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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!

With recent restrictions in Ontario, and then with the easing of those restrictions beginning on January 31, small businesses have once again had to pivot and adapt their responses. 

To ensure that your small business is digitally optimized, ask yourself the following questions: 
 

Is my small business website up-to-date? 

Keeping your customers informed - updating hours, temporary closures or interrupted services - on your website is extremely important. You can create pop-ups, banners, pages, and sections across your website to further reflect any information or announcements related to COVID. For instance, informing customers on how your business has adapted to COVID-19 sanitation and social distancing requirements.

Here is an example of a COVID-19 pop-up infographic that our client Fresh Success Marketing Group to tell their clients what they are doing to stay safe: https://www.freshsuccessmarketinggroup.com/

Are my Google and Google Map listings up-to-date?

Your local business should have a presence on Google Maps! It's amazing how many people are aware of the closures, limited hours and interactions but still want to support smaller businesses. Make sure you keep this in mind when updating your information so customers can find out more about what they need from you without hassle. 
In this time of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make your business stand out from the competition. The right SEO practices can help you achieve that goal and ensure customers find YOU during these tough times!

Webware can help you check over these strategies to make sure they are up-to date with today’s standards, as well discuss procedures on how best to position yourself within search engine rankings so clients easily discover YOUR service/product offerings when looking around online;  this will surely increase visibility across all platforms including social media sites such Facebook Twitter, etc..

Below is an example of Lumina Eye Care, effectively optimizing their Google My Business listing during the pandemic.https://bit.ly/3FWS8HE

Have I maintained or even started my Social Media Presence?

What should your business be doing on social media during the pandemic?

If you don't have a presence yet, now is a good time to start. If already established, keep things consistent and provide regular updates about what's going on at the office/the shop so that customers know there are no worries while they stay home!

You should make it a point to post at least once every week on the platforms of your choice. Whether you're Instagramming, blogging,  chatting with Facebook followers, or posting videos to YouTube - even Twitter or LinkedIn may be worth posting to regularly! And don't forget about TikTok: this app is bigger than many people know.

Webware can help get you started and stay connected with your customers, just like how our customer ARYA Accounting and Tax Services has posted an answer to their clients about the 2022 Tax year: https://www.aryatax.com/blogs/los-angeles-chicago-tax-accountants-preparers-bookkeepers-blog/772322-will-the-2022-income-tax-season-be-normal#.YeoleFjMK3I

Have I kept my email list alive and informed?

It is just as important to nurture your existing clients as it is to attract new ones. Use email marketing for customers so you can make sure to keep them updated about any changes that are happening in the pandemic and how it will affect their interactions with your business moving forward! A good strategy would involve sending out emails with Covid-19 updates, tips, discounts, promotions or deals and blog posts related specifically around this topic. 

At Webware part of our digital marketing strategy for our clients is to set them up with an easy-to-use email marketing tool that is available right on their website dashboard. As well as being able to personalize email deliveries resulting in higher open rates, our platform provides regular performance insights to see how your email campaigns are succeeding. 

We can help with all of your small business digital marketing needs. If you are already a Webware client, please contact your Account Manager to discuss a variety of ways to help your business adapt your online presence during Covid-19 or click here for customer support https://www.webware.io/pages/support or contact your Account Manager directly. 

If you are a small business owner that is looking for Digital Marketing Done For You with a platform that gives your business a web presence that you are proud of without the headache that you are used to, then click here to set up an instant demo of what Webware can do for your business. https://www.webware.io/pages/instantdemo

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.

Studio D Interiors offers clients a full range of interior design services, home remodeling, property staging, and more across Leesburg, Virginia. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.studiodinteriordesigns.com

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.

Abode Solutions LLC offers home inspection services for buyers, sellers and also provides home repair estimates to clients across Trussville, Alabama. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.abodesolutions.llc

We wish the team at Abode Solutions LLC Ltd the very best of success.

Lisa's Accounting & Payroll Services offers full-service accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation & payroll services to small businesses across South Bend, Indiana. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.lisastaxpayrollsouthbend.com

We wish everyone at Lisa's Accounting & Payroll Services Ltd the best of success.

Canamade Window Coverings Ltd is a window treatment company in Markham, Ontario, offering window coverings, shutters, custom blinds & automated shades. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.mycanamade.com

We wish everyone at Canamade Window Coverings Ltd the best of success.

Caregivers and Home Care Companions at KB Healthcare Services provide in-home health care, nursing care, dementia care, companionship care services across Herndon, Virginia. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website last week - www.kbhealthservices.com

We wish everyone at KB Healthcare Services the very best of success.

Manila Cookie Story Inc is an online cookie shop offering scrumptious Philippine cookies, souvenirs, and customized corporate gifts to customers all over the world. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.manilacookiestory.com

We wish everyone at Manila Cookie Story Inc the best of success.

Craig Miller Productions offers video/film production services including commercial and corporate video production across Atlanta, GA. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.craigmiller.tv

We wish the crew at Craig Miller Productions the very best of success.

GEO Environmental Co., Inc. provides residential and commercial asbestos, mold, air quality testing, and inspection services to clients across Yorktown Heights, New York. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.geoenv.us

We wish the team at GEO Environmental Co., Inc the best of success.

Douglas & Pino Certified Public Accountants offers accounting, bookkeeping, tax planning, preparation & finance advising services to clients across Sacramento, Folsom. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.douglaspino.com

We wish the team at Douglas & Pino Certified Public Accountants the very best of success.

