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As a small business owner, having a website is crucial to your success in today's digital age. If you don't already have a website, or if your current website is outdated or hard to use, it's time to consider investing in a new one. Here are 5 reasons why your small business needs a new website:

1. Reach a wider audience: With a website, you can easily share information about your products and services with potential customers from all over the world. This can help you expand your customer base and increase sales.

2. Improve your credibility: A professional-looking website can establish your business as an expert in your field, which can help you attract more customers and build trust with potential clients.

3. Save time and money: A website can streamline your customer service process by allowing customers to find answers to common questions on their own. This can save you time and money, so you can focus on running your business.

4. Stay competitive: In today's market, having a website is increasingly important for small businesses. Without a website, you may be at a disadvantage compared to your competitors.

5. Gain valuable insights: A website with built-in analytics can provide valuable data about your visitors, such as where they are coming from, how long they stay on your site, and what pages they visit. This data can help you understand your audience better and make informed decisions about how to improve your website and marketing efforts.

In conclusion, a new website is a crucial investment for any small business looking to stay competitive in today's digital age. With a new website, you can reach a wider audience, improve your credibility, save time and money, and gain valuable insights about your customers. Don't let your small business fall behind, take the first step towards a modern and effective website today by scheduling a demo with Webware. Our team of experts will work with you to understand your business needs and create a website that will help you reach your goals. Don't wait, schedule a demo with Webware today and take your small business to the next level!

Digital marketing is constantly evolving, and as we move into 2023, there are several trends that small business owners should be aware of.
 

Video Content:
One of the biggest trends in digital marketing is the continued rise of video content. More and more businesses are using video to engage with their audience, and this trend is only set to continue in 2023. Whether it's live streaming on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, or creating engaging videos for YouTube and Vimeo, video is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with potential customers.

Personalization:
Another trend to watch out for in 2023 is the increasing importance of personalization. As consumers become more savvy and more selective about the content they engage with, businesses will need to find ways to tailor their marketing messages to individual customers. This could involve using data and analytics to create personalized email marketing campaigns, or using AI and machine learning to personalize the customer experience on a business's website.

Influencer Marketing:
In addition, the use of influencer marketing is also set to grow in 2023. Influencer marketing involves partnering with social media influencers who have a large following in your target market and using their influence to promote your business. This can be a powerful way to reach a large audience and build trust with potential customers.

Chatbots:
Finally, the use of chatbots is also set to increase in 2023. Chatbots are AI-powered software programs that can simulate conversations with customers in real-time, providing quick and convenient answers to common questions and helping to improve the customer experience.

In summary, digital marketing in 2023 is all about video content, personalization, influencer marketing, and chatbots. Small business owners who want to stay ahead of the curve should consider incorporating these trends into their marketing strategies.

Need help with website and digital marketing for your small business? Join over 4000 business owners like you that are a part of Webware. Book a Growth Session with us and let’s look at your current efforts and if Webware is the right fit for you.

How AI is Driving Growth and Success for Webware Clients
Webware is excited to announce that it has already launched over 100 websites using its latest AI-driven website content creation feature, powered by ChatGPT. Leveraging the power of AI, Webware has been able to create high-quality websites and digital marketing content that is more likely to attract and convert target customers.

How AI Content Creation Can Improve SEO and Attract the Right Customers
Using AI-driven content products can give websites greater results with SEO and target the right challenges that are being searched for by the most likely good-fit customers. This means that businesses can attract the right customers and see an improved online performance.

The Benefits of Using AI for Website Content Creation to Save Your Time
In addition, using AI content creation means less work for business owners. Instead of spending time and resources on producing content, businesses can let AI handle it for them, freeing up time to focus on other aspects of their business.

Webware is thrilled to have launched over 100 websites using its AI-driven content creation feature powered by ChatGPT and looks forward to continuing to use AI to drive growth and success for its clients.

For more information about how AI can benefit your business, request a demo with one of our digital marketing experts at Webware today.
 

Are people really reading your content? Are you too busy to produce enough content & your content isn’t converting leads? Then this blog is for you!

Find out how to extend your reach by tapping into different platforms. Save time, maximize the value of the content you have created & convert leads faster.

Before creating your content, ask yourself, what challenges does my ideal customer/audience have and what solution can I provide to help them? Create content that is relevant to your audience and attract the right people for your business.

Let’s say you’re an accountant, one of your topics could be “10 Purchases You Didn't Know Were Tax Deductible” this would be helpful and establishes your credibility.

1. Publish the content as a blog for your website. Have a clear call to action at the end of the blog and ask for the reader’s email address.

Examples would be: Sign up for our newsletter, download this helpful guide or book a consultation.

2. Publish the same blog on LinkedIn.

• Use LinkedIn’s integrated article publishing tool and copy&past the blog you just published on your website.

3. Publish content to Youtube

• Record a 5-15 minute video about the blog post topic & upload it to Youtube.

• Add relevant keywords in the title and description and add a simple thumbnail (1280x720px).

• Youtube has become one of the biggest Seach Engines and will promote the video for you.

4. Now publish that same video on Facebook.

• We recommend uploading the video directly to Facebook, do not use the Youtube link. Facebook doesn’t like YouTube links and is not going to push your post. 

• Use the same description and title you used for Youtube and make sure you ask people to share it.

5. Publish content to Instagram & TikTok)

• Cut that same video into 10-60 second clips and publish them as reels.

• For that use the same description and add 3-5 relevant hashtags that are related to the content of the video. 

• Repeat the same process for TikTok as well.

• You can also create a quick post summarizing your main points and share that on Instagram and Facebook as well.

6. Publish a Client Newsletter

• Send out a newsletter to your clients introducing your new blog content

• Add a link to the blog

• Include a link to the Youtube video as well

Webware.io specialized in content creation and would LOVE to help your business succeed online. 

Our services are going to help you find relevant topics, and create a newsletter and blogs FOR YOU.

We know running a business is busy and our mission is to buy back your time, grow sales and simplify your business.

Book a growth session with us today

Email remains the highest-performing marketing channel. Social media, SEO, and online reviews are all designed to do one thing: drive people to your website where you’ll collect their email addresses and start building relationships.

The most popular ways to increase your email list:

• Including email signup forms on your site: platforms and content management systems make it simple to add email signup forms to your website. You can add them to a sidebar, the footer, or as an exit intent pop-up.
• Using social media to encourage signups: social media is big. Instagram has the highest median engagement rate at 1.6%. That’s with over one billion users every month—and 90% of them are following businesses already. Use social media to promote new products or valuable content.
• Create helpful guides, webinars, and cheatsheets and offer them on your website, for people to be able to access them ask for their names & email address.
• Encourage subscribers to forward your emails

=> Whenever someone visits your website or social media, ask them to sign up for your newsletter.

It’s a good idea to invest in a platform that helps you manage your list. The right tools can help you incorporate email personalization and segmentation, plus automate your email and social media campaigns.

At webware.io we offer an extensive email marketing platform to store your contacts, tag them and even create newsletters for you.

