CA14

09/04/2024

Our popular FastTrack LEARNING is back with all new workshops.

Each workshop fee is $14.00 to pre-register or $20.00 at the door. All fees include H.S.T. Payment is required along with your registration form to participate. Payment can be made via e-Transfer to: [email protected].

🎯Pain Points of Marketing
Grant’s workshop is to help small business owners identify the pain points of marketing and offer remedies that address the symptoms. The objective is fewer or no aches and pains attributed to the marketing function

Date: Monday, September 16
Time: 11:50 am
Location: Online – Zoom
Facilitator: Grant Lee CPM, Trainer, Mentor

🎯 Creating Content for Your Business Blog
Have you been enthusiastic about writing an article for your business blog but don’t know what to write about? In this workshop, you’ll learn how to develop topics that will resonate with your audience as well as best practices on writing and keeping your blog going.

Dates: Tuesday, September 17, Tuesday, October 22, Tuesday, November 19
Time: 11:50 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Online – Zoom
Facilitator: Kathy Majkut, Strategic Content Development and Copywriting

🎯 Unlock the Power of AI for Your Social Media!
Are you a small business owner managing your own Facebook and Instagram accounts? Want to save time and create more engaging posts? Join Sue Walker for a one-hour workshop where you’ll learn how to use AI to streamline your social media content.

Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024
Time: 11:50 am – 1:00 pm
Location: CA14 Studio
Facilitator: Sue Walker, Digital Media

🎯 SEO Basics
In this workshop, Lori will discuss improving your website’s ranking in search engines. We will cover topics like using the right keywords, creating good content, building links, and using social media. The presentation also explains how to optimize your website for local search.

Date: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Time: Noon
Location: CA14 Studio
Facilitator: Lori McCabe, Web Development

Registration and details are available at https://ca14.biz/workshops/

08/29/2024

Red flags for customers: What visual to avoid in your marketing communication

Millennials and Generation Z — the most active online buyers — often change their visual and shopping behaviour. They monitor cultural and political events and set visual trends in motion by forming influential micro-communities based on interests and values (more on this, see Creative Trends 2024). As a result, the only way to satisfy their needs and gain appreciation is to be flexible and up-to-date.

In this article, the Depositphotos team will take a look at things from a different perspective and analyze which visual concepts are no longer valid in marketing communication. Check to see if any of them are preventing you from reaching young customers.

https://www.thedrum.com/open-mic/red-flags-for-customers-what-visual-to-avoid-in-your-marketing-communication

08/26/2024

Creating Content for Your Business Blog
by Kathy Majkut | Content Development, Copywriting

How many times have you been enthusiastic and ready to write an article for your business blog but came up empty?

Many small-to-medium sized businesses wrestle with what to write. The usual end-result is to walk away and “save it for another day”, comforting yourself with the notion that “inspiration” hasn’t landed. Meanwhile, your blog page is not populated regularly which means that people are not finding your business online because Google Analytics isn’t registering any clicks, page visits or other activity.

Businesses with a blog page on their website that don’t regularly post articles are missing an opportunity to engage with their existing and potential customers. Research has shown that people like to buy from people they know. Effectively writing and posting blog articles can be used to build familiarity and trust with customers and prospects.

Continued at https://ca14.biz/blog/creating-content-for-your-business-blog/

08/22/2024

CA14 partners Peter Perko, Kathy Majkut, and Eric Doubt, enjoyed networking and showcasing our marketing expertise at the recent Halton Chambers' Business After Hours event. They chatted with local business members from all four Halton Chambers and enjoyed meeting Halton Hills Mayor Ann Lawlor.

Held at Landscape Ontario, this event was an opportunity to connect with local business owners. We had the pleasure of showcasing a vintage Underwood typewriter said to have been used for one of the first drafts of "O Canada"!

Congratulations to Dr. Mohammand Siddiqul, the recipient of our door prize - a gift certificate to Agram Meats.

08/12/2024

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

We can't wait for tomorrow's multi-Chamber MEGA Business After Hours event at Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, together with Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Chamber of Commerce and Halton Region! Are you going?

A sincere thank you to the MEGA Business After Hours Premier Partners BDC, Chartwell Retirement Residences, Infinite Success Partners and TD Business Insurance and Relationship Manager Mohamed Thaver.

08/07/2024

Posting Like a Pro: What Should You Post on These 8 Social Media Platforms

Posting the same content across all social media platforms is like offering the same menu at a fast food joint, gourmet restaurant, and a cafe. It doesn’t cater to the unique tastes and expectations of the audience.

