Canadian Small Business Women

Connection, Synergy, Community

Top Ten Tips for Improving Your Website Today – Part One

Ladies, whether you’re currently an aspiring business owner, or a successful business owner, chances are you have a website to support your business. And if you have a website, chances are you have spent lots of time, energy and perhaps money to get that website looking and working well. I don’t mean to be harsh, but having a website that looks good and works well is simply not enough these days if you want to attract more clientele, get the edge over your competitors, enhance your brand image or increase your revenue.

My business is in web design and development and every week I come across hundreds of sites. Some are good…really good. Some are bad. And some are just plain ugly! I’m here to tell you that there are easy, fast and affordable ways to improve your website, thus improving your business no matter what stage you’re at.

The following 10  tips will help you take your website from drab to fab in no time at all. If you’re looking for ways to attract traffic to your site, impress potential customers with your digital presence and attract more leads and sales, please read on. But more importantly, choose one or two tips from this list and commit to implementing them on your website in the next 14 business days. Good luck ladies – you inspire me!

 

Tip #1 – Mobile devices make up two thirds of web usage!

Over 60% of people visiting your site are doing so through their mobile device. Make sure your website is optimized for mobile usage. What does that mean?

  1. Your site needs to be responsive
  2. Site text and images must fit on the page
  3. Your mobile site must load super quickly
  4. The navigation bar is super clear and framed well in the screen
  5. Your pop-ups are optimized for mobile devices

 

Tip #2 – You have 8 seconds to make a first impression on an average visitor to your website!

Your potential customer must be able to find the information they’re looking for in just 8 seconds or say bye-bye! Don’t forget, the website has to be attractive and user-friendly to ensure the potential customer has a positive user experience and thus a positive impression of you and your company!

 

Tip #3 – 73% of visitors are heavily influenced by video!

Many potential customers would rather engage with a short, informational video instead of text where possible. There are tons of affordable tools which will assist you in making a professional video explaining your services, showcasing happy customer testimonials or giving a high overview of your company. So try to find a way to use video to help persuade potential customers on the merits of your products or services.

 

Tip #4 – 7 out of 10 consumers find a company via the blog!

A blog is a great way to attract new customers in an organic way. Make sure your blog content is informative and engaging. A blog establishes you as an expert in your field and will help you to gain trust and credibility with your audience. Even one new piece of content a week is enough to build a healthy collection of information over a short period of time.

 

Tip #5 – Lists are better than large paragraphs!

Website experts know that a text-heavy page used to be great for SEO, but too much text is counter-productive for actual human readers. Google algorithms no longer favor text heavy websites and keyword stuffing is a huge no-no! Think of the layout in a newspaper; long, thin columns of text is much more accessible than massive chunks of text. Even better, try using lists, bolding, and descriptive headers to make the text easier to skim.

Ladies, Part Two of this article will be released next month. In the meantime, please choose one or two of these tips and commit to implementing them in the next 14 days. Even a small change could have a huge impact.

if you are interested in a site audit, speed test or need any other kind of web design or development help, feel free to reach out through my website at https://cleanforest.co/  or via email at aimee@cleanforest.co. As Canadian Small Business Women, we do well by lifting each other up and supporting each other learn and grow. Message me today to set up your free consultation and learn how to best optimize your site!

 

 

Aimee Eppel runs CleanForest Consulting, a web design and development agency based in Mississauga, Ontario. Along with a highly experienced team, she creates high quality and affordable web solutions for huge organizations such as MIT, Mount Sinai Hospital and BMO as well as local start ups such as hockey schools, law firms and home organizers. Aimee is a mother of two beautiful children, both still in diapers!

For any sort of web related help, please email her at aimee@cleanforest.co or through her website at https://cleanforest.co/.

Sales: Whose Role is It Anyway?

 

Shhh..not sales. That’s a dirty word. Not really though. It’s intimidating I get it, but it doesn’t have to be. For sure the sales profession get’s a bad rep and it’s seen as cut throat, but it is what it is. As consumers, individuals and companies are always grappling for our attention and our dollars. Everyone is just trying to get a piece of the pie and get a bit of commission too, right?

I worked a sales role and I have carried the lessons I learned from it many years later. I honestly believe that everyone needs to work at least one sales role with a commission framework in their life. The earlier the better as it teaches you that you get paid for the results you get, not just for effort. Working hard is great, but if it doesn’t yield good fruit, what good was it? But beyond that I had a manager that told me that sales is everyone’s role, and not just the sales department.

Sales is Everyone’s Role

The function of sales means to bring in new and repeat business in the exchange of goods and services for money. But even if you don’t have sales reps or a dedicated sales director, sales is everyone’s role. But how you ask? As long as everyone does their role to the highest of their ability and treats everyone as their customers, it’ll work. For sure, additional sales and marketing efforts will be required if you really want to see the revenue come in.

In business, roles can generally be described as customer facing roles, where some individuals deal directly with the end user and then there is the back end. But if the backend doesn’t work diligently to fill the order or request how will the end customer perceive the company and the front of line employee? Even if you work in the AR/AP department, how you deal with your current customers may mean the stop or increase of business with that client or vendor.

As the owner, you’re head of Sales and Marketing. Whether you have a Director of Sales, you’re still the head. So, if you’re not taking an active roll in it, now is the time to start. Be active and invest in the growth and development of yourself and your team, and in turn it will result to a more profitable company. When we see CE0’s of big corporations visiting the stores and speaking with staff and customers, they’re thinking how can they increase sales. Every action done in a business must be done with an end goal to increase sales and revenue. Remember that.

Word of Mouth and Referrals

Raise your hand if your business relies heavily on referrals from your clients. People will be glad to refer you to a friend or everyone they know if you wowed them. Be sure to over deliver to get the best response from your clients.

Ask for the referral. You may feel awkward doing this, but just remind them. Keep in contact with them and email them every few months to say you appreciated their business and keep asking for the referral. Ask them to connect with you on social media. Send them a discount or a referral bonus. Make it worth their while, to throw you more business. Can you develop a loyalty program to have them keep coming back? Get creative.

How many of us start our search on Google when we think about service-based businesses? And what do we go there to see? The ratings and reviews of course. So please, whenever you have dealt with a client and they had a positive experience, ask them to leave a review. Keep asking and reminding them until they’ve done it. Make it easy for them. Get their email address and send them a direct link to make a quick review. Most people won’t think to leave a review when they’ve had a good experience because that’s what they expect. But, in the case they had a bad experience they’re definitely more likely to let their friends, colleagues, and the whole internet know. Just remember, that one bad online review can do a lot of damage and can skew the results.

New Ways to Sell

I encourage you to start pumping up your sales knowledge and start reading and listening to audio books and podcasts. Get into the state of mind that the tasks you’re doing as a business owner is income and sales generating. Whether it’s building rapport or building awareness make sure you use your time and your dollars wisely. There are so many sales gurus out there so be sure to find the one you like. But I’d advise you to learn about their actual come up stories first and how they got to where they are now. Most of these individuals are not overnight successes, but they started from nothing and they built and struggled to get where they are now. Sales is a GRIND.