Different segments for your email lists:

1. Different buyer personas
2. Loyal customers
3. Hot leads
4. Cold leads
5. New clients
6. Clients that haven’t worked with you in a long time
7. Demographics
8. Geographic area
9. Amount spend
10. Personal interest

Create content that relates to the segment you choose, if someone is a loyal customer, create a referral program or offer a special deal as a “thank you”.

The more segmented you are the higher the response rate. This is key for engagement and less un-subscribers.

Email marketing can be a powerful tool, the open rate currently resides at about 21% which is pretty high.

Email marketing software like Webware.io will provide valuable statistics like open rates, bounce rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates you can use to improve performance.

Need help setting up your email list and sending out content?

Book a Growth Session today and start growing your business with email marketing.

A lot of small business owners have been running their businesses for years without focusing too much on digital marketing, but the market is getting more and more competitive so you might be at a point to fully take advantage of digital marketing.

But are digital marketing agencies worth their money?

How much time does digital marketing really take?

After reading this article you will know what solution is going to work best for your business.

Here are some mind-blowing numbers for business owners to know:

• 1.79 billion people bought something online last year.

• 75% of customers expect help online within 5 minutes.

• 70% of small-to-mid-sized businesses are investing more into their digital presence.

• 70% of people think that digital payment methods will overtake cash and cards by 2030.

• 36% of all small or personal businesses are making their sales on the internet.
  (Source: https://firstsiteguide.com/online-business-stats/)

1. Do you know what you want to archive with digital marketing?

• Brand awareness

• Grow sales

• Engage with customers

• Expand your reach

• Being found on Google

• Building a strong reputation

• Increase referral and repeat business

All these things are important and are going to grow your business dramatically.

2. Do you have the skills?

• Creating a website and improving your SEO 

• Creating content that attracts the right audience

• Building email lists and creating Newsletters

• Setting up social media accounts and filling them with content

Digital marketing requires a certain set of skills to be successful, from metadata to coding, keeping up with trends, and constant improvement.

3. Do you have the time?

Affective digital marketing can take up to 3 business days each week. Is that the best time for your as a business owner to spend your time? Or should you be focussing on your clients and improving your service/product? 

4. What is your standard for quality?

• An experienced digital marketer can help you build your brand and online presence quicker and way more efficiently, and you will see better results.

• Do you want your business to present itself exceptionally or is self-made good enough for now?

5. How much money do you want to spend?

• Digital marketing is one of the most sought-after services for ever small businesses. 

Having a strong online presence and the shift of customers switching more and more online to find new services and products is increasing the need to do digital marketing with expertise and quality.

• The question is more- What ROI do you want to achieve for your business?

• A professional agency is always going to get you better results quicker for your business than trying to figure it out yourself.

If you as a business owner think your valuable time is spent best on doing digital marketing and not relying on an agency then that is what you should be doing.

If you are already running out of time as a business owner and feel like the day never has enough hours, then hiring a digital marketing agency, like Webware.io, is the best decision you are going to make.

We have over 3000 small business owners trusting us with their digital marketing and would love to exceed your expectations as well.

Let’s chat more about what you are looking for and if Webware.io is the right fit for you.

Book A Growth Session

In addition to being a great way to communicate with customers, blogs can also be used to reach a wider audience.

By writing about topics that are relevant to your business, you can show potential customers that you are an expert in your field.

In addition, by including keywords and backlinks in your blog posts, you can improve your website's search engine ranking and attract more traffic.

Ultimately, blogging is a great way to market your business and build relationships with both current and potential customers.

Tips to get started:

• Content is king, especially when it comes to business blogging. Your customers are looking for help, and if you can provide them with the information they need in a concise, engaging way, you’ll be ahead of the game. Keep your target audience in mind when creating content, and make sure it’s easily understandable. If you can do this, you’ll be well on your way to success as a business blogger.

  Here are some ideas:

  • CHECKLIST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A SUCCESSFUL TAX DAY
  • THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES
  • 10 PURCHASES YOU DIDN'T KNOW WERE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
• Before writing a blog post, it is essential to create a list of relevant keywords. These keywords will help you to reach your target audience through search engines.
  
  By including these keywords in your title and throughout your blog post, you will be more likely to rank higher on search engine results pages.
  
  In addition to helping you reach your target audience, using keywords effectively can also help to improve the quality of your writing.
  
  Here are some keyword examples:
  • Accounting service in [your city]
  • Income tax tips
  • Tax preparation
  • Tax deduction calculator
• It's no secret that people are highly visual creatures. We are constantly bombarded with images, and our brains are hardwired to pay attention to them.
  
  This is why it's so important to use visuals in your blog posts. By including images, you can grab your readers' attention and hold it for the entire post. But it's not enough to just include any old image. The visuals you use should be informative and relevant to the topic at hand.
  
  For example, if you're writing a blog post about the benefits of organizing your finances, you might include an infographic that shows the different tax benefits of keeping it organized.
  
  Or if you're writing a post about tips for limiting your expenses, you might include a Canva pamphlet with some helpful tips. Visuals are a great way to engage your readers and keep them coming back for more. So make sure to use them wisely!
• In order to succeed in the world of blogging, it is important to stand out from the crowd.
  
  One way to do this is to stay current with what is happening in your industry and to do the opposite of what your competitors are doing on their blogs. This will help you appear fresh in the eyes of your viewers and separate your blog from the rest.
  
  In addition, staying up to date with current pieces and marketing techniques will ensure that you are providing your readers with the best possible content.
  
  By following these tips, you will be on your way to becoming a successful blogger.
  You're not alone if creating content for your website feels like a drag.
  In fact, it's one of the most common complaints we hear from our clients.
  
  That's why we offer a comprehensive blog writing and publishing service that takes care of everything for you. And because we're experts in the field, you can be confident that your blog will be engaging and informative, helping you attract more readers and grow your business.
  
  So if you're ready to take the hassle out of content creation, book a demo today to learn more about our blog writing services.

In today's world, it's hard to focus on anything for more than a few minutes. With phones, paper trails, and constant emails distracting us, it's no wonder that being successful at time management is hard to achieve.

Managing your time and increasing your productivity is the process of planning and controlling how you spend your time in order to achieve specific goals. It involves setting priorities, creating a schedule, and sticking to it.

Effective time management increases your focus and improves your productivity. It allows you to capture bigger opportunities and to spend more time on the projects, goals, and people that matter.

In other words, it helps you live a more balanced and fulfilling life.

So if you're looking to improve your focus and be more productive, start by learning how to effectively manage your time.

1.Set reminders for all your tasks

Most of us have experienced the stress that comes with trying to meet deadlines. Whether it's finishing a project for work or getting clients' numbers organized on time, meeting deadlines can be tough.

But there are some things you can do to make the process a little easier.

First, it's important to know your deadlines. Make sure you have the date and time written down or better saved on an electronic calendar so you don't forget. Second, set reminders for yourself.

