Roger Brooks Worshop Inspires Branding in Bruce County

Spruce the Bruce held its Workshop with Roger Brooks, of Destination Development International (DDI), on Nov 13 – Nov 15. Brook shares the lessons he’s learned over the past 30 years while helping over 1000 communities. This experience has made Brooks a master of the “art of differentiation”, or “branding”.

Both business owners and municipal officials from 11 Bruce County communities attended the 2.5 day workshop. All of them walked away inspired to help their towns become destinations that attract both locals and tourists alike.  Both the county and the communities now have solid brand directions and are going to be busy over the next couple of weeks as they explore these new directions.

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E-Biz Seminars 2012

Connect with your Customers via  Website, Emailing, Blogging, Social Media

 The Business Enterprise Centre in Saugeen Shores is pleased to bring back Lynda Chiotti to help business owners effectively use the Internet to promote their business!

Is Your Website Delivering Value? – For website owners who are non-technical and want to learn how to ensure that their website will turn  visitors into  customers, using insider knowledge from a user experience professional.  $35 (includes HST)

Date: Thursday, 4 Oct, 2012  Time:  1:30-4:30    Place: Colonial Motel, Port Elgin

Blogging and Email Marketing  -  We will discuss how blogs relate to websites and social media, and how they relate to your business and your customers. Also, you will learn how to create email marketing campaigns. $35 (includes HST)

 Date: Tuesday, 16 Oct, 2012 Time:  1:30-4:30    Place: Victoria Jubilee Hall, Walkerton

Social Media 101 – This is for beginners. We will guide participants through the steps to set up and populate accounts on social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others. Participants are required to bring laptop. Space is limited as this is a hands on seminar. $35 (includes HST)

Date: Tuesday, 23 Oct, 2012         Time:  9:00-12:00    Place: Paddy Walker House, Kincardine

Social Media 201 – This is for intermediate users who are familiar with social media, but have not yet managed total integration.  Topics include your website and social media specialized channels, feature management, and measurement tools, privacy, problems and protocols. Participants are required to bring laptop.  $35 (includes HST)

Date: Tuesday, 23 Oct, 2012       Time:  1:30-4:30    Place: Paddy Walker House, Kincardine

Lynda Chiotti is a senior information architect and user-centred design specialist, consulting to major Canadian and international corporations on web development and content management over the past 15 years. Based in Owen Sound, she is adept at presenting her information in “layman’s terms” and adapting her presentations to the needs of seminar participants.  She helps to dispel the mystery and confusion of using the Internet to promote your business!

   To register or for more information, call or email:

   Tel:  519-832-2082      Email:  smallbiz@saugeenshores.ca

http://www.saugeenshores.ca/business      http://www.facebook.com/ssbec                  http//twitter.com/ssbec

Meet the Students – Corrina

Corrina Serda – Serda Digital Marketing co.

The Business Enterprise Centre of Saugeen Shores is pleased to announce that Corrina Serda, of Port Elgin, has been accepted into the Summer Company Program, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation. She will be receiving an award of up to $3,000, as well as business training and mentoring to start up and run Serda Digital Marketing co. In the fall, Corrina will be returning to Saugeen District Secondary School for Grade 11.

 Serda Digital Marketing co. will provide a customized digital media service for people running local businesses or organizations. Corrina can set up accounts on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook, and also can create basic websites and provide basic training and technical support.

 Another service is to write content and send out updates, on behalf of the owner, to keep the accounts active and up to date. Further packages can include creating branding and marketing themes, video production, design of logos that can include a graphic and/or wordmark, design of advertising materials, design of powerpoint presentations, etc.

 Corrina was trained by Al Gore to give his climate presentations in 2008, was honoured as an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year in 2009, and will be assisting with Al Gore’s training in August in San Francisco as a table facilitator and youth mentor. She has spent 200 hours enriching the social media presence of the local WOAA champions, the Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, and has created ads, logos and handouts for non-profits.

 Serda Digital Marketing co. will service Saugeen Shores and surrounding areas, and will have flexible working hours, depending on the clients’ needs. For more information, visit Serda Digital Marketing co.’s website:

http://serdadigitalmarketing.wordpress.com/ or visit Serda Digital Marketing co. on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SerdaDigitalMarketingCo

 

Using Social Media in Your Business

The Lake Huron Learning Centre (LHLC) in Kincardine is holding this four-session course on Social Media, starting Tuesday, April 3, 2012.

For more info, see attached flyer, or visit LHLC’s website.

LHLC – Social Media for Small Business – Feb 2012

E-Marketing Workshop Series in Owen Sound

The Business Enterprise Centre – Owen Sound & Area is holding an E-Marketing Workshop series on February 7th and 14th, at Stone Tree Golf & Fitness, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. each day. The cost, which is includes HST, is $80 and a full breakfast is included.

The workshop series will interest businesses ready to take their online presence up to the next level. The sessions will focus on your website’s role in your business objectives, the importance of editorial content, and the advantages/disadvantages of social media.

To register, visit the Business Enterprise Centre website.

How Google Analytics Can Help Entrepreneurs

Tracking stats on visitors to websites and social media sites can be a challenge for small business owners. Google Analytics (which is FREE – that’s right, no charge) can help.

This article by Mihairi Petrovic in Entrepreneurial Woman explains how you can use this tool to your advantage.

Trends in Social Tourism Marketing

Yfactor’s attached article shows how social media marketing has been used as an effective marketing tool in the tourism industry.

Trends in Social Tourism Marketing

BMO Study: Canadian Business Owners Split On Effectiveness Of Social Media To Drive Profits

Half of Canadian businesses believe that social media has the potential to increase their profitability, according to a new BMO Bank of Montreal survey. Social media tools such as podcasts and social networking sites present significant, cost-effective opportunities for businesses to engage customers; however, only 29% of Canadian small business owners are taking advantage.

The survey found that those who think social media can increase their profit believe it can do so through promoting their company’s brand or reputation (64%); providing broader access to consumers (63%); and encouraging word of mouth endorsements and referrals (62%). The top reasons business owners cited for not using social media are they don’t think it is a valuable tool (29%) and they lack knowledge about social media (19%). For those businesses that use social media tools, Facebook is the most popular choice at 70%, followed by LinkedIn (32%), and Twitter (31%).

A social media presence takes time to build, and the impact on the bottom line is more difficult to measure than some more traditional forms of marketing. Canadian business owners surveyed say that 28% of their marketing efforts are focused online as opposed to traditional media channels.

Source: Market News Publishing, 26 October 2011

November 7th Hands On Social Media Seminar is Now Full!

Our Hands On Seminar Social Media Seminar being held on November 7, 2011 at the Southampton Town Hall is NOW FULL!

Many thanks to those who have registered – if you would like to be added to a waiting list in case of a cancellation, please call the office at 519-832-2082 or email smallbiz@saugeenshores.ca

E-Business Seminars this Fall

NOTE: THE NOVEMBER 7TH SEMINAR IS NOW FULL! IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, CALL 519-832-2082 OR EMAIL smallbiz@saugeenshores.ca

Imagine…Facebook without fear….Twitter without trepidation…

Want to promote your business through Social Media, but not sure how? Bring your laptop to this full-day, hands-on seminar and get connected! See below for dates, locations and how to register.

Flyer – October – 2011 – Colour