More entrepreneurs reaping the benefits of Maxis’ eKelas Usahawan

• eKelas Usahawan is a free digital marketing programme that enables entrepreneurs and small businesses to establish a greater digital presence
• Over 5,000 entrepreneurs across Malaysia have been trained thus far
• Maxis has been collaborating with various NGOs and government agencies to encourage more participants to join
  

Entrepreneurs and small businesses are continuing to reap the many benefits of eKelas Usahawan, one of Maxis’ flagship community programmes under its corporate responsibility initiatives. Recognising the importance of digital upskilling in today's interconnected world, over 5,000 participants have signed up for the programme since its inception in 2021. Sessions are conducted through a combination of webinars and physical workshops across the country. 

eKelas Usahawan is a free digital marketing programme that aims to equip entrepreneurs and small businesses especially those from the B40 segment, with basic digital tools and skills to establish a greater digital presence. There are four modules covered – digital marketing and strategy, digital photography and graphic design, copywriting, and campaign planning. Through these comprehensive sessions, participants have the opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge for application in their respective businesses.

To encourage more participants to join the programme, Maxis has been collaborating with various NGOs and government agencies for dedicated sessions. This year, eKelas Usahawan held 22 physical workshops and webinars for a total of 1,903 entrepreneurs across Miri, Kuantan, Langkawi, Pasir Mas and other locales nationwide. Here’s what some of them had to say about these recent sessions:  

“After attending the workshop, I learned how to narrow my focus when advertising for a niche audience. Putting my newly acquired knowledge into action, I tested it with one online ad, and it has proven to be effective!” said Nur Syahirah binti Barhan, owner of an optical shop in Miri, Sarawak.

“Reaching the right target market was one of the challenges for our business. Thanks to what we’ve learned from eKelas Usahawan workshop, we now know more effective ways to identify our target audience and improve engagement with our customers,” said Najwa Natasha Che Nasir, owner of a jewelry shop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Dzunija Binti Jaldin from Kota Belud, Sabah, who runs a homemade product business said: “When I joined the bandwagon of online business, I was following market trends without conducting proper research, which led to low traction for my business. After the workshop, I’ve learnt to better understand my customers and was also able to create quality content that tailored to their needs.”

Meanwhile, Roseliani Binti Zakariah from Penang, who runs an online food business said she managed to acquire new skills such as copywriting and leverage AI chat to enhance her business’ Facebook page.

Existing or aspiring entrepreneurs can register for eKelas Usahawan for free at https://www.maxis.com.my/en/about-maxis/corporate-responsibility/.