We suggest setting a reminder 15 minutes before a meeting or event so you can prepare and gather your things. By taking these simple steps, you'll be on your way to managing your time more effectively and reducing stress in your life.

2. Create a daily planner

Keeping a daily planner is an important part of time management. By situating all the tasks you need to complete in one place, you can ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
In addition, blocking off time for certain tasks helps you to stay on top of them and make sure you are using your time wisely.

Simply taking a few minutes at the beginning of the day to plan out your schedule can save you hours of wasted time later on.

Of course, no system is perfect, and there will always be days when things don't go according to plan. However, having a daily to-do list & plan is a valuable tool that can help you to make the most of your time.

3. Give each task a time limit

Trying to accomplish too many tasks in a day can lead to feelings of overwhelm and frustration. One way to help manage your time more effectively is to estimate how long each task will take you and then schedule that amount of time into your day.

If you don’t finish the task in the allotted time, move on to something else and come back to it later.

This technique can help to prevent procrastination and increase your productivity.

It also allows you to take breaks throughout the day, which can help to refresh your mind and give you a new perspective when you come back to unfinished tasks. By taking the time to plan your day, you can ease your stress levels and increase your chances of getting everything done.

4.Block out distractions

First and foremost, turn off your email notification. Set 30-minute blocks to check your email every couple of hours instead of checking it every 15 minutes.

Make sure you minimize non-work distractions such as your cell phone, social media, or your favorite online store. By following these simple tips, you can prime your environment for optimal productivity.

5. Establish a routine

Creating a routine at work is important for a variety of reasons.

First, it can help to keep you focused and on track even on chaotic days.

Second, it can prevent you from procrastinating, as you will have a set plan to follow each day.

Finally, your mental health and stress levels will benefit from having a routine in place.

A routine can help to reduce stress by providing structure and predictability, and it can also help to improve your mood and overall sense of well-being. Whether you are just starting out in your career or you are a seasoned professional, creating a daily routine can be a valuable tool for success.

6. Outsource tasks

As a busy entrepreneur, it's important to know when to delegate tasks and when to hire outside help. While there are some areas of your business that you can handle on your own, there are others that are better left to professionals.

For example, if you're spending hours each week on administrative work or website maintenance, it might be time to hire an assistant or contract out those services. Digital marketing is another area where it pays to delegate. Trying to keep up with all the latest platform changes and trends can be a full-time job in itself.

By hiring a digital marketing expert, you can free up your time to focus on the aspects of your business that you're passionate about.

The bottom line is that when it comes to running your business, efficiency is key. Knowing when to hire help can make a big difference in your overall success.

If you are a business owner, you know that your time is valuable. You are always being pulled in different directions by clients, deadlines, and new regulations. It can be difficult to keep up with everything, let alone find time to grow your business.

That's where we come in. At webware.io, we provide a comprehensive suite of digital marketing services designed to help businesses like yours succeed online. We can help you with everything from website design and development to SEO and social media marketing. And because we understand the accounting industry, we can tailor our services to meet your specific needs.

So if you're looking for a partner to help you take your business to the next level, contact us today. We would be happy to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals.

Book a growth session with us today and let’s grow your business together

No business is perfect and sooner or later you're going to receive some negative reviews. Let us show you how to respond to a negative review and turn a bad review into a potential new sale.

• 94% of consumers say that a bad review has convinced them to avoid a business.
• 53% of customers expect businesses to respond to negative reviews within a week.
• 63% say that a business has never responded to their review.
• 45% of consumers say they’re more likely to visit a business that responds to negative reviews.

But how can you respond so your business can actually flourish after a negative review?

1. Respond within 24-48 hours

The sooner you respond to a negative review the better. It shows that you are on top of your game and quick to make things right. It prevents others from reading the negative review without your response to it.

2. Show empathy and acknowledge the frustration

This is harder than it sounds. You might absolutely disagree with what is being said and it is easier to react with a frustrated response. But sometimes it is better to react with kindness and understanding rather than anger. Our business is our life and it is easy to get offended but acknowledging their pain goes so much further.

3. Take responsibility

Who really likes to say “sorry” and owning a mistake - especially if you are not directly responsible. To apologize and take responsibility shows your businesses confidence and strong values. It makes you more trustable and likable. We are all humans, we make mistakes, and owning it is a superpower.

4. Provide an explanation (if needed)

Look into the problem that is being shown in the review and investigate. Was there miscommunication or a technical problem? Did you do what was asked but the client never received it? Explaining can be helpful especially when someone who is interested in your service is reading the negative review. Try to be specific and clarify what the problem was and how you can fix it.

5. Offer to resolve the issue offline (via call/email)

Calling the client can go a long way. Try and immediately resolve the issue and calling or directly emailing them shows you really care.

6. Make it right (offer money back, discount, etc.)

Making it right, even if it wasn’t your fault, is key! Go above and beyond to repair any damages, and offer discounts or money back. The person might be surprised by your responsiveness and kindness. Lots of bad reviews get deleted this way and the client relationship can even be restored after.

Webware.io services can help you with responding to and managing all your online reviews.

Our online reputation management services include:

• Notification of every review posted
• Access to all reviews via a single platform
• Solicit and receive more positive reviews and endorsements
• Simplified and quick management of reviews across multiple sites
• Ongoing curation of your online credibility with our experts

A website re-design is important if you want to grow your business in today’s market.

Your website is not generating the leads and revenue you want? It's time for an update!

Websites change and evolve over time. 10 years ago, your website might have been considered top-notch but in this day of Google's infinite shelf life for content; it'll be obsolete before you know it.

A website redesign includes changes to your website's content, structure, design, coding, and overall navigation.

Doing this might be a bigger investment but it is well worth it considering the increase in exposure and sales.

Here is a simple checklist to navigate you through the decision-making process:

• Does your website appear on Google Search when looking for your service in your area? (Example: Accounting firm in Toronto)
• Do you get 3-5 calls/week through your website?
• Does your website’s look reflect your business brand?
• Do your website pages load quickly?
• Is it difficult to find information that visitors might be looking for?
• Are your pages optimized for mobile use?
• Do your target specific keywords in your content?
• Is the service you offer easy to understand?
• Are pictures updated?
• Does your website have blogs and useful information?
• Is it easy to call or email you through your website?

If 2-3 are un-checked we highly recommend you tackle your website re-design.

But don’t feel overwhelmed just yet.

Webware.io is here to help and we are able to do all of this for you.

Our services include:

EXPERT WEBSITE STRATEGY SERVICES

Our team of expert digital marketing strategists helps your website deliver exactly the kind of experience that your customers want to get. Easy navigation, updated and eye-catching design, and SEO services.

EXTENSIVE PAGE LIBRARY

Our website management dashboard includes every kind of page your website needs to succeed. We have made the process of adding new pages as simple as possible so you can do it yourself or trust our team to do it for you.

24/7 WEBSITE SUPPORT

Our team is available 24/7 to help you maintain your website and make changes on the fly. Whether you want to create a form, add a new page, or address anything else on your site, our team is here to help.