In this article, I’ll share why you must tailor your social content to each network and give actionable advice for each platform.

https://buffer.com/resources/what-to-post-on-each-social-media-platform/

08/03/2024

The ultimate list of customer engagement metrics to monitor

The success of your business depends on how well you engage your customers. Highly engaged customers are more likely to buy from you and stay loyal to your brand. So you should stay on top of your customer engagement metrics to improve various aspects of your performance. This includes everything from the content you create to the customer care you provide.

This post breaks down some of the key metrics you need to track to understand customer engagement. Use this to find out the metrics that matter and how you can measure them.

What are customer engagement metrics?
Customer engagement metrics are the metrics for measuring how engaged your customers are. They help you measure how customers interact with your brand and how they respond to your marketing strategies. As such, they give you a better understanding of how connected they feel to your brand and how certain strategies resonate.

You can measure these metrics for specific campaigns or even for your larger business operation. For example, you could use customer engagement KPIs like Instagram likes and comments for a social media campaign. Additionally, you could measure customer service impact using churn rate and customer satisfaction.

Continued at https://sproutsocial.com/insights/customer-engagement-metrics/

07/30/2024

Build Customer Loyalty with Integrated Marketing Communications
by Grant Lee | Marketing Strategies and Tactics

Business owners should be focused on building and maintaining customer loyalty, while turning prospects into customers. Integrated marketing communications (IMC) merges digital and traditional advertising, public relations, direct marketing, social media, and sales promotion, into a cohesive customer loyalty strategy. This integration extends to engaging sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Various communication platforms like social media pages, e-newsletters, video channels, trade shows, digital and print materials, as well as educational techniques, contribute to this unified approach to marketing communications. Instead of treating each channel separately, IMC acknowledges their interdependence and interconnectedness. By harmonizing messaging and tactics, IMC ensures coherence, reinforces brand identity, and strengthens the narrative, whether it’s conveyed through audiovisual productions or written content.

Continued at https://ca14.biz/blog/build-customer-loyalty-with-integrated-marketing-communications

07/26/2024

Embracing Humor in Your Writing: The Funny Side of Business

Want to make your marketing more relatable? Wondering how humour could help?

In this article, you'll explore how to embrace humour in your writing.

www.socialmediaexaminer.com/embracing-humor-in-your-writing-the-funny-side-of-business

07/22/2024

Digital trends evolve rapidly, and what was once innovative may now appear outdated. How can you determine if it's time to refresh your website?

07/06/2024

FastTrack Workshop Topics

Pain Points Of Marketing
Grant’s workshop is to help small business owners identify the pain points of marketing and offer remedies that address the symptoms. The objective is fewer or no aches and pains attributed to the marketing function

Date: July 25
Time: 11:50
Location: Online – Zoom

Facilitator: Grant Lee CPM, Trainer, Mentor

To register visit

Marketing your small business can be a challenge. At CA14 we understand this. To get you on the right track, we have launched FastTrack Learning – a series of hour-long workshops that will help you create awareness for your business. Workshop Registration Current workshop topics are listed below. ...

07/02/2024

Meta Business Suite: What It Is and How to Use It

In this article, Buffer walks through what you need to know about and how to use Meta Business Suite.

https://buffer.com/resources/how-to-use-meta-business-suite/

06/28/2024

Social Media Monitoring: Why You Need It & How to Get Started

Use social media monitoring to track what people are saying about your brand on social — and turn your insights into a strong strategy.

Learn more at https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-monitoring/

06/24/2024

Beyond Aesthetics: How A Website Can Transform Your Business
by Lori McCabe | Web Development

In the digital age, having a website is no longer enough. In today’s competitive landscape, your website needs to be more than just an online brochure; it needs to be a powerful tool that drives results for your business. We believe an effective website goes beyond aesthetics; it’s about creating strategic experiences that convert visitors into customers.

1. We Design for Conversions: We don’t just create beautiful websites; we craft user experiences designed to achieve your specific business goals. Whether it’s increasing sales, generating leads, or boosting brand awareness, we tailor each website to meet your unique needs.

2. User-Centric Approach: We put the user at the forefront of everything we do. We utilize the latest web design principles to ensure your website is intuitive, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone. This enhances the user experience and improves your website’s search engine ranking (SEO).

Continued at https://ca14.biz/blog/beyond-aesthetics-how-a-website-can-transform-your-business/

06/20/2024

LinkedIn SEO: How to Optimize Your Account in 2024

In this article, learn about LinkedIn SEO and how it can help you get featured by the algorithm – no SEO expertise required.

https://buffer.com/resources/linkedin-seo/

06/16/2024

15 Inspiring LinkedIn Post Ideas (+ Examples) for Your Page

LinkedIn is one of the most effective channels for building brand awareness, connecting with customers and establishing thought leadership.

Moreover, with 4 out of 5 LinkedIn members driving business decisions, the network is rated #1 for B2B lead generation. As a marketer, you cannot afford to overlook LinkedIn.

