WAILUKU – The County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development offers free workshops at the Maui County Business Resource Center in Maui Mall.

Seating for all workshops is limited, and all workshops are subject to change or cancellation.

Workshops are free unless noted otherwise below. To reserve a seat, call the Maui County Business Resource Center at 270-5770.

“The Power of the Inbox-Tips and Tricks for Successful E-mail Marketing” with instructor Mckenna Hallett will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

According to Hallett, with today’s on-the-go audience, e-mail marketing’s reputation for effectiveness is reaching all-time highs. E-mails can have a much longer-lasting impression than just about any other form of marketing. However, if you are not using e-mail properly, you may be missing significant opportunities and hurting your reputation.

This workshop takes participants step-by-step through what it takes to create fully optimized e-mails and shows the keys to effective e-mail marketing. Learn what to avoid and what to include in every e-mail for maximum impact.

Learn how to grow your “brand” and gain authority with your audience. And, learn the five easy steps to harness the power of the inbox!

“Writing Business Plans for the Right Reasons” with instructor Wayne Wong will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Most people write business plans to raise money from a bank or to attract investors. Learn what elements make for an effective plan and what to concentrate your writing effort on. The more important reason to write a business plan is to force the management team to solidify its objectives (what), strategies (how) and tactics (when, where, who).

Wong is the Maui Center director of the Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network. The center provides both existing and aspiring business owners with confidential, one-on-one, free business advising services, training workshops and market research services.

“Location, Location, Location: Is it Still the Most Important Thing?” with instructor Anna Ribucan will be held on Friday, Jan. 27, from noon to 1 p.m. (Q&A until 1:30 p.m.).

This workshop will look into home-based business options. Many small businesses can be run from home, but not all businesses can pass the test to start and grow a business without causing problems due to zoning restrictions and unhappy neighbors, or to find the ideal balance between family and business.

This workshop will explore the trend toward more mobility and less structure in operating a growing business.

“Becoming a Best-Selling Author: Leveraging the World’s Greatest Marketing Secret by Writing, Publishing and Promoting Your Book to Better Market Your Business” with instructor Patrick Snow will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from noon to 2 p.m.

Are you looking for a better way to market your business? Do you have a burning desire to become a best-selling author? Attend this seminar and learn how to make your publishing and business goals come true.

If you want to stand out from your competition, strengthen your credentials and get free publicity, then writing and publishing a book is a strong marketing strategy.

Let international best-selling author Snow guide you through the process. In this two-hour workshop, learn your three publishing options, top five requirements for becoming a best-selling author, and 18 mistakes to avoid.

Learn how to monetize your passion and even better market your business, or start a new business using your book as a platform from which you can launch! Come early and stay late for his question-and-answer session that will answer all questions on your book project.

“QuickBooks for Small Business,” hands-on computer training for beginners, with instructor Richard Kehoe, CPA, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. The fee is $45 per session.

Learn to set up a company’s QuickBooks in a small class setting with personalized tutoring. This class for new users will cover how to record sales, receive payments, prepare invoices and balance a checkbook. Get customized answers and schedule a follow-up appointment at no cost to discuss solutions.

Free counseling sessions with experienced SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) and Small Business Development Corp. counselors are offered Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.