Navigating the waters of building an online business identity can be a confounding task for small business owners who may have a great product, but don't have a degree in computer technology.
                   
But thanks to the funding through the Blandin Foundation and a partnership between the Winona Workforce Center and the City of Winona, local start-ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs have a lifeline to the advice they need for managing the Internet.

Called the Digital Perch (www.digitalperch.com), the site is free to access, and is operated in a blog format with volumes of posts written by experts about the various components of developing an online presence.

Topics like creating a website, using Facebook and e-mail marketing, search engine optimization, and even web basics are provided for people trying to get their feet wet in online marketing.

With the Digital Perch, officials hope to foster small business development and encourage the continued growth of Winona's entrepreneurial community by providing the information businesses need for a successful web presence.