Steph

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!

Michael

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.

Michael

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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Michael

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.

Michael

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

Michael

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.

Michael

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.

Michael

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.

Michael

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.

Michael

N49 Launches Facebook Review Feed!

Businesses need reviews. The power of recommendation and word of mouth has been proven to drive new sales. Reviews are a great source of information when looking for products and services, and have become an important part of the consumer purchase decision. Review Manager is the best way to hear what customers are saying and improve your business.

Our Review Manager helps you keep on top of your online reviews and even displays them automatically on your site. The N49 Facebook Review Feed adds another element of integration to this. Starting today, N49 has the ability to automatically transfer your N49 reviews directly to your Facebook page. Now anyone browsing Facebook can see your best reviews at the click of a button.

Installing N49’s Facebook Feed  is very simple. First you must “own” your business on N49.ca. Search for your company on N49.ca and and click on “Manage Reviews” in the left hand tool bar.


Click on “Review Feed” and then “Get Code – Turn On”. Once you have done this, click on “Facebook Feed” and open up a second browser. In this browser, navigate to your Company’s Facebook page and copy the last grouping of digits at the end of your Facebook page URL. This is referred to as your Facebook page “ID” number. Open your first browser and copy this page ID into the field provided and click “Save”, then “Add to my Facebook Page”. A drop down box will appear where you must select your Facebook page. Then click “Add Our Reviews”. At this point the application is installed and will appear in the left hand column above the “About” section.