Since its inception in 1993, Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies has become the country’s leading business awards program, recognizing excellence in Canadian-owned and -managed companies with revenues over $10 million. Through a rigorous selection process, the organization awards 50 Canadian companies with this designation based on the development of their strategies, their demonstration of corporate strengths and their level of excellence in the marketplace.

To learn more, please read this press release.

To learn more about the Franchise follow this Franchise Link

One of WSI’s leading UK offices is located here in Holmfirth Yorkshire, near Huudersfield, where we design and develop websites and manage online marketing campaigns for both local and national companies,

Twitter is presently free to use and is fast becoming an essential part of many businesses’ communications strategy.

Using Twitter to Spread the Word
In this article we’ll look at some simple strategies to get your content moving across the digital highways and byways.

1. You Get What You Give
A simple philosophy that can be applied to most areas in life, yet one that is often overlooked by digital marketers. If you interact with others, they are more likely to interact with you – which in this case means re-tweeting their content.

Be selective in terms of quality, because after all it is your name that will be associated with the re-tweeted post. Don’t forget to include @reply so that the author is aware of your reposting.

2. Use Hashtags
Assuming you know what a hashtag is (if not, visit Hashtags.org), be aware that they should be used appropriately as opposed to liberally. Organised into relevant and clear categories, hashtags are an excellent way of spreading your content amongst like-minded folk interested in a particular niche or topic.

3. Keep It Short
The whole basis of Twitter is built on the notion of short, concise snippets or statements that retain the reader’s interest. As such the format features a 140 character limit on all entries.

With this in mind, the secret is to get as much information across as possible in as few words as possible. Not so easy when you consider that the allocation can easily be consumed by shortened URLs, @reply, hashtags and re-tweets.

So, unless the entry you’d like to see re-tweeted is short and sweet, it may end up sliced and diced by Twitter when re-posted by someone else.

4. Choose Your Moment
Whilst there have been a number of studies concerning the best time to launch content for maximum response and exposure – there is little in the way of concrete evidence to support a theory one way or another. Instead, consider at which points during your working day you give tweets the most attention, and then use this as a basis for a structured posting strategy.

This may not be the most scientific approach, but is surely better than randomly launching tweets in to the ether and hoping for the best.

5. Ask and Ye Shall Receive
Here’s probably the most obvious but overlooked option of all – request a re-tweet in your entry. Call-to-action is one of the most basic marketing principals, and certainly has its place in the realm of social media. Of course one may need to exercise a little more restraint and subtlety due to the medium, however it is still a valuable tool when used strategically.

The growth in popularity has brought with it a flood of CMS (content management system) platforms onto the market. For newcomers the choice can literally be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key features to look out for when choosing your content management system.

Managing Your Web Content With Ease
Choosing the right content management system for your website could make all the difference to your online publishing plans. Here are some pointers to help you choose.

a) Clear, Accessible Interface
An absolute pre-requisite for any CMS – users should be able to navigate menus and locate basic functions with ease. Impenetrable front-end design is entirely counter-productive in terms of your time, effort and motivation. A good CMS will guide you fluidly, making micro-management of content and categories a breeze.

b) Admin Rights
For those working in small teams or allowing external freelancers to contribute content, a clear admin system is vital. The ability to retain tight control over who can and who can’t access certain areas of the system will ultimately prevent any unwanted interference or nasty surprises.

c) Updating Meta-data
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) has come a long way during the last few years and, whilst no longer the be all and end all, meta data still have a vital part to play. Ideally a good content management system will offer full control over each individual page instead of offering a blanket meta description. Try to avoid sites offering default meta-data.

d) Editing Your Content
A basic component of most modern CMSs is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. A CMS that offers this facility offers users the best of both worlds. Those who aren’t familiar with HTML coding can create content quickly and easily, whilst more advanced users can tweak down to the finest detail.

For users somewhere in between the two, such an editor enables them to switch between the two – thus catering to coders of all levels.

e) Statistics and Logs
Knowing who changed what and when is essential when it comes to running a tight ship. It will also assist in preventing problems before they occur. Overlooked by many amateur administrators, statistics also provide a useful method of gauging a site’s performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Whilst it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a CMS offering every single feature mentioned in this article, the best advice is to decide which are the most relevant to the type of site you intend to create and go from there.

