General Archives | The n49 Blog

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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.
Stair Climbers
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.

navbar
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.
new-TSL

TSL---search
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.crown
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.
leaside100
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!

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Jan 26 2012
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General

Infographic Week – Day 4

Welcome to day 4 of Infographic week! The following infographic has an interactive element that can be viewed by clicking here.

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Jan 25 2012
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General

Infographic Week – Day 3

Welcome to day number 3 of Infographic Week at N49 Interactive!

Smart phones, local search and social media have become the defining characteristics of the modern consumer. More than ever before consumers are empowered to make better decisions based on the experience of their peers. Business reviews, blogs, forums, tweets and “likes” are a new currency in an age of online commerce. Today’s infographic offers a great explanation of the Social, Local, Mobile (SoLoMo) consumer phenomenon.

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Jan 24 2012
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General

Infographic week – Day 2

Day number two of Infographic Week kicks off with a cool chart demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between conversion and social engagement.

Web Equity Infographic
Web Equity by Mike Blumenthal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.blumenthals.com.

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Jan 23 2012
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General

Infographic week at N49

Infographics are a great way to present information to a broad audience. They help break down complex data sets into easy to interpret graphic charts. They’re colourful, fun, and way more interesting than a boring old spreadsheet. To demonstrate this we will feature a different infographic related to local search, reputation management and the importance of online reviews, each day this week.

Up first, the evolution of local search results and importance of local content.

Infographic: Local Search Evolved by MDG Advertising
Infographic by MDG Advertising

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Dec 16 2011
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General

N49 Donates over $300 to three amazing Canadian charties!

In the spirit of Christmas, N49 has decided to make donations to three amazing Canadian charities this afternoon! As part of our Donation Dollars program, N49 Interactive donates a portion of our revenue to Canadian charities. For every member review we donate one dollar to the charity selected by the user.

On behalf of our N49 Reviewers we are sending a cheque to Easter Seals Canada, Bridges of Hope International and the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

How do donation dollars work?

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.

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Dec 02 2011
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General

N49 Donates $280 to Big Brothers Big Sisters!

As part of our Donation Dollars program, N49 Interactive donates a portion of our revenue to Canadian charities. For every member review we donate one dollar to the charity selected by the user.

Today, on behalf of our N49 Reviewers, we are sending a check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada for $280.00.

How do donation dollars work?

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.

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Nov 03 2011
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FAQ, General, SEO

Common concerns addressed – social media

Today I want to address some common concerns that small businesses have about social media.

  1. Do I really need it?

Yes, you do! People are talking about your business whether you like it or not.  Actively engaging your customers and managing your reviews allows you to get ahead of the game and control the online conversation. Companies that take a proactive role in controlling this conversation can count on growth in the future.

  1. Does it work for me?

Whether you own a decking company or fine dining establishment, your online reputation plays a huge role in the consumer decision making process. At the heart of this lies your ability to manage reviews. With the advent of smart phones, reviewing a business is easier and more impulsive than ever before. As a business owner, you cannot afford to ignore this trend.

  1. I don’t want negative reviews

No one does! However, at N49 we treat negative review as a fantastic opportunity to right a wrong. The reality is that no company is perfect. Furthermore, a company with all great reviews just doesn’t look legitimate. The best approach is to identify the problem and respond in a proactive, positive way that demonstrates your dedication to customer service. Respond in public and show everyone how seriously you take your customers. Instead of focusing on the bad, customers will remember your transparency and willingness to correct mistakes.

With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment for your business.

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Nov 02 2011
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Business Owners, General, Launches

N49 Launches ConsumersTire.com

When we first met the owners of Consumers Tire they had an outdated website that just wasn’t working. This affable group deserved a site that better reflected their commitment to customer service and quality work, values that helped make their family-run business a huge success. Over the past few months we have worked closely with the gang from Consumers Tire to produce a wonderful custom website. We are happy to introduce www.ConsumersTire.com !

It was clear from the beginning that Consumers Tire needed a fresh start. Together we created a design that is a pleasant departure from the traditional automotive aesthetic. The design is clean, fresh and organized, appealing to a broad demographic.  It’s bright, functional and logically designed to maximize the user experience.

Consumers Tire had two very specific needs. The first was the need to organize each one of the four locations in an efficient manner. To achieve this we created a contact element that is prominently featured on every page of the website. At any point the user may click on their local Consumers Tire to receive location-specific information (hours of operation, location, promotions, etc.). Users may also book an appointment using the “Request an Appointment” form. An email is then automatically generated and sent to the location selected by the user. This feature has been a highly successful conversion tool, generating a significant amount of traffic in a short period of time.

The second need was for a simple way to control seasonal promotions and product information. For that we created advanced content management systems that allow Consumers Tire to update season specials as well as brand information.

We truly enjoyed working on this project and are thrilled with the results. This is a fantastic solution for a great company that is strongly positioned for continued success. To view their profile on n49, please see our great auto portal at www.tireshops.ca

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Oct 31 2011
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FAQ, General, Help!, SEO

How social media can benefit your small business

Social media is a gift to small business. Why? Because it takes the advantage away from huge corporations and puts it into the hands of the fleet footed, agile and thrifty business owner. Today I want to demonstrate why social media is a great tool for any business no matter what the industry or budget limitations.

1. The Price

Social media is often free! From Twitter to Facebook to tracking tools such as Twitter Grade and PostRank, creating an online image is a budget-oriented process. With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment.

2. Small is good

Small businesses are not weighed down by bloated bureaucracies. They are more agile and able to make decisions quickly, responding instantly to trends in the market place. This is a huge advantage over large, slow moving corporations.

3. It’s easier than ever

A successful social media campaign will allow you to reach targeted consumers far easier than traditional marketing mediums. These consumers can actively participate in promoting your product or service, becoming a brand ambassador for your business. Until recently these were unattainable marketing objectives for budget-oriented businesses.

With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment for your business.

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