INTEGRATED CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Your website’s content management system is fully integrated with the rest of our toolkit systems to help give your customers a seamless experience. Having all of your systems in one place makes managing your brand strategy as simple as possible.

Book a demo today and let us do the work for you.

Let’s improve your SEO!

Does that sound awful to you? Just simply ANNOYING?

Yeah, we get it.

Digital marketing experts trying to explain the metadata, alt tags and keywords for your website are just not what you are interested in or have any time for.

If you’re looking for a quick fix that will have your site ranked in no time, then we can help with that.

Our team of experts has the knowledge and expertise needed to optimize all aspects of search engines so they correctly understand what has to get done - which means more traffic coming through naturally, your business GROWING, and saving you SO MUCH time!

Book a demo today and let us do the work for you.

Wait! Do you still want to do it all yourself? Let us help you anyway:

To increase your website traffic and generate more clients do the following:

1. Publish Relevant, Authoritative Content
   Without great content, your search engine rankings will suffer. Quality and authority are the most important aspects when doing SEO marketing for a site—site traffic can only improve with authoritative blog posts that include relevant keywords in their titles or descriptions; this helps make them more readable too!
2. Update Your Content Monthly
   You've probably noticed that content is KEY. Search engines know this too. Regularly updated content is viewed as one of the best indicators of a site's relevancy, so be sure to keep it fresh. Audit your content on a set schedule (monthly for example) and make updates as needed.
3. Metadata
   When designing your website, each page contains a space between the head tags to insert metadata or information about the contents of your page. If you have a CMS site originally produced by the Webware team will have pre-populated this data for you.
   
   Title metadata is the most important piece of information on your page. It decides what you see and how it's going to be styled, which means that this field can make or break an appearance in search engine results for any given website!
   
   With the aid of a CMS-enabled web team, your meta title is automatically generated based on what you call "page titles." This adds extra importance to choosing wisely and using key phrases within well-thought-out page names.
   
   Description metadata is the textual description that a browser may use in your page search return. Think of it as your site's window display—a concise and appealing description of what is contained within, with the goal of encouraging people to enter. A good meta description will typically contain two full sentences. Search engines may not always use your meta description, but it is important to give them the option.
   
   Keyword metadata is rarely if ever used for search engine rankings. However, you should already know your keyword phrases, so it doesn't hurt to add them to your keyword metadata. You'll want to include a variety of phrases. As a general rule, try to keep it to about 3-7 phrases with each phrase consisting of 1-4 words. A great example would be "accounting service in [city]."

4. Have Content Worth Sharing
   A webpage that is content-rich, authoritative, and actually helps visitors learn more about what they are interested in is most likely to attract links from other websites, which improves your SEO.

5. Don’t Forget Alt Tags
   Always describe your image and video media using alt tags, or alternative text descriptions. They allow search engines to locate your page, which is crucial—especially for those who use text-only browsers or screen readers.

SEO is time-consuming but will benefit your business tremendously.

If you need help improving your SEO and rank on Google so new clients can find you please reach out to us today.

Let’s set up a demo here so we can help your business.

Book a demo

Sending out a monthly newsletter is one of the most impactful digital marketing tools.

Get 30% more revenue within 12 months and stay on top of your client's minds via emails so they can refer you to their friends, family & coworkers!

Not only will this help increase exposure for yourself but it'll also build credibility with those that are looking for a service like yours.

If you don’t have any ideas on what to put in your newsletter, we’ve got you covered.

Top Stories:

• Round-up of popular or recent blog posts or videos
• New job openings
• New case studies
• Membership/customer deals and promotions
• New best practices or tips
• Industry news

Additional Content:

• Quotes
• Recent survey results related to your industry
• Internal employee news, including anniversaries, promotions, and birthdays
• List the i.e. "Best tips to organize your bills" etc
• A team spotlight with pictures and bios
• Photos or stories customers have shared
• Behind the scenes, or interviews with company executives
• Monthly business recap
• New training opportunities
• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and answers
• Upcoming webinars, or recordings of past webinars

The general anatomy of a newsletter typically includes:

• Your logo or masthead
• A featured image and other eye-catching visuals
• Top stories featured at the top
• Additional content and promotions following
• An email footer with social links and subscription information

There are a few best practices you can employ to ensure your design represents your business best:

• Clean, crisp images (no blurry images)
• Text (use same text & font throughout), company logo, and icons
• Try filters, memes, or videos
• Make the CTA (=call to action) clear and obvious — (i.e. "Click here to read" or "Click here to read")
• Mobile-responsive
• Test the length of your newsletter to ensure it's not too short or too long for your audience

Use this simple Newsletter template

If you have the time and excitement to design your own newsletters by all means use our template. We recommend using an email provider like Mailchimp, filling out the template, and either letting your marketing specialist create it for you or you design it yourself. Repeat the process monthly to keep the consistency going.

If creating Newsletters doesn’t seem like the best use of your time and does not make you feel excited, Webware.io has the perfect solution!

Our services include:

DONE-FOR-YOU CLIENT NEWSLETTERS

Our team helps you create regular email newsletters that share important information and key business highlights with your audience. Our team has helped hundreds of businesses create successful newsletters.

EASY-TO-USE EMAIL MARKETING PLATFORM

All of your newsletters and other email campaigns can be sent directly from Webware’s simplified email marketing platform, available right from your website dashboard.

REGULAR PERFORMANCE INSIGHTS

Get regular email insights that show you how all emails are doing so you continually improve their performance. The added benefit of working with Webware means you have a team dedicated to making your campaigns a success as much as you are.

Book a demo today and let’s grow your business together.

We've all been there before - feeling bogged down with selling to the wrong customers

You try to accommodate them, but nothing you do seems to work well.

You are wasting energy and money on producing irrelevant content in the wrong places that don’t align with your audience.

At Webware, we have been through this issue and have had to create our client avatar. This has helped us find clients that are the right fit for our service and know exactly where and how to market our service.

By having a clear understanding of who we want to work with, we find clients that we can help succeed.

This not only benefits our business, but it also benefits the client as they are getting the service they need to succeed.

Here is what you need to know about your ideal client and where to target them:

To identify your ideal client, think of that one customer you have right now that if you had more, your business would be where you want it to be.

They should be:

• Fastest to sell to
• Easiest to support
• Stays/pays the longest

Once you’ve identified that client of yours use this cheat sheet and know exactly where and how to market your business to the RIGHT people:
 

Download your Customer Avatar Worksheet here:

Summer is here, and the heat is on. Not just with the weather, but to revamp your marketing strategies. By doing so, you can add a “spring” to your step when the seasons change and your business has a head start. 

One of the ways to ensure you’re not left sweating as the year goes by is to get swept up by the social media storm. It will ensure that your services and products are picked up by the swirls and rained down on potential clients or investors. Whether you’re a mortgage broker, accountant, lawyer, photographer, or adult entertainer, setting up a social media presence is an excellent way to get the word out about your business, products, and services cost-effectively. It helps you engage with your audience and boosts website traffic. 