In this guide we’ll outline some key tips for staying on top of the pile – from social networking to business directories and a few pointers in between.

Getting Local Search Working For You
Local search is gaining importance, quickly becoming an essential part of a localised online marketing strategy. The following tips are designed to outline what that strategy should include.

1. Size Up the Competition
Obvious maybe – but a vital component in building a successful strategy. Experiment with a few searches to find out who’s showing up on the first page in your local area. What tools are they using? How does their meta-description read (the sentence that follows their entry)? What keywords are they using? Identifying some of the top search terms will enable you to start to building them into your copy.

2. Never Forget Where You’re From
SEO (search engine optimisation) isn’t rocket science, but there are certain basic rules to follow. When it comes to local business and the internet – it’s all location, location, location. Don’t be afraid to tell people (and more importantly search engines in this case) where you are.

Display your address wherever possible (at the bottom of the page for example) to give the search engines something to pick up on, and consider using local landmarks such as railway stations to give directions.

3. Get Yourself On the Map
Free facilities such as Google Maps and Yahoo Local are probably one of the easiest and most effective ways of raising your search engine profile quickly. Many of the major players such as Google even display a map and corresponding businesses as part of their local results, so if you’re lucky you can appear near the top of the page with very little investment.

Longer term of course this strategy alone won’t suffice, but to get started if you haven’t already – do it now.

4. Be Sociable
Social media is currently one of the most powerful online marketing tools available. To start with, reach out to your audience by setting up a Facebook page for your business (free, and very easy). Use Twitter to promote various offers and tell people what’s going on in an informal, interactive atmosphere.

Lastly, starting a blog is a great way to engage your demographic, promote your business and invite discussion. Use regular updates and take any opportunity to offer advice and present yourself as an expert in your field.

5. Organic is Best
As with any good strategy, relying on one approach alone is unlikely to yield results in the long-term. Compliment your active efforts by submitting your business details to local trade listings – or use one of the many sites who offer multiple listings on major directories for a small fee.

Link building, otherwise known as organic growth, is as important as applying any amount of SEO wizardry to your site. Remember – the majority of these simple tips are achievable with even the most basic of technical knowledge. Local search is gaining importance, and you don’t need to be left behind.

However, with the introduction of social media being added to the mix, the landscape has inevitably shifted once more. Whilst some may prefer to stick to more ‘traditional’ methods, as any good digital marketer will tell you, one must adapt to succeed.

In this two part article we’ll take a look at some simple techniques for building inbound links using social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Social Media – Are You In?
For those marketers willing to embrace the social media phenomenon, the rewards can be great. The opportunity to build links exists virtually without limitation, but things work a little differently here.

Take for example this article – if it was re-tweeted 100 times by readers, the effects would be limited by the fact that all links would extend from a single domain (twitter.com). If, however 100 readers each linked to the article from their individual blogs, the effects would be that much more powerful.

Ideally, Twitter, Facebook and other popular social networking sites are used as a portal through which information is collected and distributed in a viral manner. The key to achieving this type of organic growth lies in the author’s ability to know their audience and write content specifically for them.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at some handy tips for capturing the hearts and minds of the content hungry….

1. If It Moves – List It
   Quick snippets of easily digestible information, people just can’t get enough of lists. Informative, obscure, amusing or a bit of everything – lists are great for serving readily linkable content on a plate.
2. Open It Up To The Floor…
   Spark a debate on a hotly debated subject because, after all, people love nothing more than to add their own opinion. This approach often creates a snowball effect which is ideal for building external links.
3. …And Add a Dash of Controversy
   Don’t shy away from using a little contrary opinion to ruffle a few feathers and encourage a response.
4. A Little Competition
   If you have the means and a great idea, launching a competition is a fantastic way of spreading brand awareness. Make it worthwhile, quirky and fun – then watch the applicants and links roll in.
5. Be the First Off the Line
   People love nothing more than getting the inside scoop on the latest hot bit of gossip or scandal – and then sharing it with their friends. Spending a little time seeking out some juicy hot-off-the-press nuggets will pay dividends.

Keep an eye out next month for Part Two and more helpful hints on getting the most from your content.

Priceless Cinema is a portal for all of MasterCard movie related offers and promotions. Our development team and in-house designers worked together to build the Website Development which we managed to go live in just 12 days. Search Engine Optimisation has been built into the site for the large amounts of traffic that you’d expect on such a high profile site.  We are also working on an Email Marketing Campaign for Priceless Cinema.

