trading activity
What is considered an ineligible project?
The vouchers can’t be used for the development of a brochure website, the purchase of non-internet related software or anything other than online trading related activity.
You can read more details on our previous article on the Digital Trading Vouchers. You can also download the Application form for the Digital Trading Voucher Digital-Voucher-Application-Form