As providers of a complete digital marketing toolkit for your business, Webware.io has put together a list of things you need to do to create an effective social media presence. 

1. Choose the right platform for your business
Would you walk into a luxury bag store looking for a rucksack or a sports goods store looking for a pair of chic formal shoes? Similarly, as a business person knowing where to sell is essential. By choosing the right platform, you can affect the direction your social media will take and how you can use it to your advantage.

While the rule isn’t written in stone, if you’re a business owner marketing your products and services, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are platforms to be on. Whereas if you’re an artist, photographer, videographer, or entertainer, more visual platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest should be your focus points. 

2. Complete your profile
When you visit a business page, you’d expect to see details that help you build trust in that brand. As a small business owner, it’s essential that you provide as much detail about who you are and what you do. How? Simply update your profile picture, services section, website URL, address, and contact details. 

In the about us section, you can add a description that includes your values and what makes you stand out from others. Back that up by clearly describing your products or services, so visitors know what you have to offer. You do not have to lay out the entire buffet, but just enough to serve as an entree that leads them to your website for the main course. 

Remember that what you say and the picture you paint on your social media handles will attract clients with a similar vision and corresponding goals.

3. Inform clients about your social media presence and encourage them to engage and follow
Social media has created a gravitational pull, and as a small business owner, you can harness this pull to draw in more clients. Just like space, there’s a void that you can fill, but you need to get the message out first.

One way to do this is to send all your contacts a message informing them they can now connect with your business on social media platforms. It’s an excellent way to gain traction and initially boost your visibility. 

It will also allow you to open lines of communication with existing and new clients to give you information on areas where you can improve your product or service. 

4. Watch for trends and platform updates
Social media has the ability to turn the mundane into something enigmatic with a trend that captures a global audience. Parents, this is your chance to turn eating broccoli into a trend and watch kids devour those greens. These trends are sometimes pure luck but are also the results of focussed efforts and creative planning.

Instagram’s algorithm is all about visually appealing posts and videos. Twitter shows tweets chronologically, and TikTok is all about humor and is more of a creative outlet. Similarly, Facebook’s algorithm favors appealing content and educational content, whereas LinkedIn is all about articles, blogs, and long-form texts. Knowing what each platform prefers will help you publish the right content and drive more eyes to your business resulting in growth and success.

5. Create a content schedule and block time daily to post, comment, and engage with your followers
The social media marketing game is all about quality, consistency, and building a repertoire that attracts attention to your business’ offerings. Sitting down and creating a content schedule and blocking a time to post, comment and engage with your followers on a daily basis will go a long way towards consistency which is half the battle. This will also give your clients the right impression of your business.

6. Try to provide useful or entertaining content
This aspect of your social media presence is probably the most important. As this is still marketing, showcase content that can help your potential customers and display your expertise. Don’t be shy to share your own story and show who you are, and let people in on your day-to-day operations. Remember, by providing them with entertainment and valuable information, you are reflecting the values and vision of your brand as well. 

7. Be consistent and patient
Finally, your social media presence can best be compared to growing a plant. It will thrive only if you water it by posting regularly, nurturing it by engaging with your followers, and looking after it even when it doesn’t seem to be growing. By putting in time and effort consistently, your patience and diligence with your social media handles will bear fruit. 

However, as a business owner, time and effort to manage anything but your business can be a tough task. This is where digital marketing and website design experts like Webware.io come in. We do the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best: running your business. 

Our easy-to-use, responsive website templates and complete digital marketing toolkit help small and medium businesses like yours improve their digital presence and hit their growth targets.

With easy access to multiple tools, we help you manage and grow a successful online presence that is going to grow your business.

To learn more about digital marketing solutions for small businesses across North America, please click here. To get in touch with us, please click here or call us at 1-844-WEBWARE or book a demo today! 

With the ever-growing digitization of businesses, the need for digital marketing and website design has gone through the roof. As a small business owner, managing fast-changing customer expectations while juggling your digital marketing needs can leave you flustered. 

If your superpower is managing a business, leaving your kryptonite in the hands of digital marketing experts will help you focus on growth and excel at what you are great at. A digital marketing and website design service provider uses their unique skillset to increase brand awareness, boost sales conversions, and make your website accessible to everyone. 

While there are several reasons to hire a digital marketing expert, picking the right one can be a challenge. Not all digital marketing experts are the same, and it can be tricky to know what to look for. As providers of a complete digital marketing toolkit for your business, Webware.io has compiled a list of the top five things to do when hiring a digital marketing and website design service. 

1. Check their client portfolio

Professional and experienced digital marketing and website design companies are proud of their work. They typically display their partnerships for the world to see. It is nice to know who their clients are before working with a company. If you can’t find a list of previous clients or examples of their work, that may mean they haven’t worked with anyone. 

2. Verify their online reputation 

Testimonials and client reviews can give you deep insight into what working with a particular company can be like. If you can’t find any, the company may not have any previous clients, or they may not understand the industry as well as you’d like them to. You can look for in-depth reviews on Google or Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what their past clients have to say about their experiences with the company.

3. Review the team members

When you hire a digital marketing and website design expert, you get access to a team of specialists to drive your SEO-friendly website. To help your company perform at its best, you must plan and use an integrated strategy to target your audience. Additionally, regardless of the type of services you’re after, it’s essential to make sure the company you hire has the right team members to suit your project.

4. Understand the advantages of the tools they use

Digital marketing and website design tools are important because they help organizations reach their target market. They can also help create a relationship with the customer and measure the success of the easy-to-use, responsive website themes and marketing campaigns. There are various tools available, and each one has its unique benefits. 

5. Compare their pricing 

The price will always be an important factor when it comes to picking the right company that meets your needs. Look out for troublesome low pricing and exceptionally high claims. A quality digital marketing and website design company will be more willing to dedicate its resources to ensure your campaign and other marketing efforts become successful. 

Hiring A Digital Marketing And Website Design Service? 

Look no further! If you want to improve your digital presence and hit your growth targets, Webware.io does the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best: running your business. Our easy-to-use, responsive website templates and complete digital marketing toolkit for your business enable small and medium businesses like yours to easily access multiple tools needed to manage and grow a beautiful, successful online presence. 

Our All-in-One Digital Marketing Solution gives your business the right combination of tools, support, and expert advice to reach more customers than ever before. To learn more about the services we offer clients across North America, please click here. To get in touch with us, please click here or call us at 1-844-WEBWARE or book a demo today! 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

How To Identify Your Superpower, Know Your Next Key Hire and Buy Back Your Time
using the Love Your Day Formula Framework

Hello Everyone!

I’m Cory York, Co-creator and CEO of Webware.io.

If you are a business owner who is overwhelmed by the demands and challenges of your business; if you are running a reactive rather than proactive hiring practice; if you are doing a series of low-value tasks that are holding you back from growing your company, then come and check-out my Staples Virtual Spotlight Session on February 10th, 2022 at 2 pm. In this session I will Help You Create a Life and Business You Love!