But what types of content should you be posting on LinkedIn? In this article, we’ll explore various content formats that work well on the platform and provide post ideas and examples you can adapt for your own LinkedIn marketing strategy.

Continued at https://sproutsocial.com/insights/linkedin-post-ideas/

06/12/2024

Congratulation Grant!

06/10/2024

5 Graphic Design Trends to Improve Your Social Media Branding in 2024

Each year, fresh ideas, concepts, and technological innovations shape the creative design landscape. These influences give rise to a wave of new graphic design trends, revolutionizing how we conceive, craft, and engage with art.

Many of these graphic design trends infiltrate the realms of business and marketing. Some influence web design, some make their way onto packaging, and others become a staple for social media branding.

In order to stay ahead of the curve, savvy business owners are constantly on the lookout for ways to keep their social media branding fresh, engaging, and relevant. One powerful strategy? Embracing the latest graphic design trends. Here’s what staying in tune with them will mean for your brand:

📌 Stay relevant: Aligning with current design trends helps your brand stay fresh and relevant in the eyes of your social media followers, demonstrating that you are attuned to evolving tastes and preferences.
📌 Enhance brand perception: First impressions count, especially on social media, where scrolling has become our default mode, and you have a short amount of time to grab a user’s attention. Sleek and modern design elements can enhance the perception of your brand, conveying creativity and innovation to your audience.
📌 Boost engagement: On-trend graphics are more likely to capture the attention of social media users, standing out in a vast sea of content. They are inherently more shareable and likable, driving higher levels of engagement and increasing brand reach.
📌 Increase brand reach: Utilizing on-trend graphic design increases your chances of getting noticed by publications that focus on design and marketing. They might use your social media content as an example to illustrate their articles, therefore introducing your brand to a broader audience.
📌 Showcase personality: Creative trending graphics help differentiate your brand from competitors and provide an opportunity to showcase its personality and values. This fosters an emotional connection with your audience and humanizes your brand identity.

In this article, Buffer has curated the top five graphic design trends for social media branding in 2024. They'll delve into what they are, their ideal use cases, and how brands can effectively integrate them into their social media design to boost engagement, enhance brand perception, and increase brand reach.

https://buffer.com/resources/graphic-design-trends-2024/

06/04/2024

It’s the scenario no business wants to face. A cybersecurity attack or reputational crisis that can turn a normal working day into a sink or swim scenario.

A good number of companies aren’t prepared for a crisis like this. However, an effective crisis communication strategy can help your company plan for a worst case scenario and emerge with your reputation intact.

While we hope any crisis management plan will remain in storage and never used—preparation is key. This comprehensive guide to crisis management will provide you with actionable tips on how to build a strategy to respond to any crisis efficiently and keep customers informed.

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/crisis-management/

05/31/2024

The Perils of Being Too Casual in Business Communication: Why “Hey” Might Not Cut It
by Sue Walker | CA14 Digital Media

In the fast-paced world of business, communication is key. With email and text messages as primary means of professional correspondence, the lines between formal and informal communication have blurred. While a friendly tone is often appreciated, it’s crucial to strike the right balance, especially when reaching out to new prospects or clients. One common pitfall that can jeopardize your professionalism is the casual use of greetings, with “Hey” being a prime example.

In the digital age, it’s tempting to start an email or text message with a casual “Hey” instead of a more traditional greeting like “Hello.” While the intention is to foster a relaxed tone, this approach may inadvertently convey a lack of professionalism and potentially harm your business relationships.

First impressions matter, and the initial greeting sets the tone for the entire conversation. Using a casual greeting like “Hey” might be perceived as too familiar, and it may not align with the level of formality expected in a business setting. New prospects or clients may question the seriousness of your approach, leading to doubts about your professionalism and attention to detail.

Continued at https://ca14.biz/blog/the-perils-of-being-too-casual-in-business-communication-why-hey-might-not-cut-it/

05/27/2024

10 Ideas for Your Instagram as a B2B Company

When you think of “brands on Instagram,” you might picture fun, direct-to-consumer companies that make workout clothes or tinned fish. Many B2B companies forgo Instagram because it relies so heavily on visuals and “personality,” which is difficult to achieve when marketing payroll or restaurant software.

So, it’s true that your restaurant management tool requires a few more steps than someone seeing a new app or product and deciding to try it out, but Instagram is still one of the first places people go to learn about a new brand or tool.