Start brainstorming with your team how your company can increase sales. Figure out what areas you’re lacking in and build it up. How is your company’s online presence? Can customers shop online, how about shopping from their social media? Can you see if there are any influencers that align with your brand that can do some influencer and affiliate marketing for you. How about special email campaigns, discounts, surveys, in store promotions? Can you make yourself available to go to networking events, trade shows, and community events. The list can go on and on.

Don’t be afraid to talk about the S word. Keep working at refining your skills and strategy and keep testing them. Focus on building your brand value and work on making genuine relationships. Happy selling.

 

Chadene Mbouogno is an Ontario Mortgage Agent with The Mortgage Coach, the lead Lending Specialist at her company CM Lending, and also manages the Blog BelleChavel.com. She is passionate about helping small business owners get the funding they need to propel their business forward through alternative lending. She has worked closely with start-ups, transportation and logistics companies, manufacturing and staffing agencies to manage their cashflow issues.

Instagram : @ChadeneM   https://www.instagram.com/chadeneM/  //

@CMLending https://www.instagram.com/cmlending/

Email: chadene@themortgagecoach.ca

CM Lending Website : www.cmlending.ca

Mortgage Website : www.chadenembouogno.ca

Faking popularity on social media will hurt your brand

Hands up if you have ever wished your social media following would just grow wildly overnight. Almost every brand and influencer has wished this at some point (for some it’s an ongoing thought). Have you ever posted to Instagram only to check every 5 or 10 minutes to see if anyone has liked your photo?

Because everyone wants to “go viral”, social media has become a bunch of users and brands just trying to be the loudest in the room rather than thoughtfully engaging with the followers they do have. Of course, we throw statements like “fake it till you make it” into the mix and you end up with people buying followers and engagement to try to appear more popular than they actually are.

Whether you are partnering with influencers or other brands or you are just trying to build your own social media community, it’s time to take note of what’s really important.

You can tell if someone is faking it

It’s important to know if someone is faking it if you are doing any influencer marketing or brand partnerships, but it’s also good to remind yourself that people can tell if you are faking your popularity.

For any sort of partnership, you want to make sure that the parties you are working with can help you to reach your goals.

Here are the things that will help you figure out if someone is the real deal or not (and provide a good guideline for your own social media):

  • Genuine comments: Are the comments genuine or do they seem really generic and unrelated? A bunch of comments like “Great shot!”, “Cute!”, and “Nice pic!” are generally from automated bots that you either pay for or are spam. Also have a peek at the last 10 to 20 posts to see if it is the same group of people commenting over and over in the same ways.
  • Real likes: While Instagram removed total likes counts, you can still see who liked a post. A quick scroll through the list of names and profile pictures will give you a good sense of whether a profile is real or not.
  • Real followers: A fake follower will often have one or more of the following: random typos in the name, random numbers in their name, the generic egg profile image instead of an actual picture, low post count – we’re talking one random image on the feed, and often seems to have nothing in common with the person they are following. Most social platforms are starting to crack down on fake followers, but it’s definitely an uphill battle.

Keep in mind that your audience is also looking at you under the same microscope you are evaluating partners. It’s not worth it to fake your own brand popularity. There is no replacement for good strategy, great content, and meaningful engagement.

Why brands should keep it real

In a world where your customers and potential customers are armed with more information and the power to choose between an increasing number of options available to them, honesty is always the best policy. Also, with the increasing conversations and research studies about how social media is directly tied to mental health issues, you don’t want to be a part of the problem.

Knowing what we know about social media and what can happen if your target audience doesn’t trust you as a brand, here are some things to remember about keeping it real on social media.

  • Quality is way more important than quantity: You could have 10,000 followers and no customers or 100 followers and 50 customers. It doesn’t matter about how many people are in your community as long as they are engaged and loyal to your brand.
  • Prioritize meaningful connections above everything: Remember that social media should be social. The conversations you have with followers – whether they are customers, influencers, or other brands – should drive your overall strategy.
  • Don’t let social media become too commercialized: Social media isn’t about hard selling or telling influencers what they have to It always comes back to relationship building and dialogue.
  • Buying followers and likes will only hurt your credibility in the end: In short, people always find out and once they do, they will never forget.

There is no silver bullet or magic carpet that will carry you to successful growth on social media. You may be tempted to pay for followers and engagement because it’s so easy to do it, but if that opportunity ever tempts you, best to avoid it. Not only are you feeding into a toxic social media culture rather than fostering a positive channel for people to interact with your brand, but you could actually do more harm than good to your brand reputation.

Candace Huntly is Founding Partner at SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency working to take organizational and individual brands to the next level. With a passion for all things related to creativity and strategy, she specializes in business intelligence, marketing & branding, content strategy & development, media & influencer relations, and social media. Basically, if you need to put your brand, product, or cause in the public eye, she will find a way to do it, while making the approach unique to you.

Connect with Candace

Sign up for our free 20-minute consultation and we’ll help you figure things out.

A version of this article was originally posted to the SongBird Marketing Communications blog.

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Points for Small Business Customer Service

 

Customer Service For Small Business

Learning to deliver great customer service for your small business can help keep your customers happy and boost your business. Providing the best service can be a challenge, whether you’re a new business or established.

Need some pointers improving your small business customer service? I will walk you through some great pointers.

Customer Service Is Great Business.

The great news is that excellent customer service doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Most of the important steps a business can take are free. Once you select the tools — social media, chat, CRM systems there’s no stopping.

CRM

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) can provide you with the reports you need to monitor your customer service and organize other aspects of your business, including operations and marketing.

You can also manage your customer relations by creating customized reports and send custom emails. CRM lets you analyze patterns and trends in your business. Although CRM systems are a great way to start it is a paid service which is available in various prices.  The prices range from $35 – $125 a month.

Help Desk

A help desk application can make it quick for you to serve customers and can be used for online businesses. You’ll be able to create a ticket for each issue and route customers through the proper procedures to get their issues resolved.

Social Media

This is very important.Make sure your business has at least one social media platform. It’s an essential customer service channel that needs to be monitored and used to interact with customers and fix their problems.

Chat

A lot of customers prefer to reach out to the company in different ways. While some might like email or phone, chat is essential for any small business. In today’s world, customers expect instant gratification and as an owner it is great to provide at least two of these options.

 

Identify Your Customer Service Issues

As an owner you can quickly become exhausted by trying to do everything. It is important to get an overview of the issues the business is facing.

A great way to keep up is with CRM reports, by reviewing the customer service reports on a daily or monthly basis.

Complaints Report

If you decide to use CRM this can get included in this report. You can review this report to find out which customer complained, what it was about and what is being done about the complaints

Product Report

Issues which aren’t complaints but are issues that need to be resolved with the product or service. A weekly service report should show every open service ticket, what was last done to resolve it, and what is the next scheduled action.

Close Report

This report shows how long it takes to resolve customer problems. You can set a goal and check to see if you’re business is meeting that goal. An alert can be sent by email, text messages or popups. This can minimize any issues by allowing you to jump in and make sure the problem gets fixed immediately.

What Is Your Plan?

Now that you have some ideas about what is needed, you should start looking at your business. The services or products you provide, and all the ways you can fulfill your customers or clients.

