Hastings County Blog

Want More Business, Bancroft?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Alysha Dominico

Here’s How To Capitalise On Cottage Season and Beyond

Businesses in Bancroft are getting ready to spread their wings and ramp it up for what everyone hopes will be a whirlwind summer of cottagers living in our community, using our tradespeople, and spending money in our restaurants and shops.

But guess what, the buying process for summer-time residents starts well before they arrive.

It’s a well-known rate: 79% of Canada searches online first to get an idea of a company; that’s when they make up their mind as to whether they’ll call you.

On June 6^th from 6 till 9 pm, Bancroft Loyalist College and local online content writing company, Tangible Words, are making it easier for Bancroft businesses to get more business.

Computers are provided and so is Internet—so not having either won’t preclude your attendance.

The goal of the two-part workshop is to give Bancroft businesses the knowledge and practical experience they need to create a website using free online software, WordPress.

WordPress is a leading online CMS system which means business owners can update the content of their website (words, pictures, videos, etc.) as simply as using Microsoft Word.

“Knowing the language of HTML is not required with WordPress,” said Vicky Marrack, Director of Tangible Words.

WordPress can also be used for blogging or business websites.

“We built our entire website and blog using WordPress; now we’re teaching other businesses to use the software and copywriting principles together so more people want to call you,” said Operations Manager, and Tangible Words’ Principal Copywriter, Alysha Dominico.

The WordPress Workshop is occurring because of requests from participants at the Blogging and Website workshops that ran at CFDC earlier this year.

But there isn’t a government grant anymore so Loyalist and Tangible Words are working together to keep the costs low for Bancroft residents.

The first night is complete but you can book in for the 2nd night on June 6th for $30. As event sponsors, Loyalist will provide drinks and snacks. To register go to: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5s6js7u56b534b6&llr=dcpl9gjab

Tangible Words offers lots of training to the micro-small business market from Ottawa to Toronto. All small business workshops are listed on the Tangible Words website: http://www.tangiblewords.com.

Posted in Creative Hastings, Economic Development, North Hastings, Small Business, Social Media | Tagged bancroft business, Bancroft cottage season, Business Blogging, Loyalist College bancroft, Tangible Words, Website Copywriting, Wordpress | Leave a comment

Consistent Business Branding – Your Business Website is Only the First Step

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Alysha Dominico

Businesses in Toronto, across Ontario and in Melbourne, Australia seem to always want to ‘rebrand’ by starting with their website. This is never a bad thing as often businesses have an old website and really need it written properly by a website copywriter. However, they stop at that.

Consistent Branding is Essential for a Successful Business

Have you ever noticed that when you see a Coca Cola tv commercial, or a poster, or their bottles, that the same messages appear? That they clearly are the same company? Or how about Nike? Their logo appears everywhere and you don’t see ‘Just Do it’ in one place and ‘Just Capture it’ somewhere else.

Just because you may not be as big as Coca Cola or Nike, doesn’t mean the same rules apply. If you decide to revamp your website and really work out your U.S.P and the benefits of your business and invest in content that talks to your clients, then you can’t just stop at your website.

What about your business brochures, email marketing, social media, blogging?

Although many of our clients don’t know exactly what they might need once they have redone their website, there will always be other materials to implement your consistent business messages. Offering clients ongoing contracts that provides flexibility on what gets content written next, allows businesses to have a future branding plan.

Think about all the other tools you use to attract clients. Do you have a brochure? Sales Letters? Email Marketing? Facebook? A Business Blog? Likely you have one if not more than one of these, and they to need attention like your website.

Still not sure? Take a look at the samples page, testimonials and even the case stories might help you understand how your business can benefit from consistent branding. Any questions?

Posted in Small Business, Social Media | Tagged branding online, business branding, Consistent Branding, copywriter, email marketing, Online Content Writing, Tangible Words, Website Copywriting | Leave a comment

Creative Hastings was awesome!

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Andrew Redden

A great crowd of enthusiastic people participated in our second Creative Hastings held in Coe Hill on May 23. If you missed it, you can watch the formal part of the evening below. The next Creative Hastings is taking place at Quinn’s of Tweed (in Tweed of course) on September 19 at 6:30pm.