At a glance: 10 ideas for B2B companies on Instagram

⭐ Playing into Internet trends
⭐ Partnering with content creators
⭐ Share new products and feature updates
⭐ Highlighting unique ways to use existing features
⭐ Posting clips and highlights from other marketing channels
⭐ Encouraging (and engaging with) conversations in the comments
⭐ Spotlighting a report
⭐ Showcasing results made with their tool
⭐ Turn highly recognizable images and interfaces into carousels
⭐ Spotlight your audience – or people recognizable to them

Learn the details at https://buffer.com/resources/instagram-for-b2b/

05/24/2024

Your company is launching a new product, eyeing a new market segment or contemplating a strategic pivot—as a seasoned marketer, your first move would be to conduct a competitive analysis. This exercise is elementary to uncover critical insights about the new market and gain visibility into the competitive landscape.

However, beyond research, there’s the crucial task of distilling those insights into actionable strategies that’ll give your business an advantage. This is where competitive analysis reports become critical, providing you a roadmap for translating raw data into strategic direction.

In this guide, we’ll explore how competitive analysis reports benefit your business, how you can build effective reports, the areas to focus on and competitive reporting tools.

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/competitive-analysis-report/

05/15/2024

Today, artificial intelligence is spreading misinformation faster than the fact-checkers can keep up with. And only about half of Canadians are confident they can recognize AI-generated content on their newsfeeds.* Luckily, there are a few all-natural media literacy techniques anyone can use to spot artificial information. Put your instincts to the test in this AI news quiz and learn what you can do to help keep truth human.

Some of the stories shared here feature real reporting from real journalists. But there are also examples of how generative AI is being used to automate, distort or full-on-fabricate the facts. Can you tell the difference?

https://cjf-fjc.ca/keep-truth-human

05/13/2024

Are you up to date on changes from LinkedIn? Wondering which recent LinkedIn updates are important to marketers and business owners?

In this article, we explore LinkedIn changes that affect your marketing.

www.socialmediaexaminer.com/linked-updates-ads-tools-networking-features-and-more

05/07/2024

How This Car Rental Business Used Its Google Business Profile to Grow Online

Learn how this small car rental business optimizes its Google Business Profile so you can do the same for your operation.

https://buffer.com/resources/optimize-google-business-profile

05/03/2024

Struggling to stand out online?

Running a small business is tough, and marketing it can feel even tougher. At CA14, we understand. That's why we created FastTrack Learning, a series of affordable hour-long workshops designed to help you master the marketing essentials and boost your online presence.

This Month's Workshop: Do's & Don'ts of Managing a Website (May 9th at Noon)

✔️ Learn how to make the most of your website to attract customers.
✔️ Discover website content best practices (how often to update, what to include).
✔️ Get expert tips on keeping your website secure.

Your Facilitator: Lori McCabe, our Web Development expert, will be sharing her insights!

Space is Limited! Register Now: https://ca14.biz/workshops

04/29/2024

Audience engagement: What it is and tips to improve it

Audience engagement is all about the connection your audience feels with your brand and the actions they take as a result of it. In general, audience engagement, and social media engagement in particular, isn’t easy to come by. Social media users’ feeds are flooded with content competing for their attention. But when you hit the right chord, you can expect increased brand health, higher-quality leads and an active social following.

In this article, we’ll explore audience engagement benefits and strategies. Plus, we’ll show you some shining examples of what audience engagement looks like.

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/audience-engagement

04/25/2024

The CA14 Team would like to extend our congratulations to Our Earth Nature on the launch of their innovative environmental education platform. This exciting initiative empowers a diverse audience – youths, families, educators, and communities – to become stewards of our planet.

The platform leverages the power of science and storytelling to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world. This, in turn, inspires action to protect our environment and promote overall well-being.

Congratulations to Natasha Tang Kai, founder and subject matter expert behind Our Earth Nature. We are honoured to have collaborated with her on this impactful project.

Explore Our Earth Nature's educational resources and empower yourself to make a difference: https://ourearthnature.com

04/21/2024

Marketing your small business can be a challenge. At CA14 we understand this. To put you on the right track, we have launched FastTrack Learning - a series of hour-long workshops that will help you create awareness for your business.

Join us on March 21, 2024 for "From Data To Decisions – Practical Market Research"
Learn how to uncover practical information quickly to gain valuable insights about your business, customers, and market trends.

This workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to make data-driven decisions and ultimately increase sales.

Perfect for:
✅ Small business owners
✅ Entrepreneurs
✅ Anyone looking to gain a competitive edge

Date: Date: April 25, 2024
Time: Noon
Location: Online – Zoom
Facilitator: Grant Lee CPM, Trainer, Mentor

Register at https://ca14.biz/registration
To see a complete list of upcoming workshops visit https://ca14.biz/workshops

04/17/2024

Want to develop more LinkedIn connections that lead to sales? Looking for a strategy to guide your outreach and networking?

In this article, we’ll explore a creative way to get more out of your LinkedIn activities.

www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-linkedin