I know running a company is hard. I have had two companies that have grown from 0 to over 10 million in annual revenue, I have raised venture capital, and I’ve had a successful exit. But the most significant lesson I learned, while labouring in those trenches, is that things don’t get better, you get better!

In my live session, I will guide you through The Love Your Day Formula framework to help you:

1. Identify your superpower, and how to align your team’s superpowers so the are PERFORMING LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
2. Easily determine your next key hire, THAT WILL UNLOCK YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AND HELP YOUR COMPANY MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, and
3. Buy Back Your Time - and free up your schedule so YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT ARE MOST IMPACTFUL TO YOUR BUSINESS

This is GAME-CHANGING TRAINING and a must-see for all business owners. I am personally hosting the event, and I’m excited to share with you the strategies and tools that have had the greatest impact on my success. I can’t wait to see you all.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

To Register please click the link above!.

It’s going to be awesome! Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Cory York, Co-creator and CEO of Webware.io.

For Registration and More Information CLICK HERE!

January is approaching fast and so is 2022. This has been another challenging year in the small business world but as the year draws to a close, it is important to start planning for next year. Many of us make personal New Year’s resolutions whether it be going to the gym or working out, trying to eat healthier, or discovering a new hobby. But how many small business owners make New Year’s resolutions regarding their businesses? 

December is a great time to reflect on your past year and get ready for the new one ahead. Evaluating your business over the past year will not only help you to see what worked and what didn’t but it will inform decisions you need to make for the upcoming year. 

So here are some tips to get your small business ready for 2022: 

1. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t work in 2021. 

   Features: are my specific products and services solving specific problems that my customers have? 
   Does my business have distinctive competencies over my competitors? 
   Marketing: which channels am I using to market my business (blog, email, social media, etc.)? 
   Which ones have I received the most ROI from or the most qualified leads? 
   Are there any channels that I should be adding this year? 
   Time management: What did my schedule look like this past year? 
   How can I create more time to focus on strategy for my company? 
   Are there ways that I can automate some of the day-to-day tasks that are necessary but time wasters? 

2. Make sure that you are capturing your customers’ emails

   Did you build up your email list over the course of the past year? 
   If not, how can you change that this year? 
   Make sure that you are capturing your customers’ emails by offering them something in return. This could be in the form of some tips, or a special offer. 
   Most small businesses are very busy over the holidays and it is important to capture those customers’ email so that you can re-engage them in your business’ down time.  January is a perfect time to reach out to these clients. Consider using automated email or marketing to target them to return to your business. 

3. Run your financial reports. 

   This is the ideal time to reflect and get a better understanding of how your business is performing financially. 
   Profit and loss statement - this is your income statement that details all of your business’ revenues, expenses and costs
   Balance Sheet - this shows your business’ assets and liabilities, including any outstanding amounts owed to investors. 
   Cash flow statement - this shows how your business manages funds
   If your business doesn’t have an accountant or someone that is in charge of your financial statements, think about investing in some accounting software. 

4. Create your company goals. 

   Take a good look at your accomplishments this year. Did you meet your goals set last year? 
   Did your company reflect the mission statement or vision proposition that was set out last year? 
   This is the time to set some future goals. Set some objectives for your business. Then determine what strategies are going to help you achieve those goals. Lastly, make sure you determine the actions that will take you to your goals. It is a great idea to review these each quarter to make sure that you are on track. 

5. Review your website and map out your content for the year. 

   First, review your website and make sure that it is user and mobile friendly. Make sure all of your information on your site is up to date. 
   Next, plan your upcoming online content goals for the next year. You do not need to map out each and every blog post, newsletter and social media post, however it is a good idea to consider your overall content strategy. If you are going to promote a particular product or service in the first quarter, brainstorm some ways to market to your target audience. Remember to consider times of year, seasons, holidays, etc. as these can all affect the way your content changes throughout the year. 

6. Meet with your team. 
   
   Your small business is only as good as its employees. You should schedule time to speak with each team member one-on-one, and give them some feedback about their performance last year - what you liked best about working together this past 12 months; areas in need of improvement or change going forward?
   As well, give them the opportunity to give their own feedback and ideas. This not only helps them feel heard but they may have many great ideas that you haven’t thought of. 
   It is also a great time to review and update your employee handbook and any standard operating procedures. 

7. Think about new hires. 
       
   Once you have evaluated your business’ performance over the past year, you may come to realize that you need to hire new employees in the new year. Most small business owners state that hiring new employees is the most challenging task and can have the biggest impact. 
   Perhaps areas that aren’t performing well, need a new hire that can help or direct that area’s team? 
   If you are launching a new product or service you may need a new hire to head up that process. 
   The New Year is a great time to assess your staffing needs and plan out any new hirings. As it is challenging to find the right employees to fit your company’s needs and specific role, the importance of planning is paramount. It may take you some time to sift through resumes, conduct interviews until you find the right person. Some companies decided to outsource or automate some of the hiring process, but when it comes down to the actual hire, the small business owner needs to ensure that they are the right person for their company and specific role. 

8. Take some time off. 

   As much as it is important and advantageous to get your company ready for the New Year, it is equally important for you as a business owner to take some time for yourself. 
   Taking the time to relax and recharge will allow you to reenter the workplace with a clearer head and renewed energy devoted to building your business in the New Year. 
    

In the digital age, it's crucial to have a strong presence online. If you're looking for some tips on how to get started, this is the perfect place to start! In this article, we'll cover everything from social media strategy and blogging basics to SEO tools and content creation best practices. Read on below!

If you own a small business, it can be hard to keep up on the latest trends in digital marketing. Here are some of the most important things to know about leveraging this powerful tool!

1. Define your marketing goals

What are your goals for digital marketing?
A successful business should have a well thought-out plan that will help them achieve their desired outcome. You may want to think about what you would like the company's website, social media pages and email campaigns look like if they were created by an expert in this area; how often do you hope people interact with these platforms over time period (e.g., once per week); where does one start when trying make changes on different channels simultaneously)? These questions can be difficult at first but ultimately yield great results!

2. Identify your target audience

The most important thing every business should know is who their target customer is. This will help them tailor content for that specific group of people and increase sales! Talk to your current clients and ask them what their challenges are. If you can identify what future clients' pain points are and then offer them solutions to those problems you will target the customers you want, generating qualified leads which will then help increase your sales and revenues. 

3. Determine a marketing budget

It is important to determine how much money to put into your company's digital presence, and what type of campaign will generate the most profitable results. The first step should include determining your needs and then coming up with strategies on where you can acquire the most clients. Having a mix of different types of ads - email messages, blog posts, social media, etc. - allows your message to be supported among many platforms. Many social media ads like GoogleAdWords or Facebook Ads Manager allow companies like yours access over 1 billion potential customers around the world every day!

4. Create and optimize content

The best way to get your content out there is by creating and optimizing it for the specific channel you want. The more relevant, engaging information customers see on a page - whether that's text or images- means they're going to stay longer than average. 

A sound content strategy supports people on both sides of your product: those who are still figuring out what their main challenges are, and those who have already used it to overcome these challenges.