You can sift through customer surveys, complaints and take notes for improvements. Always ask yourself how you can do more for your business more often. Remember that a high-quality customer service can help make your business more successful, its always easy to make risky choices which can dent your business.

Implementing some of the below points can help your to be stronger as a company.

  • Know what excellent customer service is.
  • Train employees to solve problems.
  • Have a social media profile
  • Apply management tools, and reporting that make it easier to communicate with and please your customers.

I hope you can implement a few of these pointers so your business can reach a higher level of growth and success.

 

 

 About Jan “La-la” Dale

My name is Jan “La-La” Dale, I am a photographer, web and graphic designer. I own a photography and videography company called (Rue Studios). With my experience in the corporate world for 10+ years, I was training employees and employers in customer service and client relations.

After opening Rue Studios, I realised that as entrepreneurs and business owners we forget the importance of customer service and client relations. I hope you all take something from my experiences and implement it in your growing business.

Social media links @itslaladale
Email: jan.dale369@gmail.com

Bring the Thunder! From Publicity to Profits – Why you should Hire a PR Firm

Picture this, you’ve been in business for a few years and you feel it’s time to position yourself for further growth but you don’t know where to start. Even worse, you’re noticing your competitors in the news and on social media, and bloggers and influencers are talking about them as if they are all the rage.

Or perhaps, you’ve created your dream business, you’re excited about serving your target market and you’re eager to let them know that you’re not just here, you’re the best in the market, and yes, they should choose you! But how do you get noticed when your competitors seem to always get the publicity? They have the media mentions, they are the talk of the town and they are drowning you out and driving you crazy.

Chances are, they have hired a public relations (PR) firm to tailor strategies to speak about their brand, products or services. But never fear, you too can get in on the action. The key to getting started on your goal is hiring a firm whose focus is on curating laser-like tactics that are geared towards sculpting your image. This company would ensure that it accentuates the positive buzz-worthy happenings in your business, reaching your key demographics and media outlets that serve as their main touchpoints.

When done right, PR is one of the most powerful tools that you can use for creating visibility and turning passion into profits. The effectiveness of any campaign with proper brand messaging is based on its repetition and proliferation across various media outlets, through the right influencers, and, of course, at the right time. The good news? A PR firm is ready to get you started.

 

There are several reasons you should hire a PR firm, and here are a few of them to get you started:

 

We Bring the Thunder

Not sure how to best represent your company? Need to conduct market research? Are you unsure about the main messages that you would like to communicate about your product or service? Not sure what media channels to use and how to put your best foot forward with owned media – your website and social media channels? A PR firm offers a fresh external perspective to find the answers to all these and more. Deciding what you want to communicate about your business and how you want to communicate it is of paramount importance to your success. A PR firm has the team to bring brainstorming power to get you hand-picked solutions that work – after all, you need brand awareness to build a demand for your product or services. There is more to communication than meets the eye, and the right PR firm can help you craft your message to make it irresistible. Then you’ll be on your way to more publicity and more profits.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels.

We’re Your Gladiators

We are your fighters. We’re experts in the business arena and we will wage war to get you the results you need to create long term value. We strategise, we go for the jugular to execute, and we make it look good. As gladiators, your PR team lives and breathes communication. That means we are highly skilled at curating campaigns that feature your key selling points and brand messaging. Not only that, PR agencies are highly skilled at media relations, meaning they have well-established relationships they have fostered over time with top tier media outlets, industry spokespersons, and potential investors. They know how to get your messages published via the most appropriate media outlets to connect with your target market where they live, work and play (think magazines, newspapers, TV, radio shows, high profile websites, blogs, and podcasts). A huge bonus in hiring a PR firm, too, is that the teams are typically made up of professionals at various levels of their career – from the intern to the veteran journalist or corporate communications specialist with accolades under their belt. Cue meme mastery or journalistic skills which gives them an insider perspective on what makes a compelling brand story, or a newsworthy angle that will have your audience clamouring for more of your content.

 

Visual Ninjas? We’re all That and More

There’s something inherently visceral about arresting visuals that pull you in – the power of the right colour combinations and just that perfect pop. It creates a lasting first impression. Visual content marketing continues to play a huge role in creating buzz about your business. Think about it, statistics show that people remember about 80% of what they see, and 30% of what they read. Your audience is most likely to form their first impression in about 50 milliseconds, and it’s estimated that posts with images garner 650% higher engagement than posts with only text. That said PR firms specialize in telling powerful stories to connect with your audience. From social media graphics, to gifs, posters, infographics, ads, videos, that can enhance your connectivity with your audience, your visual ninjas get it done with stealthy precision.

 

Media Monitoring

Monitoring your results is just as important as getting the message out about your business, after all, how else will you measure the success of your campaign? Media Monitoring is the  process of reading, listening, checking and recording the coverage that comes through your PR outreach efforts – whether through traditional media (print and broadcast) – online or social media. PR agencies subscribe to various media monitoring channels and contact databases that other organizations don’t use, but can tap into once they forge a partnership. That way, the monitoring process is automated and allows you to continuously scan various platforms more efficiently and at a much quicker pace. Was your story picked up? Was it ever shared on other channels/outlets? What was the reach of the outlet that published it? These important questions are answered through effective media monitoring, and the results can help you to improve on messaging, gain market intelligence, understand which influencers are having the most impact on your brand, and gauge how you plan media outreach for further campaigns.

Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels.

 

So there you have it – proof that a PR agency brings several benefits to the table. Defining your key messaging and reaching your target audience are important ways to get started. With the right tactics, your PR gladiators will deliver added value and build long-term relationships with the key media outlets and influencers that share your brand stories. And, of course, monitoring those results will help you determine the success of your campaign and to figure out whether to ramp up your current PR machinery or to finetune your message for the best results. PR firms are flexible with various budget-friendly packages and payment options to get you started on your journey to more publicity and profits, so don’t be hesitant to reach out.

 

 

Kimesha is the CEO of Oasis Integrated Communications. She’s a seasoned PR professional with a passion for crafting meaningful stories that connect to people. An eternal optimist who thrives on perfecting solutions that marry creative brand experience with consumer engagement, she believes in tapping into the core values of a company and tailoring strategies that share their narrative and find affinity. Her experience spans public relations, corporate communications, marketing, social media and advertising across a range of industries. She has executed projects in Toronto, New York, and Jamaica where she has deftly managed some of the foremost brands across North America and the Caribbean.

 

IG@oasisintegrated

LinkedIn: @Kimesha Walters

 Website: www.oasisintegrated.com

Leadership Blog– What does it take to be authentic as an entrepreneur?

Leadership is an integral part of running your own business and key to your success as an entrepreneur. Whether you manage people or manage relationships with other stakeholders, authenticity is a powerful ingredient to success.

So what does it mean to be an authentic leader and entrepreneur? Here are 6 tips that will help you keep it real.

  1. Self Awareness – Most of us have some sense of ourselves. As an entrepreneur developing a healthy sense of self is critical to growing your business. Developing self awareness means fostering a stronger and deeper understanding of who you are – your values, skills and knowledge, what makes you “tick”, your best approach to getting things done, your strengths and challenges, and your impact on other people.

