The n49 Blog |

May 18 2013

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A New Homepage for n49

It has been an exciting week here at n49. We have officially launched the new n49.ca homepage!

The new homepage features the top reviewed businesses in the n49 directory. In addition, we have launched city specific pages that focus on the best reviewed business in these locations. All new pages feature a top category list down the right hand side with snazzy new icons and a business count. On city specific pages the new listings tab focuses on new additions to n49.ca from that specific location. Users will notice that the new layout of the site highlights new reviews and new listings.

We have also upgraded the Google maps API to version three. Down the road, users can expect to see interface changes to go along with these updates. Some goals include, full screens maps, location detection and more detailed info windows.

n49.ca users can also look forward to new “drag and drop” functionality as well as a multi-photo uploader. These new modern features will make N49 easier for users to navigate. Great going dev team!

But wait…That’s not all!

Our dev team has been keeping busy with plenty of client projects as well. This week we launched some great updates to the Bellwood Health Services website.

These updates include a new cross-site “Get Help” bar. The look of the site has also been updated with new banners and quotes on each page giving users a more positive message about mental health. We have updated the old banners that were using flash, so they can now be seen on all devices at all times!

In other news

We will be closed on Monday for Victoria Day. Have a great long weekend everyone!

queenvicky

May 07 2013

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General, Launches

Spring is in the air!

It has been a while since we have updated our blog, and with spring upon us and multiple projects in the air, the time seemed right to share what has been going on here at N49.

Recently, some ambitious members of our development team participated in the CN Tower Climb for the World Wildlife Foundation. All told the climb raised $1,238,920 to help protect wildlife species at risk. Way to go team!

N49.ca Updates

N49.ca members might have noticed our snazzy new navigation bar as well as some recent changes to the N49.ca directory page which have made it easier to see related businesses.

We have some exciting updates to the look and feel of the N49.ca homepage scheduled for the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled!

Site Launches

The Signature Library
The newly re-designed Signature Library website launched on Friday of last week! The Signature Library is one of the world’s largest collection of autographed memorabilia. Included in the collection are rare pieces signed by personalities ranging from Paul McCartney to Nancy Reagan.

One of the major features of the new design is an auto-complete search tool. This is just one element of an improved user interface that has made the product catalogue easier to navigate.

Crown Wallpaper
As an addition to their current website, we built a full catalogue for Crown Wallpaper that runs on their internal ERP. For the first time in Crown’s history, account holders can browse swatches online, and request product samples directly from their website.
Leaside 100
The Toronto neighbourhood of Leaside recently celebrated it’s 100th Anniversary and we were proud to announce the launch of a new website for the occasion. The anniversary gala included dinner, dancing and a visit from former Leaside resident, prime minister Stephen Harper.

Congratulations to all of our clients on their recent launches!!!

Next week: News about an exciting new initiative…

N49 has recently partnered with Direct Response Media Group to bring you a new local directory, AutoStars.com. Come back next week to hear more about this exciting new initiative!

Tagged CMS, custom web design, N49 Interactive, n49.ca, site launch, web design, web development, website launch

May 07 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches ArtPartner.com

N49 is pleased to announce the launch of ArtPartner.com!

Art Partner is the leading artist management and creative content agency with offices in New York, London and Paris. In addition to artist management and representation, Art Partner provides a full range of services to its artists and clients including syndication and licensing, fine art print sales and the development and promotion of books and exhibitions. The agency also offers full production services for print and film. Founded in 1992 art partner now works on over 1000 projects a year.

Tagged art partner, CMS, custom web design, web development, wed design

Apr 30 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches RomasHospitality.com

We’re happy to announce the launch of a brand new Power Site, RomasHospitality.com !

Roma’s Hospitality is an award winning banquet hall and event centre located in Mississauga, Ontario. They are featured on Celebrate.ca and our n49.ca network where they have racked up an impressive 32 reviews and a 4.5 star rating in under a year. Unfortunately this reputation was not complemented by an equally ambitious website. In fact, there was no website at all! That is why we were thrilled to work together with Roma’s to create a site that is sure to help grow their business long into the future.

As with any N49 web project, we focused on creating functional yet contemporary and design. The most noticeable feature of this site is the clean, modern look and feel. The colours and photography perfectly complement the branding of Roma’s to create a uniform appearance. We have optimized the layout with drop down menus logically organized and a strong call to action on the home page. Preliminary search engine rankings show our dedication to clean, SEO friendly designs and content generation has paid off.

One interesting design feature is the creation of strong pages for key areas of activity. The weddings, corporate and social sections all pull appropriate menus, galleries, and promotions into one targeted, easy to manage page. A number of custom content modules power this content. Roma’s have complete control over photo galleries, catering menus, company news and seasonal promotions. This is unbreakable but easy to use CMS that is designed to make running their business easier and less time consuming.

Working on this project has been a pleasure and we wish the best of luck to the Roma’s crew!

Tagged CMS, content management, n49, site launch, web design, web development, website launch

Mar 13 2012

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Uncategorized

N49 Donates $217 to the CCRC

On behalf of our N49 Reviewers we are sending a cheque to the Canadian Children’s Rights Council, a non-profit NGO education and advocacy group focused on Canadian children’s human rights and responsibilities.

What are donation dollars ?

N49 is proud to partner with over 20 Canadian Charities. For each member review we donate one dollar to a charity selected by that user, up to a maximum of $5000.00. N49 users are doing their part by helping local businesses get feedback, helping consumers find great services, and helping charitable organizations in our communities.

Thank you so much for your continued support and keep those reviews coming!