Some popular types of content you can create for your audience are: blog posts, case studies, templates, infographics, videos, podcasts, social media posts. 

By creating engaging content, your followers and potential customers will be more inclined to share it across social media platforms. You'll also have the opportunity of turning repurposed posts into new formats that are exclusively tailored for each platform!

5. Make sure your content is available on all devices

It's always a good idea to optimize your digital marketing assets for mobile devices. This will ensure that you reach out to potential customers wherever they are.  Start by adopting a "mobile-first" strategy through web design along with some other changes such as providing high quality images so people can easily see everything about what product or service you are offering. 

6. Do keyword research 

When it comes to running a successful business, the key is being found in Google. Without keyword research and proper optimization for search engines like Google - how can you get your company out there? 
Doing some simple tasks now will help make sure that people find their way back when they do an internet search!

7. Revise strategies if necessary

Digital marketing is a powerful tool that can be used to reach your audience. It's important, however, for businesses of all sizes and shapes - especially those who are just getting started with digital efforts like PPC campaigns or email outreach-to consider the types of adjustments they may need in order not only succeed but thrive on social media platforms as well! For example: if you're already utilizing channels out there (or have been); think about areas where certain audiences might find interest instead; such things include video production/posting content tailored towards specific user demographics via Instagram Stories, TikTok, or YouTube. 

If you have any questions, or need more guidance, feel free to reach out to melissa@webware.io

Webware.io can help!
Discover How to Boost Your Sales Right Now With Enhanced Digital Marketing using Google and Facebook Advertising!
Looking to take your business to the next level online? Webware has the perfect solution – our enhanced digital services program. We’ll help you boost your search placement and attract more of the clients you want with powerful Google and Facebook advertising campaigns. So why wait? Contact us today to get started! 

Book an Enhanced Digital Services Demo Today
 

You may be asking yourself, What is the “For You Page” or FYP on TikTok and how does it help my business? 

The For You page, is the first page that TikTok takes you to when you open the app. It is a feed of videos that has been selected for you to view because TikTok’s algorithm believes that you will like them. The algorithm uses the interests that you first choose when setting up your account, as well as any interactions that you have on videos that you have watched or looked up. 

TikTok states: 

“On TikTok, the For You feed reflects preferences unique to each user. The system recommends content by ranking videos based on a combination of factors – starting from interests you express as a new user and adjusting for things you indicate you’re not interested in, too – to form your personalized For You feed.”
 
To be successful on TikTok, from a marketing perspective, you want your videos to appear in your target audience’s “For You Page” or #fyp. If your video lands on a TikTok FYP then that could mean increased followers while reaching a broader audience to grow your brand awareness and sales. As well, once you grow a TikTok following you can direct them to other social media platforms or to your website to increase traffic. If you can consistently get 100 views per TikTok, a feature on FYP can push that to over 10000 views without spending any money on advertising. 

So How Do You Use the Algorithm to Your Advantage?

Here are a few tips about how the “For You Page” works: 

1. Interactions: The more people react and interact with your videos the more likely the algorithm will pick it up. This means the more shares, likes, and comments your video gets, the better.
2. Information: Using hashtags, sounds and captions can help you get onto the FYP. If you use a trending hashtag or song it is more likely to get picked up by the algorithm. So if your content follows a trend or a trending song, you are more likely to get noticed. You can also participate in hashtag challenges to increase your exposure. 
3. Keywords: Using keywords that relate to your business or product helps get your video noticed by the right audience. 
4. Completion: The more people watch your video to the end, the more likely TikTok will push it out for further distribution. This is why the majority of TikTok videos are short and to the point. The time limit is 60 seconds but the shorter your video is the greater the probability will be of people watching it to the end. Make sure your video has a hook within the first 10 seconds - this will attract the attention of your viewer and then you need to make sure that you hold their interest, make them want or desire what you are selling and then convert that desire into action. 
5. Captions: Again here, less is more. You only have 150 characters for your caption including any hashtags that you may want to use. So your caption needs to be short, include any related hashtags and be engaging. Many TikTok posters use the caption “Watch to the End”, ask a question or tease their audience in the caption. “Watch to the End” increases video completion and as stated before, this helps you to get on the coveted FYP. Asking questions encourages viewers to make comments about your video, which again increases your chances of getting picked up by the algorithm. Teasing your audience in your caption entices the viewer to watch your video to see what you are trying to tell them. 
6. Sounds: You can use trending songs or sounds to gain exposure to your videos. When you create a video, you can tap the “Sounds” button at the top of the screen. A new page will appear where you can tap “Discover”. You can also look through the “Trending” page to see what is trending for certain categories. You can save these songs or clips into your favourites folder for you to use in your video. 

Now that we have explained what TikTok is all about, how to set up an account and why and how it is useful to your business, we hope that you will get started promoting your business using the TikTok app yourself!
 
If you have any questions, or need more guidance, feel free to reach out to melissa@webware.io

At Webware we believe educating our clients with the knowledge to help you reach your goals is paramount!

On October 21st we began our first blog post helping you to understand the social media platform: TikTok! Today, we continue this series with step-by-step instructions on how to set up a TikTok account for your business. As well, we will provide you with some tips and tricks for creating engaging content to help you digitally market your business. 

How to Set Up A TikTok Account For Business

The Signup

1. Download the TikTok app. For Android users go to Google Play Stores. For iPhone users go to APP Create your own profile using an email or phone number linked to your business. If it’s easier, you can use your Facebook account (if you have one) and use the same Login information. 
2. TikTok will then ask you to enter a birthday. Feel free to use your personal one or your business start date. Then create a password; this will be important to write down as you need it to log into your account. 
3. Create a username for yourself; this will be your business name. Once you choose your username, you’ll be taken to your home page where you can edit your profile.  

*** TikTok also has a separate platform called TikTok for Business. This platform allows you to launch a targeted ad campaign for an additional cost. If you are new to TikTok, start with a free account and once you build your following you can always switch your account to the business platform. 

Editing your profile 

1. Click ‘edit profile’ to access a page that contains your profile information and picture. Here, you can change your name, username, add a bio (biography) that describes your small business, and you can link your Instagram account or YouTube account if you have one linked to your business. This page is the person icon to the far right on the bottom of your screen. 

Navigating the app 

1. Click on the ‘plus’ icon in bottom centre of your screen to upload content or create a new video
2. The ‘discover’ magnifying glass icon to the left is where you can search other users, challenges, and trending sounds to use in the search bar. Here, there are suggested categories of content curated based on the content you like. 
3. The ‘home’ button is where you can access the ‘For You Page” (#fyp) where you can watch content and the ‘Following Page’ where you can access content made by the people you follow. 
4. To the right of the ‘plus’ icon, there is an ‘Inbox’ where you can message and receive messages from other users as well as track your likes, comments, and mentions. 

Specific tips and tricks for keeping content engaging 

Consumers like to see the product or service in action… showcase people utilizing your brand casually in everyday lives. It lets your clients get to know you, your brand, and what it stands for. Create posts that feature behind the scenes or candid content to help people interact with your brand. Showing people the realities of business can help to create stronger connections between the viewer and the business. 