It’s an ongoing journey that involves times of self reflection, regularly seeking feedback and coaching to calibrate your own perspective on your impact and effectiveness.  A strong sense of self comes from accepting who you are, knowing your strengths and where you need help.  When you are grounded in a balanced view of yourself it gives you what people call “presence”.

  1. Integrity – I could probably write an entire blog just on this one.  A study by the Centre for Creative Leadership shows that integrity is the key factor in determining success for business owners and leaders.   As an entreprenurial leader, you demonstrate integrity in a number of ways:
    1. You say what you mean and mean what you say.  This helps you build trust and trust and integrity go hand in hand.  People always know where they stand with you. There is no hidden agenda.
    2. You communicate in a straightforward, honest fashion and tell the truth, even when the news isn’t good.  Sugar coating bad news to minimize impact on employees, customers, or clients can backfire. When the truth comes out (and it usually does) you have lost credibility and it’s a much longer road to gain that back.  Be open and transparent and you will continually build trust and credibility.
    3. You are consistent and reliable. This doesn’t mean that you are not responsive to shifting needs or necessary changes.   You can adapt your approach and be flexible to changing circumstances and new information while remaining true to your values and larger purpose.
  2. Courage – You tackle difficulties and challenges head on. You are willing to take the risk to be vulnerable when there is pressure to conform.  You have the internal strength to strive to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to define you. It’s good to accept feedback to raise self awareness, just not at the expense of ourselves and what we value.
  3. Respect – You value and appreciate your customers, clients and employees. You show interest in them beyond what they can do for you. You recognize others for their accomplishments and give them second chances when they make a mistake.   You appreciate the different capabilities that others bring to your business and that everyone has different ways of doing things. You don’t insist that everything is done your way or that everyone behaves like you or values only what you value.
  4. Accountability – You take responsibility for your actions and decisions and those of your team.  The buck really does stop with you.  You follow through on commitments and hold others accountable for their committments.  Too often I have seen people in leadership roles point fingers at each other or worse, at their employees when mistakes are made.   If you want people to trust you and follow you through challenging times, be accountable.
  5. Vision – You have a view of where you want to take your business that inspires others to do their best work, even in challenging times.  You have the ability to look beyond the immediate day to day/ month/quarter, or year.  Rather than short-sighted decisions, you take a longer view of the impact of decisions and can accept short term hits in the interest of longer term value.  That value is directly connected to how you and your business serve the larger community or even the world.

Ultimately, your inner compass guides your daily actions and decisions more than external pressures to conform to someone else’s idea of who you should be and what you should do.  This enables you to accomplish great things as you have earned the trust and loyalty of your customers, your employees, and other stakeholders.  And that is a powerful leader.

 

Catherine Meyer is CEO and Founder of Catalyst Leadership Solutions. She provides coaching and leadership solutions to a wide range of businesses and industries. Her focus is on helping business owners and entrepreneurs develop their strength in leading people so that they can build their capabilities, enhance growth, and maximize results for their business If you manage a team as part of your business or are in the process of creating a team, Catherine can help you develop your leadership strength to ensure the success of this phase of your growth.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemeyer808/

https://www.facebook.com/CatalystLeadershipSolutions/

How to Maximize the Impact of Your Conference Attendance

As a busy entrepreneur, I strive to be strategic in selecting the networking and development opportunities that will advance my business objectives and inspire excellence in my own practice. Attending industry conferences is a great opportunity to market your business, create new connections with decision makers, build upon existing relationships and keeping up to date in the trends and best practices.

Participating at conference can be a huge benefit for your business in several aspects. As a speaker it’s a great marketing opportunity to showcase your thought leadership and share success stories (or lessons learned in the not-so-successful scenarios – hey, we’ve all been there!). As an organizer, sponsor or session co-ordinator, it not only reflects positively on your company and its commitment to support worthwhile associations, it also lends credence to your business as a visible stakeholder in the future of your industry.

Actively participating in conferences as an attendee means more than just showing up at registration. In order to get the most out of the experience, it’s important to plan ahead and be prepared. “Tradeshow Season” is just around the corner, and I have curated some useful ways to maximize your experience and investment in your conference attendance.

 

Before the Event

Plan Ahead

Take the time to select your sessions in advance based on your interests and goals. Download the event app if there is one and use it to build your schedule and create a profile or digital business card. Learn about the speakers in advance to heighten your curiosity and get the most out of the experience, it may provide you some useful information should you decide to introduce yourself after hearing them speak. There’s usually a hashtag associated with the event; leverage your social media presence by letting everyone know that you are attending. Bring plenty of business cards, practice your elevator pitch and put your out of office on your phone and email.

Know what’s Included

This may seem like a given, but during one conference I attended as an exhibitor, we learned on the day of that all the attendees had a three-hour gap in their schedules while association executives were having a meeting. The exhibit floor was completely empty! Had I known in advance I could have used the time to set up meetings with key customers at the conference. Instead it was a missed opportunity.

So, know what you are getting into before you go: Will you be leaving the conference with a way to access all the presentations or will you have to follow up with each speaker? Will you receive a list of all the attendees? Or just a tote bag and a pen? Is lunch included? Breakfast? Is there a social afterwards? This will help inform how you plan on capturing information during the sessions, connect with the speakers and maximize the time available for networking (or even arranging one-to-one meetings in advance).

 

During the Conference

Don’t be late

I know this seems obvious but arriving early guarantees that you will find a great seat and enjoy an unhurried time to network. Mid-day, you and your potential contacts will be rushing off to sessions or a lunch queue. The morning of a conference is your golden opportunity, so don’t skip the introductory remarks and make the most of it.

Connect in person and online

Use social media or the event app to find out who is attendance and their role. If its someone you already know, message them to let them you are there and suggest a time or place within the venue to reconnect.

Spend some time in the Exhibit Hall

Invest the time to learn about innovations impacting your industry and understand how they impact your business. These relationships could be a source of referrals in the future so take the time to cultivate vendor relations.

Be Present

Put your phone on vibrate, take notes, ask questions, introduce yourself to the person next to you. This is your time to learn and connect. Check your email at set intervals during the day; they will always be there for you to read. But you may never get a chance to meet that speaker or learn what that expert panel has to say ever again!

 

After the Conference

Follow up

Follow up with every contact and speaker within a week of the conference. Take steps to set up a call or face to face meeting with anyone you wish to build a relationship or do business with.

Think Critically

Map the quality of information and connections you’ve acquired with the focus of your business. Was this the right conference for you to attend? Does it make sense to increase your presence next year? Don’t just check a box that you’ve fulfilled your networking or continuous learning hours; consider the return-on-investment on your time, money and energy. As a corporate drone, you were probably forced to attend conferences all the time, now it’s your business decision. If the conference wasn’t what you expected, provide feedback to the organizers and ask your new connections what conferences they attend. Attending conferences are in service to your business plans. Take the time to make sure you are being true to your vision and objectives.

Share your insights

Many of your peers, customers and prospects do not have the time or resources to attend important industry conferences. By distilling key insights and sharing them across your network you are providing incredible value to your target audience while gaining visibility as a thought leader and industry contributor.

