Starting and growing a business requires people who constantly seek knowledge and skills to use towards business growth, which is where webinars that provide actionable advice come in. You might start without some skills, but you can always upskill as you go. One of the ways to expand your business knowledge is through webinars.
Webinars aim to educate you on specific topics, but as a business, the last thing you want is to waste your time on a generic webinar. It’s important to invest your time and money in something that provides real value that you can pour into your business.
Why Are Webinars Useful for SMEs?
Webinars offer SMEs a low-cost way to access expert knowledge and practical business tips that they can implement in their business. One of the primary benefits of webinars is that they remove the inconvenience of travel or expensive consulting.
With webinars, entrepreneurs are allowed to learn from specialists, ask questions in real time, and network for business growth.
In many cases, webinars are recorded and uploaded on a platform, which allows time-restricted business owners to access them on their own schedule.
1. SME South Africa Webinars
SME South Africa’s webinars are tailored specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. SME South Africa covers topics such as funding, marketing strategies, digital transformation, compliance, leadership development, and more.
What makes these online events valuable is their local relevance; you’ll get actionable advice and examples from African entrepreneurs and experts who understand the challenges South African and African businesses face.
You can sign up for the newsletter or follow our social media pages to stay updated on upcoming events. Many of the past webinars are also available on demand, giving you flexibility to learn at your own pace.
2. Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce
Joining a chamber of commerce or industry association can open doors to niche business webinars that offer insights you can apply towards your business growth.
For example, the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) regularly runs webinars on sales conversion, cash flow management, and customer retention.
These webinars often come with Q&A sessions to help you gain more understanding of the topics discussed, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned.
3. National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is a South African development finance institution established to foster Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). Beyond providing crucial funding and investment for business growth, the NEF provides webinars focused on navigating B-BBEE compliance, investment strategies, and sector-specific opportunities.
Recognising the importance of inclusive economic participation, the NEF strongly emphasises women’s empowerment initiatives aimed at closing the gender gap in business ownership. Their webinars provide support that provides guidance and resources tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by black entrepreneurs.
4. The Marketing Centre
The Marketing Centre offers marketing-focused online events. Their sessions are led by experienced marketing directors who focus on solutions for growth, customer acquisition, and ROI-driven marketing.
Topics include understanding which of your marketing efforts are truly working, practical growth levers to scale your revenue, how to effectively use LinkedIn for business development, and expert-led clinics on lead generation. These webinars are packed with strategic frameworks and actionable insights that you can apply immediately to improve your marketing performance.
Whether you’re trying to generate more leads, convert better, or make your marketing spend work harder, their sessions are built to help you take control of your growth strategy. You can explore both live and saved webinars through their webinars page.
5. African Women’s Development Fund (AFDF)
The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) hosts funding application webinars specifically designed to support African women-led organisations and entrepreneurs. These webinars guide participants through the grant application process, covering key areas such as eligibility, proposal writing, budgeting, and tips for getting your funding application approved.
By providing clear, practical advice, AWDF helps simplify the funding process and equips women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools to secure financial support for their initiatives.
Taking Advantage of Webinars for Business Success
Webinars provide a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain practical, actionable insights that can directly impact business growth. By choosing the right resources, you can continuously upskill, keep up with industry trends and adapt to changes, as well as apply proven strategies to drive your business forward.