Ryan, our lead Web Sales Exec, holding a cheque for $217.00

Mar 07 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches www.BellwoodFoundation.ca

For over 30 years the Bellwood Health Foundation has been supporting our communities and treating all varieties of addiction, including alcohol and drug abuse, sexual addiction, eating disorders and problem gambling. Today we are happy to launch www.BellwoodFoundation.com, a website that represents the fundraising wing of this organization.

The clean, contemporary lines of the parent site have been applied to BellwoodsFoundation.ca to create a seamless and integrated look. The site has been designed as a resource for the community as well as a revenue generating tool for the organization. It features a clear call to action in the form of a prominently displayed donation button, as well as downloadable documents and information forms.

This site features four dynamic modules designed to keep content fresh and relevant. The events calendar allows Bellwood to add important fundraisers, events, etc., at the click of the button. There is also control over audio, video and reading sections of the site which provide information to users about the organization. With unbreakable admin control over this content, the site can remain current without negatively impacting design integrity.

Tagged CMS, content management, custom cms, N49 Interactive, n49.ca, site launch, web design, web networks

Feb 27 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches re-designed RINXToronto.com

RINX Real Entertainment Centre is a 150000 square foot entertainment complex. With meeting rooms, an ice rink, mini golf, bowling and more, RINX can accommodate parties of 12 to 2000 people. We had the pleasure of hosting our N49 Interactive Christmas party at RINX and we can all agree on one thing: this place is fun! That’s why we were excited to tackle a new site redesign as well as a 6 month SEO engagement to help RINX boost their online profile.

www.RINXToronto.com BEFORE

www.RINXToronto.com AFTER

We had three main objectives with this redesign. First, we wanted to create more robust site architecture with additional CMS modules to provide increased control over site content. Second, we wanted to bolster this improved architecture with a full suite of SEO solutions. Improved title tags, meta descriptions and ongoing keyword research are three examples of this engagement. Last but not least, our team of talented designers wanted to bring a fresh look to the site. They achieved this with N49’s trademark clean lines and fresh, contemporary look.

RINX Real Entertainment Centre can be found on n49.ca and on Facebook and Twitter.

Tagged CMS, content management, redesign, SEO, SEO engagement, SEO help, web design, website launch

Feb 22 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches VPServices.ca!

We are pleased to announce the launch of VPServices.ca!

Visions Personnel Services is located in Toronto and offers a full range of staffing solutions for a variety of industries. With nearly 15 years of experience, Visions has a proud track record of screening, testing, and placing skilled workers. Their strong reputation in the community demonstrates a thorough understanding of their client’s needs and the ability to match qualified candidates with the right business.

This beautiful power site is clean and contemporary with large, bright images. The header and footer sections are simple and intuitive, rounding off a highly professional but visually appealing aesthetic. Drop down menus expose a multi-category career manager and document manager, two content management modules built specifically for this application. As always, our strategy is to provide content flexibility within a simple to use, easy to navigate administrative module. Like all N49 web projects, this CMS system provides the client with superior control and rock solid design integrity.

Feb 02 2012

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Launches

N49 Launches OborneContracting.com

N49 is happy to launch a beautiful rebuild of OborneContracting.com!

Oborne Contracting Inc. is a renovator and general contractor serving the GTA for more than 20 years. They specialize in custom home building, general contracting, home repairs, and home restoration. Oborne Contracting approached N49 with the desire to match their reputation for quality construction, attention to detail and excellent customer service, to an equally impressive online presence. We were able to take their existing site and re-build it to reflect this, bring it up to current standards and best practices. We’re thrilled with the results!

The primary goal of this build was to bring their existing site up to par with 2012 standards. This included a complete rebuild for SEO purposes, focusing on clean site architecture and SEO friendly content. On top of this, we added a number of custom content management systems to improve the back end usability of the site. This includes a multi category project gallery, seen below, and administrative control over the “Our Team” section. In the project gallery, Oborne can add project details and photographs to demonstrate their best work. With the team manager module, they can add, edit or remove details and pictures of their employees. These two features provide Oborne with the high degree of flexibility and control over their website.

With this re-build, Oborne Contracting has all the tools they need to create and foster a great online presence. This stylish and functional rebuild is a great representation of a company that prides itself on quality workmanship and integrity.

Tagged CMS, content management systems, n49, N49 Interactive, toronto web design, web development, website launch, weo

Jan 30 2012

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Launches

N49 launches Aurivia.com

N49 is happy to launch Aurivia.com!

Aurivia is a templator, fabricator and installer of stone products operating in the Greater Toronto Area. They specialize in the manufacture and installation of granite, quartz, marble and solid surface counter tops, cladding, sills and more, for both commercial and residential applications. They approached N49 looking for a website that would better integrate their company branding and present a more professional, modern aesthetic to their clients. We accomplished this with a Power Site that is simple and clean, embodying a luxurious and contemporary feel.

Aurivia.com features robust CMS designed to provide easy-to-use administrative control over important areas of the website. One such module is the home page products manager, a primary design element on the homepage. This allows site administrators to update the home page with the most recent product updates and news. Fresh, compelling homepage content is not only favourable for SEO, but also positively impacts the user experience.

Aurivia wanted to inspire and educate consumers of the diverse applications of stone. The product catalogue and idea gallery elements of the site accomplish this task by compiling a list of products, highlighting their properties and demonstrating examples of their use. This content is 100% updatable and utilizes our custom content management systems for ease of use and control.

Last but not least, Aurivia elected to take advantage of our Review Manager feature. Now their N49 reviews are ported automatically to their website and Facebook page! These extra features complete a beautiful website that will continue to bolster their reputation as industry leaders in the stone supply industry.