Have I left anything out? Please let me know if you have anything to add! I hope your conference experiences in 2020 are worthwhile and fruitful!

 

Ethel is a transformation expert in the Digital Health space. As the Owner and Principal of Synergic Consulting she leverages her clinical, technical and business background to accelerate the adoption and implementation of digital health innovations across the healthcare enterprise.

Ethel Zammit MBA CPHIMS-CA

Synergic Consulting –

Accelerating Adoption in Digital Health

https://synergicconsulting.ca 

905-302-3238 Cell/Business

ethel.zammit@gmail.com

 

Mind Your Copy

 

Copy, like photocopy or copy paper? Not exactly. The type of copy I’m referring to is the written words used for the purpose of advertising and other forms of marketing. An individual who specializes in this field of work is called a copywriter, and the product they produce is called copy.

As a small business it can be difficult to land new clients especially when you’re just starting out. You literally have seconds to make a good first impression. Any type of content you put out into the world, should have the intention to persuade potential customers as to why they should try out your business as an option.

The AIDA Marketing Model

The AIDA or AIDAR model is one of the best-known marketing models used by copywriters. AIDA(R) is an acronym for the buyer stages of Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action and sometimes Retention. This system can be used as the basis for a marketing plan as it outlines the steps that a buyer goes through when deciding to purchase a product or even to simply subscribe or follow a brand on social media. A buyer can go through all of these steps within minutes or they may take months or even years to convert.

The funnel illustration is generally the same for any kind of sales related tasks. The data that you need to be paying attention to for any campaign you implement are your conversion rates. How many of those aware at the top of the funnel actually went through the stages in their head and made a decision to take an action? The conversion rate is really a jump off point. From there, you keep tweaking and testing to see what you can do to increase those conversion rates and get more buyers.

In the case of copywriters they must make sure that their copy is clear rather than clever, and has the ability to take readers through all of these steps very quickly. The rule is, if you try to write to everybody, you’re really speaking to nobody. Always write to appeal to your ideal customer. Create a persona for them complete with their demographics, interests, and the kind of lifestyle they have. Research to see where your ideal client is most likely to hangout online. Find out their pain points and use the same language that they use to market to them. They’ll feel like you’re talking to them directly, and will be like a moth to a flame.

Areas for Improvement

Can you pinpoint a few areas in your business that could use a copy facelift? I hope your response is, everywhere. If you haven’t already done so, take your USP and your ideal customer avatar and go through all of your copy. Does it speak to that person directly? Is the call to action strong enough, have you told them exactly why they need what you’re offering and what they should do next?

Your website is full of copy, but if the copy doesn’t convert, what good is it? People go on websites these days to get contact information, addresses, and maybe see the services or prices being offered and they’re gone. What are they supposed to do there if it’s a static website and it’s not an online shopping portal? Instead of boring websites, think landing pages that direct visitors to take a specific action.

How’s your email marketing conversion rates? Effective copy starts from the top: the subject line. The body of your email doesn’t exist if you can’t even get the recipients to open the email from the subject line and preview. Do you even have an email list? What do people get for opting into your email list? Email is still king regardless of what people say. That’s why now when you checkout at certain brick and mortar locations, also known as “offline shopping”, your cashier may ask you to input your email into their system. Coincidence, I think not! This is how you stay in the face and top of mind of your customers.

How’s your social? This is a game changer, if you’re not on social media, you’re missing out. This is how you build that know, like, and trust factor with individuals. Interact with them and be active. Figure out what platform your ideal client uses and get in their faces. Don’t try to be on too many platforms, focus on the ones where your customers would most likely hang out. Do it, and do it well.

The list can go on and on. Think print advertisement, the copy on your product descriptions, radio ads, and tv commercials. The work professionals do in this growing field is very important. It’s not about having academic literary skills, as those ones actually find copywriting difficult. It’s about writing words that appeal to and attract your target buyers.

What will grab their attention and speak to their innermost emotions and desires and make them feel like the words written are for them directly and will have them jumping at whatever offer you’re making. You need to SLAP them. Yes, it’s aggressive I know, but you need to have your copy slap them in the face. They need to stop, look/listen, act, and purchase. Please, don’t actually ever slap your customer though. Thanks.

Key Takeaways

As a small business woman, you need to make your moves strategically and make them count. Learn about copywriting for each individual platform. If you’re able, get help from a freelancer or seek an intern who is knowledgeable in regards to digital marketing.

Make a swipe file for yourself. A swipe file is just a collection of content that you pull inspiration from. If you receive an email that prompted you to make an action, save it. Learn from it and see how you can implement the same things in your emails. Take pictures of any ads you see, or screenshot any webpages or social media posts that grabbed your attention. Use this to fine tune your own content.

The whole point of this goes back to AIDA. We need to start using our words to attract and build awareness about our brands, our products or our causes. You want viewers to be so interested that they want to share it with the people they know, have them ready to pull out their wallets and are ready to take action. And once they’ve made that decision, you’ll retain them and keep reminding them why you and your business is awesome, and why they should continue to ride with you.

 

Chadene Mbouogno is an Ontario Mortgage Agent with The Mortgage Coach, the lead Lending Specialist at her company CM Lending, and also manages the Blog BelleChavel.com. She is passionate about helping small business owners get the funding they need to propel their business forward through alternative lending. She has worked closely with start-ups, transportation and logistics companies, manufacturing and staffing agencies to manage their cashflow issues.

Instagram : @ChadeneM   https://www.instagram.com/chadeneM/  //

@CMLending https://www.instagram.com/cmlending/

Email: chadene@themortgagecoach.ca

CM Lending Website : www.cmlending.ca

Mortgage Website : www.chadenembouogno.ca

Does Brand Reputation Even Matter Anymore?

Brand reputation will matter in any year as long as businesses rely on customers to be successful (so… always).

Consumers are more opinionated than ever before and it’s because they are armed with so much more information (whether it’s true or not). Everyone is facing increasingly aggressive dialogue about discrimination and social ideologies, and the mob mentality that comes with empowered social media users. As a result, consumers are questioning every move that brands make. Really, people are looking for complete honesty and transparency and to support brands that share the same values and ethics that they do. Over 80% of consumers want to trust the brands that they buy from.

That is why your brand reputation matters more than ever in 2020.

What is brand reputation?

Brand reputation is a fancy term for how other people see your brand. It’s their opinion of you. Brands with a great reputation are generally seen as trustworthy, which leads to larger communities of loyal customers. On the other hand, a bad reputation will negatively affect your sales and you will find that your customers are always looking for the next best thing because they aren’t loyal to your brand at all.

What will negatively affect your brand reputation?

The biggest mistake you can make is thinking you can pull the wool over your target audience’s eyes. Here are six things that will hurt your brand reputation:

  1. Buying fake followers and/or fake engagement on social media – bots can also be the end of you.
  2. Creating a social responsibility program as a response to a rumor.
  3. Trying to cover up or “spin” a story so it just goes away rather than dealing with the issue at the core of your brand or business.
  4. Partnering with influencers or other brands that you haven’t vetted or that you know aren’t fully aligned with your own brand values.
  5. Not taking a stand against hatred and bigotry.
  6. Taking a sales-first or a me-first mentality.

