Do you have a Google My Business profile?
Did you know that 97% of searches are done using Google?
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If you are a small or micro business creating a Google My Business profile can be a really important part of building your online presence. 
WHO needs a Google My Business profile?
Anyone who's using the internet to build a client or customer base. Small makers, artists, bloggers, services...
WHY create a Google My Business profile? 
1. Google prioritizes you in searches
2. Easy to set up
3. It's FREE
4. Collect REVIEWS and RESPOND to them
5. You can add CALL TO ACTION
6. If you have a brick & mortar location you will show up on Google maps. If you don't, you can showcase a "service" area so your personal location isn't disclosed.

If you need some help or just want to chat about whether or not creating a profile is right for you, give me a shout at [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you.

Now that some people are back in the office and we’re starting to venture out of our homes a bit more, I've noticed that businesses both big and small are sending out more regular newsletters as a means of reaching their customers. Here are  a few tips & tricks about how to send out a newsletter that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

As always, with any form of marketing, CONTENT IS KING. Make sure you are creating a campaign that gives your subscribers a reason to open your email & think about your business. 
 
CoNtEnT IDEAS
If you are already writing a blog, consider adding a link to it in your email. Has a recent social media post garnered a lot of attention? Add it to your newsletter. Reusing existing content  is a great way to make the most of all your platforms.
New information that is of use to your clients is a great way to engage subscribers. New hours of operation, an updated menu, a new listing, a new service or product offering, an upcoming event…
Adding a testimonial to your newsletter is a nice filler & can be a great way of adding credibility. 
 
PRO TIP
Once you’ve sent out a few campaigns, have a look and see what your subscribers are clicking on. You want to make sure you are giving them what they want and not wasting valuable time creating content that is of no interest.
 
ADD LINKS TO YOUR NEWSLETTER and make sure they work. 
✔️Your header image should link back to your website
✔️EMBED links if you are sharing anything on your site.
✔️Links to your social media, website, newsletter sign up form (if someone has forwarded your email to someone else, they may want to sign up for your newsletter themselves, you want to make that as easy as possible.)
ALERT: Make sure you check all the links to icons in your newsletter. I often see icons that link to a platform instead of to the sender's actual page.

ROCK STAR behaviour
🎸Create a social media post suggesting that followers also subscribe to your newsletter.
🎸Create a social media post sharing the “latest newsletter” when it comes out. 
🎸If you are on Instagram add Linktree to your bio and add the sign up form & the latest edition of your newsletter.
Your newsletter is an important marketing tool for your business, make sure that it is set up to work as hard as it can for you. Give me a shout if you need a hand getting your newsletter set up. I'm happy to help.
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​Reusing Content: It's a thing! You've got great content, reusing it is something you should be proud of! It's not lazy, it's SMART!
Reusing content can be anything from reposting the exact same material to updating and revamping older material. 

As a creator of social media content I know that there is a never ending void to be filled. Supporting a cause with a post on social media can feel like we’re taking care of business AND supporting a cause, but are we? Here are some ways you can actually make a difference on social media and in real life.

How to support a cause on social media
✔️Share a post on your page or in your stories of a business that represents the community you want to support.
✔️Help the community share their voice rather than speaking for them. Share a podcast, novel, movie or tv show that showcases the community you want to support.
✔️Use your platform to help educate your followers why it’s important to support Pride month, or National Indigenous History month or Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness month.  Share posts from not-for-profits, associations, activist sites…
✔️Share upcoming events that support the cause.

Things you can do IRL to support a cause 
➡️DONATE your TIME and/or MONEY
➡️Attend an event, whether it be a fundraiser, a walk, market or drive
➡️Organize a fundraiser, walk, market or drive
➡️Support businesses of people that belong to that community by shopping there

➡️Make your vote counts. If you live in Toronto there’s  a municipal election on October 24, 2022. Find out who your city councillor is & if their beliefs & values match your own. Your city councillor can impact the police budget, how our libraries are funded, as well as impacting the shelter system in this city.

One blog post can be turned into several social media posts & a topic of a newsletter. Now not only are you helping with the SEO on your website, you’ve got fodder for your social media platform(s) and content for your newsletter.

As we all know, sending out a newsletter regularly isn’t easy, make it work for you. Share the entire newsletter on your social media channels when it comes out and then break it down & share different sections when you need fodder.

Social media posts can make great filler content on your website and in your newsletters. 

Don’t forget your more traditional marketing material like neighbourhood signs, mail outs, really anything you are using to promote your business can be used in different marketing tools, saving you time and money.

Use content from your website for your social media posts, filler in your newsletters and for traditional marketing too.

Blog post = newsletter content = traditional marketing = social media fodder = website material = blog post = traditional marketing = blog post, you see where I’m going with this?