The Sewing Company offers custom boat cushions, drapery, cushioning, and seat repair services across Dashwood, and Grand Bend, Ontario. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.thesewingcompany.ca

We wish everyone at The Sewing Company the very best of success.

Transportation Solutions and Lighting, Inc provides roadway, railway signal equipment, and lighting systems across Boca Raton, Florida. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.tsandl.us

We wish everyone at Transportation Solutions and Lighting, Inc the best of success.

The Biscuit Factory is a video production company specializing in video production, documentary production, film production, and more. They serve clients across Richmond, VA. To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.biscuitfactory.tv

We wish the team at The Biscuit Factory the very best of success in their endeavors.

In 2010, Greenpeace launched a campaign against KitKat, one Nestlé’s most popular products. The battle took place over a video that was created by the non-profit organization calling out the food brand for its use of palm oil in its candy bars which was connected to the destruction of forests and death of orangutans.

Nestlé handled the situation by –

• Not giving any answers
• Deleting most of the comments
• Asking YouTube to remove the clip by citing copyright concerns

11 years have passed and yet the story still exists in internet archives and in the minds of some customers. This goes to show that no matter how hard a company tries to remove negative feedback, the more it can work against them.

This is why creating a rock-solid Online Reputation Management strategy can do wonders for your business.

What is Online Reputation Management (ORM)?

ORM is all about taking charge of online conversations around your brand. It consists of techniques and strategies that allow you to highlight your most positive qualities to engage more people online. This includes leveraging key materials, quickly responding to customer inquiries, and actively monitoring brand mentions online through social media & other channels.

When you are on top of managing your reputation, you will increase customer loyalty while ensuring a mostly positive online presence for your business.

What is the Difference Between ORM and PR?

While both PR and ORM have the same goal - to project more brand positivity - the main difference is how they go about it. PR works to help better position your brand externally with some exciting news and development while also being used for damage control from time to time. PR can even be special announcements made through social media or directly to your contact base via email.

ORM on the other hand is more of a reactive and consistent process that works to answer questions, handle customer inquiries, and resolve issues quickly. It can be an incredibly valuable resource which is why some companies opt to have an internal team keep a close eye on it.

Why Should You Care About ORM?

Take a look at the following statistics:

• About 95% of customers read reviews before making a purchase.
• 93% of customers will read reviews of local businesses to determine their quality.
• Customers spend 31% more when a business has positive reviews.
• 89% of consumers read replies to reviews.
• 67% of B2B buyers want to see a mix of both positive and negative reviews when checking out a business.

The numbers say it all. In a nutshell, ORM is important for your brand because:

• It directly affects buying decisions. A poor brand reputation can lead to a poor customer base. You never want to give your customers reasons to doubt you which is what happens when they see how your company is perceived by others.
• It works as word-of-mouth – ORM is the online equivalent of word-of-mouth. For example, consider Glassdoor reviews which offer more insight into what it's like to work for a certain company compared to what that company publishes about itself.
• The feedback is incredibly valuable – The things that people say about your brand can be immensely valuable and help you learn more about your target audience. By monitoring these conversations, you will be able to collect important insights that you could use to make your products/services better.
• Deleting negative reviews only makes things worse – You have likely heard that when something is posted online, it stays there forever and this is also true for your reviews. While some platforms allow you to delete negative reviews, this is not recommended as it can take a situation with a disgruntled customer from bad to worse. What might have been a simple fix could get escalated out of control.

How to Manage ORM of Your Brand/Business?

The bigger your brand gets, the harder it becomes to keep a track of all of your brand mentions. So, how can you ensure to properly manage your brand reputation? Here are some concrete steps that you can take:

• Have a Dedicated Support Handle – Nike, for example, has a dedicated customer support handle on Twitter called @NIkeSupport which is only for managing customer queries. Adopting a similar approach for your business can help you keep all of your customer interactions in one place, helping you increase your responsiveness.
• Respond, Respond, Respond – Whether it is social media, Google reviews, Glassdoor, or any other platform, make it a point to respond to all feedback from your customers, regardless of whether it’s positive or negative. In fact, a study from HBR reported that customers whose complaints got handled in less than 5 minutes tend to spend more on future purchases from a business.
• Use tools and tech – There are a lot of tools that businesses use to stay on top of their ORM strategy. Google Alerts is one such tool that can help you keep track of brand mentions across the internet, both positive and negative. You can also take advantage of Google Trends, Yahoo Alerts, Advanced Twitter Search, and others for similar purposes as well.
• Constantly churn positive content – By collaborating with brands, businesses, and people, you can constantly put your brand in the spotlight by curating great content across your website, email, social media platforms, and other third-party websites.
• Choose a firm who can help you manage it – Working with a firm like Webware who has the expertise and experience with handling these situations can help you reach your goals faster.

The Wrap

What others think of your brand is not under your control and a poor approach in how you respond to customers can lead to irreparable damage. ORM doesn't just allow you to interact with your customers, it is perhaps the best way for your business to take preventative measures for your brand image.

Looking for help managing your ORM strategy? Reach out to speak with one of our Digital Growth Specialists.

A-Shored Home Inspections LLC offers complete home inspection services including roof inspection, basement inspection, and more across South Jersey.  To help them reach a wider audience, we launched their new website - www.ashoredhomeinspections.com

We wish the team at A-Shored Home Inspections LLC the best of success.