How do you get a better brand reputation?

With all of the security breaches and secret data collection being reported what seems like almost daily, it is going to take more than a flashy marketing campaign to get your target audience to see your brand in a different light. There are five things that you need to do to make sure you have a great brand reputation:

  1. Continuously think of how you can offer more value to your target audience – whether it’s through great content, a better product, or a better customer experience.
  2. Build transparency into your core communication strategy – you never want to lie to your customers, and omitting information is also not great.
  3. Build a brand and stay true to yourself rather than changing to fit what you think others want to hear.
  4. Align yourself with a cause that is meaningful to both you as a brand, but also your target audience.
  5. Partner with influencers that your audience trusts – 63% of consumers trust them more than they do you as a brand.

Have you really looked at how your audience sees you versus how you see yourself as a brand?

Candace Huntly is Founding Partner at SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency working to take organizational and individual brands to the next level. With a passion for all things related to creativity and strategy, she specializes in business intelligence, marketing & branding, content strategy & development, media & influencer relations, and social media. Basically, if you need to put your brand, product, or cause in the public eye, she will find a way to do it, while making the approach unique to you.

Connect with Candace

Sign up for our free 20-minute consultation and we’ll help you figure things out.

A version of this article was originally posted to the SongBird Marketing Communications blog.

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Do you implement customer service?

As business owners are you providing great customer service to your clients or future clients? If you are sitting their pondering, well its understandable. As business owners we sometimes customer service is overshadowed by our extremely busy schedules.

As business owners are you providing great customer service to your clients or future clients? If you are sitting their pondering, well its understandable. Sometimes customer service is overshadowed by our extremely busy schedules.

Let’s not forget that we need our customers, no customers no business so we should treat them the best. Your customer/clients are working with you because they love your product or services.

When you have customer loyalty, you will have ongoing relationships with customers that generates. The quicker you can deliver value, the more likely you are to build trust and loyalty with customers.

 

Customer Service Represents Your Brand!

You may know what your brand represents, but when it comes to customers, they cannot read minds. An assumption will be made based on what you provide or show on social media, advertisements and other marketing strategies. Customer service is your connection to your clients/customers. As an owner this lays your responsibility of representing your brand, with customer service theirs direct communication.

 

Great Customer Service Equals Happy Customers.

Let’s be real for a second. We are all customers before anything, we all want to have amazing service. As a customer I am influenced by every single experience with a brand/business. Once it is a positive experience I will be raving and spreading the word.

Whereas a horrid experience not a peep, I would go to your business competitor. When customers experience wonderful service, they’re more likely to spread the good word of your business. Customers will be your best and cheapest form of advertising.

There are hundreds of comparisons, the importance is what your business/brand brings to the table. So, by providing a stellar customer service experience your brand/business can most definitely be differentiated by customers. Remember that loyalty is rooted in trust, this ensures a life-long relationship with your business.

 

What Is Your CLV (Customer Lifetime Value)?

This one is very important for business owners. CLV is the total revenue expected from one customer. Once this grows it signifies that customers are purchasing from your business frequently. Therefore, it is imperative to invest in your customers experience.

Once you have this practice down, new customers are more trustworthy of your business which results in up-selling or cross-selling of additional products. It is all about trust in this game, customers will surely recommend your products that truly reflects their needs. Which will create a smoother purchasing experience.

 

Having Great Customer Service Is An Advantage When Owning A Business.

It’s only natural that we want to stand out, it doesn’t matter the industry we are in we want to be the best. After all nobody strives to be “just ok” at something. You want to be better and better than every other company, even your competitors. And of course, you want your customers to know, that’s the key to keeping customers loyal and ensuring they interact with your brand/business.

Customer service is an excellent way for your company to be distinguished as mention prior. In fact, customers are willing to stop doing business with one poor customer service experience. If the customer issues are resolved during the first mishappens, there is a chance they will return.

By providing excellent customer service, you will retain your customers. It’s indisputable that, positive customer service can make your company the best version of itself. The ability to communicate directly with customers can totally revolutionize your company and grow your brand.

 

                 About Jan “La-la” Dale

My name is Jan “La-La” Dale, I am a photographer, web and graphic designer. I own a photography and videography company called (Rue Studios). With my experience in the corporate world for 10+ years, I was training employees and employers in customer service and client relations.

After opening Rue Studios, I realised that as entrepreneurs and business owners we forget the importance of customer service and client relations. I hope you all take something from my experiences and implement it in your growing business.

Social media links @itslaladale
Email: jan.dale369@gmail.com

5 ways to start 2020 off right with your customers

2020 is right around the corner. It’s a fresh start for some business owners who almost want to wipe the slate clean and a means to kick up existing strategies to the next level for others who think what they are doing is working well. Regardless, you should absolutely review your current strategy to make sure that what you are doing is working for you in the best way possible.

For 2020, think about your customer relationships and how you can start things off right with them in the new year. Here are 5 ways to do customer relationships right in 2020.

#1: Real talk

There is a reason why influencers are throwing out the carefully curated images they have worked so hard to cultivate… Your audience is looking for real interactions with real people. Just because you are using your brand voice doesn’t mean you can’t be genuine in your interactions with your audience. Show your human side – it’s ok to be flawed as long as you own up to it.

#2: Stand for something

We live in a really divided world and chances are your customers are not sitting on the fence. Find a cause that is meaningful to both you and your audience and take a stand. Cause marketing gives you many fun opportunities to integrate messaging that resonates with your audience into your own strategy. Your customers will appreciate you for taking their values into consideration.

#3: Match your customer, not industry trends

Be a trend setter – but do it because you have adjusted your approach to match your customers. Maybe your niche doesn’t really fit the mold, or perhaps YOU don’t fit the industry mold. Standing out among your competitors will only help you, not hurt you. Plus, your audience will appreciate that you are connecting with them in a way they understand. This could mean making changes to your product or service offerings, how you deliver value to your customers, the language you use, your brand’s tone of voice, the marketing channels you communicate with, etc.

#4: Thank your customers more often

A simple thank you goes a long way. Showing you appreciate your customers is important because you want to build relationships based on mutual loyalty. Your customers want to know they can rely on you for great products and services and you want to know you can rely on them to keep coming back. Beyond saying thank you to them in emails, social media, and other marketing, consider starting a loyalty program that rewards them for sticking by your side.

#5: See 2020 as a fresh start

Overhaul your customer experience by finding out what’s not working. You can do this in a number of different ways. Internally, identify all touch points (any time they interact with your brand passively or actively) with your customers from the time they first discover your brand, to their first purchase, to their tenth purchase. Are you missing out on any opportunities? Are there any ways you can increase the number of touch points with them without feeling like you are pressuring them too much? Consider tactics like grassroots, boots on the ground marketing like flyering and experiential events, getting your product into brick and mortar stores, creating more VALUABLE content, and so much more. The key is figuring out what will resonate most with your audience.

A new year means new challenges and new wins ahead of you. It all starts with your customers and that means you need to take special care how you are building your relationships with them.