● Showcase your services on the livestream feature or create a Q&A that’s interactive with consumers and followers 

● Create landing pages or a lead capture page where you can offer resources and information for the consumers contact information. This can produce leads and help to build business connections or clientele. 

● Create an unboxing or step by step video to show off and promote your brand, while tagging the link to your website 

● Start your own Tik Tok campaign encouraging creators or influencers to post videos on their accounts using your services 

● Make a #HashtagChallenge in order to expand your following 

Stay tuned for next week’s blog going into greater depth about TikTok’s “For You Page”. That blog will help you utilize TikTok’s algorithm to your advantage to increase your exposure and audience. We will provide you with some additional tips discussing how to use viewers’ interactions, video information, keywords, completion, captions and sounds to further the likelihood of your video gaining traction. 

If you have any questions, or need more guidance, feel free to reach out to melissa@webware.io  

Are you a Gen X confused by social media platforms and how you can use them in the digital market? Or a Millennial trying to start up your first small business with no knowledge of where to start with digital marketing? 

At Webware we believe in educating our clients, to provide you with the knowledge to reach your goals, because our goal is helping you achieve yours! Starting this week, we are going to provide you with a weekly series of blog posts to help you understand various social media platforms and how you can use them to digitally market your business. 

So, let’s chat about the controversial yet effective app that has taken charge of 2021: Tik Tok! 

What is Tik Tok? 

Whether you're 25 or 55, Tik Tok is a social media platform you’ve probably heard of that’s taking the world by storm with over 800 million users reaching over 150 markets, making it the perfect platform to promote small businesses. The objective is to share 15-60 second videos, however, once you become a Tik Tok user there are inevitable descents down the rabbit hole. You can begin watching a short video about the latest dance craze and forty-five minutes later it evolves into, "Honey I know what we're having for dinner!" 

One of the many features Tik Tok has to offer are its effects! Fall into a colourful trance with Tunnel Lights. There are tons of other filters as well that can improve not only the quality of your videos, but the virality of it as well. The social media’s algorithm works to connect users based on their video’s content and target audience, which makes it a great tool for digital marketing. 

Here are the Top 3 ways of using Tik Tok to promote your business:

 1. Create a channel where you can upload videos that advertise your product or services that will reach your target audience’s “for you page” (also known as #fyp) Content can be created with a low budget. Save your money on paying for ads and stick to trending hashtags that apply to your business i.e., if you’re a hairstylist starting up a new business try approaching a challenge that’s hair related. Also, having a continuous, positive, brand image never hurts! Differentiate yourself from the competition. 

2. Utilize hashtags in your video descriptions that competitors are using to build a following that is interested in your niche content. There is no shame in checking out your competitors' strategies. In fact, master their successful digital strategy and make it your own! The best way to be successful is beating your competition at their own game. 

3. Influencer marketing is huge on Tik Tok. Try to reach out to micro influencers and utilize them and their ‘clout’ to market your content to a wider audience. Don’t feel discouraged if you get no responses, continue to message and duet their content; persistence is key. Influencers understand Tik Tok’s tools and trends inside and out. Use that to your advantage and approach influencers to collaborate with you. Tik Tok also has a Creator Marketplace designed to match brands with creators based on common interests and content.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog giving you step-by-step instructions on how to create a small business profile on Tik Tok, how to edit your profile and how to navigate the app. As well, we will provide you with some specific tips and tricks to help keep your content engaging so you can attract more customers! 

If you have any questions, or need more guidance, feel free to reach out to melissa@webware.io

The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone, especially small business owners.

Unpredictable health guidelines, supply chain issues, changing consumer behavior, and much more, have wreaked havoc on our lives and businesses.   

You’ve weathered the storm and are ready to get back to what you do best -- providing amazing products and services to your customers.

However, most small businesses are now seeing a new, unexpected challenge: Recruiting and keeping the necessary  staff to keep your business running.

With the right strategy, you can win this battle too. 

Here are our top tips to hiring:

Transparency and clarity is key to your job posting.

1. Keep the job posting simple, descriptive, and relevant.

2. Avoid using lofty jargon and run-on sentences when clear statements will do.

Wrong: “Candidates will use excellent customer communication skills including active listening to assess, respond to, and meet the desired needs of customers.”

Right:  “Our teammates are great listeners and act quickly to provide amazing customer service.”

3. List the compensation in the job posting.

4. Don’t be afraid to list the difficult things which will be expected of the job. If nights and weekends are required for some employees, make that clear in the job description.

Once the job posting is live, be prepared to act quickly.

1. Before you post a job opening, ensure you are fully prepared to act quickly on any applications. If you don’t have the time to call applicants quickly, hold off on placing the job posting until you do.

2. Set up notifications to let you know when you have received a new application.

3. Call viable applicants within the same business day, if at all possible. The sooner you put a human voice to the process, the more likely you are to stand out among the other options applicants have.

4. Schedule interviews within 24 hours, and same-day if possible.

Be prepared and consistent in interviews.

1. Have a defined set of topics to cover with all applicants.

2. Have a list of 10 questions, and a scorecard to determine how well the candidates answer the questions.

Don’t be afraid to make real-time offers.

1. Too often we see small businesses lose terrific talent because they wait too long after an interview to make an offer. Sometimes it is an oversight. Other times it is a lack of preparation. Many times you force yourself to keep interviewing “just to see who else is available” when the perfect candidate was right in front of you.  If you are prepared and are consistent with your process you will know the right candidate when you meet them and should not hesitate. 

2. Be prepared to make firm offers within 24 hours, and even at the time of the interview.

You’ve hired the perfect candidate -- now make sure to perfectly onboard them.

1. Set start dates as soon as reasonable. Many entry-level workers are in a hurry for their next paycheck. Don’t lose a perfect candidate because you put their start date too far out and they choose another job which starts sooner.

2. Make sure their first day is amazing. Have anything they need for their job ready for them at their desk. Show them you cared enough to be prepared.

3. Have a casual 1:1 with them at the end of the first day. Sure, talk about how the work went, but mostly just get to know them as a person and show they are not just a number to you. That personal connection can keep many new hires invested during what can be a stressful new time for them.

Recruiting and keeping those new recruits is more challenging than ever. 

These tips can help you set yourself apart from the competition and make your company the go-to place to work.

If you have any questions, or need some more guidance, feel free to reach out to mark@webware.io.

Tailored Dollars offers financial services, financial planning, mortgage renewal, and refinance services across Woodbridge, Vaughan. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.tailoreddollars.com

We wish everyone at Tailored Dollars the best of success.

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We wish the team at Studio D Interiors the very best of success.

Neha Singla is a certified wedding planner offering luxury wedding, party, corporate event planning, and coordination services across Toronto. To help her reach a wider audience, we launched her new website - www.posheventsbyneha.ca

We wish Neha and her team at Posh Events by Neha the best of success.