 

Candace Huntly is Founding Partner at SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency working to take organizational and individual brands to the next level. With a passion for all things related to creativity and strategy, she specializes in business intelligence, marketing & branding, content strategy & development, media & influencer relations, and social media. Basically, if you need to put your brand, product, or cause in the public eye, she will find a way to do it, while making the approach unique to you.

Connect with Candace

Sign up for our free 20-minute consultation and we’ll help you figure things out.

A version of this article was originally posted to the SongBird Marketing Communications blog.

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7 Ways To Create A Memorable Brand

 

Think of some of your most memorable brand experiences… Were they experiential? Was it something the said? Something they did? Now think of your brand. Do you know how to leave a great brand impression? Are you connecting with your target audience in a way that will help you grow a community of loyal customers?

Here are 7 ways to create a memorable brand and help you connect with your customers in a meaningful way.

1: Develop a strong value proposition

Figuring out who you are targeting and exactly what you have to offer them will be key to figuring out how to create a memorable brand!

2: Put some effort into your brand name

There are a lot of different ways you can come up with a brand name. You can use an existing word, combine words together, come up with a new word altogether, or use an acronym. Regardless of your approach, make sure you think it through and consider these things:

  • Make it personal. Your brand should mean something to you.
  • Keep it simple. Making up new words might sound unique, but you need to educate people more to help them remember it and how to spell it, which takes more resources. Not everyone can come up with a new word and make it stick…

Key Consideration: Brainstorm among your team or with a group of friends or fellow entrepreneurs to help get you on the right track.

3: Think through your visual identity

Your brand is more than just your logo. Before creating any sort of visual identity, you need to figure out what your audience will respond to. Get to know what they like and dislike through market research, social listening, and competitor research. Then you can use your findings to select your brand colours, fonts, and create an impactful logo and wordmark. Once you have your basic brand identity in place, figure out how you want people to see your brand by identifying the types of imagery you want to use and your social media presets (filters, colours, etc).

Key Considerations: Try to step outside of what your competitors are doing when possible to help differentiate yourself.

4: Create your brand personality

Even though you are a company, there is still a person behind the brand – and you are marketing yourself to other people. So think of your brand as a person who has a personality. Your brand personality has everything to do with how you make people feel, how others see you, and the impact you have on your industry, community, and important causes. Are you fun-loving and care-free, using a flippant, conversational tone? Or are you more serious with a professional tone? Regardless of your answer, the only right answer is one that will help you to connect on a deeper level to your customers.

Key Considerations: Take this brand quiz to figure out your brand personality.

5: Consider how your target audience sees you and how you make them feel.

You really should listen when your customers give any sort of feedback related to your brand, customer experience, and overall business dealings. It’s one thing to have an idea of how you want to come across, but it’s a totally different thing when you talk about how you ACTUALLY come across to your target audience.

Key Consideration: Introduce audience listening into your overall strategy.

6: Get comfortable telling your story, not what you do

People relate to and remember stories, but there are likely hundreds or thousands of other businesses who offer the exact same product/service that you do. That is why you should answer “why” instead of “what” when you talk about what you do. Focus on the benefits of your product/service offering rather than the features of what you have to offer.

Key considerations: Figure out the difference between your features and benefits to make a difference in how you talk about your brand.

7: Talk about your brand… a lot

When it comes to marketing your brand, if you want to have a memorable brand you can’t be shy and just hope people discover you. You have to engage with your target audience regularly and consistently. Stay on brand message so you don’t try to be all things to all people. You invested in developing a memorable brand, now let people get to know who you are.

Creating a memorable brand doesn’t have to be difficult, but you do need to put the work in to make sure you have a great business and brand foundation set up.

 

Candace Huntly is Founding Partner at SongBird Marketing Communications, an award-winning agency working to take organizational and individual brands to the next level. With a passion for all things related to creativity and strategy, she specializes in business intelligence, marketing & branding, content strategy & development, media & influencer relations, and social media. Basically, if you need to put your brand, product, or cause in the public eye, she will find a way to do it, while making the approach unique to you.

Connect with Candace

Sign up for our free 20-minute consultation and we’ll help you figure things out.

A version of this article was originally posted to the SongBird Marketing Communications blog.

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How To Grow Your Side Hustle: Four Top Tips

According to new research, the Canadian side hustle is on the rise.

The study by Vistaprint revealed that almost one-quarter (22%) of Canadians have already turned a creative hobby into a side hustle, while a further 60 percent aspire to do so in the future.

Despite many of these side hustles starting out small as a creative interest or hobby, they don’t have to stay small. In fact, of the respondents surveyed, over one-third (38%) hope to grow their business in the coming year.

But where do you begin if you are trying to grow your side hustle? Vistaprint asked successful side business owners for their top tips:

 

Identify growth opportunities

The side hustlers surveyed suggest focusing on the tasks that generate the most cash, as well as setting long-term goals. Looking ahead will help you take your business to the next level, as well as providing perspective on what products or strategies really bring in the most revenue.

You can start by focusing on the tasks that require the least effort but provide the most impact. This might mean scheduling social media posts which drive new sales, rather than responding to low-priority emails, or attending a networking event instead of redesigning a webpage which doesn’t get many visits. Working this way means that you’re less likely to get bogged down by tasks that don’t translate into revenue.

If your ultimate goal is to take your side hustle full-time, identify how much money you will need to be making each month to make that a reality, and brainstorm ideas for reaching that goal. Whether it’s expanding your product line or setting time aside to create a marketing plan, getting a clear idea of ways to grow your revenue will help create a realistic growth timeline.

If taking on more work isn’t a reality right now, creating long-term goals will still push your business into the next stage of growth. Whether you’re hoping to hire your first employee or redesign your website, having these objectives in mind will keep you focused on growth opportunities. Setting challenging, yet achievable goals will also help you feel motivated as you track your progress.

 

Get social media savvy

Social channels like Facebook and Instagram create great opportunities for growing your client base, so building a social media presence for your business is key.

It’s not just about promoting your products online, though. Make sure you create authentic two-way conversations with your customers and share content that they find engaging. A great way to test this is by monitoring your likes and comments on different posts to identify those that get the best response and engagement from your audience, then adapting your social media strategy accordingly.

If you’re not sure about what to share on social media, consider launching a blog where you can answer your customer’s questions. Quality is key here – focus on creating helpful, relevant posts rather than just writing several blog posts a week. If you’re not a natural writer, consider vlogging. You can create short videos about day-to-day life at your business, helping customers connect with your brand.

Facebook is also a great place to build a bank of positive reviews. Most customers are happy to leave a social media review if they are happy with your service – the key is asking for them!

 

Network with like-minded business owners

Networking with other successful business owners is a great way to motivate yourself and build a community to reach out to when you need advice.

Check out networking events in your local area you can attend, and have your business pitch ready, just in case! Brush up on your business card etiquette and be ready to hand out as many business cards as possible. After the event, go through all the business cards you collected and connect with people you met on LinkedIn, or email them to arrange another meet-up.

Keep in mind that networking is a two-way street – ensure you’re willing to help others as well as getting advice and support yourself.

 

Make sure it’s something you enjoy

A side hustle is the perfect opportunity to turn your passion into an income stream, and with more than one-third (38%) of Canadians reporting being unable to find a job related to their interests, it’s no surprise that more and more Canadians are turning a creative hobby into a business.

That said, there’s no denying that having a side hustle means putting in extra hours. In fact, the average Canadian side hustler spends 14 hours per week working on their business. This means that it’s especially important that you enjoy what you’re doing. Late night emailing, after hours brainstorming and cutting into your free time for work events won’t feel like such a chore if you’re truly passionate about what you’re building.

Your customers will respond to this passion for what you do – whether it’s spending more time curating your product line, or providing outstanding customer care, it won’t go unnoticed. Your enthusiasm will encourage customers not only to come back to your business in the future, but also to recommend your products or services to friends and family.

 

By scaling up your side hustle and taking steps to build your online and offline presence, you’ll find it easier to reach long term goals and transition from side hustler to full-time entrepreneur.

By Erin Shea, North American Market Lead at Vistaprint.

Vistaprint is the leading provider of customizable printed and digital marketing materials, empowering millions of Canadian small businesses of any kind to market themselves professionally and affordably.

In Praise of Women Entrepreneurs

 

Entrepreneurs have incredibly full lives. This is even more true for women entrepreneurs with familial responsibilities. Taking care of a home and family takes up more time than our society will ever acknowledge, and then there is the business we gave birth to that occupies most of our waking hours and keeps us up many nights!

I don’t know about you, but despite the many systems put in place over twenty-two years in business, there is always something I remember just as I start dozing off or before I even open my eyes in the morning. Something that needs to be attended to immediately and involves a customer, a supplier, or a team member! And holidays are never 100% holidays, because our business is in our phone and continues to cry for attention all year—and it usually cries harder when you say you are out of range!

Most of us wouldn’t dream of giving up our business for a soul-deadening J-O-B, but sometimes, just sometimes, a little voice asks us if it’s worth it. The voice is loud on days when you feel sick and can’t call in sick. It’s louder on a sunny Sunday when you would rather be out enjoying a stroll like everybody else but must work on a business plan, crunch numbers or develop a client proposal. It’s tinged with guilt on the days when you arrive late to the school activity or stay out for a business dinner and miss the bedtime routine. It’s heavy on the heart on evenings when you are alone in a sterile hotel room instead of snuggled up to a loved one. And it’s loudest of all when despite all your efforts, the bottom line is nothing to smile about and you have to explain to your family and friends why you refuse to hang up your shingle and go work for the government!

And yet, there is a pull to create that enterprise that carries your DNA, that has the potential to make a better life for yourself and your family. In our heart, we know we can make a difference in our community or even the world. There is the excitement of venturing into new territory. There is the challenge and opportunity of learning something new each day. There is the never-ending variety of the work. There is the victory dance when you win big and the thrill of hearing prospects saying yes again and again. There is the warmth of a customer conveying her appreciation and detailing the impact on her life. We entrepreneurs have the power to truly create our life and reinvent ourselves time and time again. What a blessing!

For those of us who are very stubborn like me and decide there is nothing like being your own boss, take heart! We are part of a growing community of women who work for themselves, work from home, work within structures created by us for us. We are shaping the future economy and setting the example for numerous young women following in our footsteps, who will be creating tracks of their own.

We have to remember that ours is not the lonely road we sometimes think it is. We have to know that whatever problem, obstacles, dilemma we have, other businesswomen have experienced and resolved. We have to realize that we all experience the same fears and learn to move forward anyway. I have found other businesswomen to be generous in their coaching and support. I have also never hesitated to take time to share a coffee and ideas with another woman entrepreneur. Maybe it’s a reflection of how women have been socialized, but we thrive in groups and networks where we give and also receive.

As difficult as it is to be a woman entrepreneur, keeping the home fires and the night oil burning, I wouldn’t trade my career for anything. And I know the same is true for most of you. I’m grateful to know so many women are out there making a difference with their passion and hard work, grateful to be a part of this dynamic and supportive community.

I want to thank Canadian Small Business Women for the opportunity to contribute to this blog for the last 6 months. I hope you will continue to reach out to each other and won’t hesitate to reach out to me, if I can be of service.

 

Dominique Dennery

Dennery Resources Inc.

Dominique Dennery is a bilingual coach, facilitator, and management consultant with over twenty years of experience. She has worked with everyone from young adults seeking direction, to mid-career executives looking to become more effective leaders, to high-level boards of directors and executive teams.

 

Co-Author A Book With Us!

Co-Author With Us

Share Your Inspirational Story in A Collaborative Book

ABOUT THE BOOKS
Book 1:
This book is all about inspiration and about changing the narrative of immigrant women world-wide. Learn about these women and how they overcame obstacles, paved pathways and found the courage to do what some thought was the impossible. The goal of this publication is to inspire women all over the world who thrive to become entrepreneurs.
Book 2:
This book is all about inspiration and about changing the narrative of all female entrepreneurs world-wide. Learn about these women and how they overcame obstacles, paved pathways and found the courage to do what some thought was the impossible. The goal of this publication is to inspire women all over the world who thrive to become entrepreneurs.
ABOUT YOUR LEAD AUTHOR
Dwania Peele is the Owner and Executive Director of Canadian Small Business Women. A lover of entrepreneurship, volunteering and networking, Dwania strives to inspire aspiring and current entrepreneurs in Canada. While having a Chemistry and Political Science training and education, Dwania is an entrepreneur at heart and has started 2 successful businesses since 2008. In 2013, Canadian Small Business Women began serving as a platform for aspiring and current small business women of Canada. Through e-courses, blogs, online chats, Seminars and Expos, CSBW provides avenues for entrepreneurs to showcase their expertise. Dwania continues to make an impact by appearing as guest speakers at various entrepreneur events and by guest appearances on Panels across the GTA to provide valuable insight to those in need.
WHY YOU?
If you are a woman who runs a successful business and have a story that is sure to inspire, then we would love to hear your story. So, you don’t think you are an author, not to worry. Just write your story. We have an editor on deck who will make it all seamless.
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
Requirements:
  • Submission Length: 15 – 20 pages, single spaced, Arial, 12pt
  • Material: 3 photographs – one being a headshot
  • Submission Deadline:
    • Book 1 Immigrant Women: September 30th, 2019
    • Book 2 Female Entrepreneurs: January 15, 2020
  • Submission Medium: Word Document
  • Investment: (to cover marketing materials and initial print costs): $100
  • Submit all requirements to info@canadiansmallbusinesswomen.ca
MARKETING:
  • Launch Date:
    • Book 1: Christmas Season 2019
    • Book 2: March 2020
  • Launch will include exclusive book signing and presentation
  • Author expectations
    • Promotions to your network leading up to book launch date for both Amazon online sales and in person book launch. Our goal is to build interest for an *Amazon 1 day selling rally to make it to the Amazon Best Selling List
    • Social media promotions, email promotions to your network encouraging them to come and see you and your co-authors at the Immigrant Women’s *Small Business Expo to take part in the exclusive book signing
  • We will provide all promotion and marketing material for the book which includes author specific marketing material
  • You will be able to purchase copies of the book at cost to sell to your network
Join us for this unique opportunity to tell your story.
Email us at info@canadiansmallbusinesswomen.ca for more details!

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