1. Keep your software and scripts up to date. Websites run on top of a surprisingly large number of layers of software, all of which need to be kept up to date in order to keep the site protected. The server operating system, the web server and database software, programming environments and any content management systems or scripts all need to be kept up to date with patches and security fixes to ensure any exploits are closed as soon as possible.
2. Install Anti-Virus and Anti-malware software on any computer you will be using to update the website. The number one cause of website security breaches is a malicious user gaining access to a website via malware on a users home or work computer. It’s important to have up to date anti-virus and anti-malware software installed on all machines and scans should be completed regularly.
3. Always use secure passwords. You should always use best practices when selecting passwords for your site.Passwords should be at least 8 characters long and should contain a mixture of upper and lower case characters, numbers and punctuation.Use a different password for every location.Only give you password to the people that absolutely must have it.If you ever do give you password to somebody else, be sure to change it to something else as soon as they are finished.
4. Use a reliable, secure hosting provider. You wouldn’t want to run a brick and mortar shop in the dodgy part of town would you? You need to be confident that your hosting provider takes all of the necessary steps to protect their network and the machines hosted on it. They should also have friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff available to help should you ever run into any problems.
5. Keep server logs and regular backups! No matter what you do to protect your site it can never be 100% safe from the new exploits appearing all of the time. It’s important that you’re prepared for the worst by taking regular backups of all site files and databases so that you can restore the site to the safe version as soon as possible. Keeping server logs can help you close security holes by showing you exactly how a malicious user managed to gain access and which files in particular they used.

At WSI Yorkshire we take website security very seriously and can advise you on the best course of action to protect your site.

Get in touch with Lisa today on 01484 690 430 or email info@wsi-ebizsolutions.biz

But this may not be a bad thing as long as the content of the website provides the answers your visitors need. Ask yourself if you really need that page – or if the information that is parked there would be better on more relevant pages.

Frequently Asked Questions are not Questions You Wish They Would Ask

This is a common mistake – adding a page full of information about your products and services, in a question-and-answer format, that isn’t what your customers want to know when they click onto a “Common Questions” or “Frequently Asked Questions” page.  A genuine Frequently Asked Questions page should support your site by reducing the number of common enquiries submitted to you by e-mail or on your customer service telephone number – and should not replace having quality copywriting and search engine optimisation on your content pages.

If your customers really ask “how do I order this from your site? What payment methods do you take? How much does delivery cost?” your page content should be optimised to include these details on relevant pages to ensure your users do not have to go searching for it instead of completing their purchase.

For example, if your site offers personalised car widgets, and your goal is to have customers contact you for a quote, the individual product pages should answer the questions that you think your customers should ask – or that they might actually ask – about the widget. The fewer clicks they have to make to find out that the A2019 widget they’re interested in is made of chrome-plated steel and takes up to 3 weeks to customise, the better.

Are you writing the right questions?

If you’re building a Common Questions page to reduce the volume of simple enquiry messages or calls, make sure you’re asking and answering the questions in an accessible way your readers will understand. Assume that your customers do not have inside knowledge of your industry and simplify the language – instead of saying “What vehicle manifold will my A2019 fit onto?” phrase the question as “Where can I attach my new widget?”

Your answer should be equally simple – remember that your readers will be skimming the content, and may only read the first couple of words of the answer.  Answer the question briefly in the first sentence, and explain it further if necessary:

Q. Where can I attach my new widget?

A. Rear-view mirror or external aerial. The widgets are designed to clip securely, with a rubberised grip to prevent scratching.

What questions should my Common Questions page answer, then?

The best answer to this is “The questions your customers have actually asked.” If you have an enquiries form or a customer service number, note down the questions and topics you are contacted about. When you’ve assembled half a dozen or so questions that have been asked more than once, it may be time to consider adding the questions and their answers to your website.

You can also solicit questions from your readers, to find out whether your content is providing the information a user needs – if multiple people ask the same question, it may be helpful to add that to a FAQ page, or to update the copy on the existing pages in order to answer the questions asked and improve the page’s relevance to your users.

Any questions?

If you visit www.wsi-ebizsolutions.biz and look through the site, are there any questions you have that you didn’t see an answer for?

I’d like you to ask them in the comments for this post.

Despite this apparent prevalence of opinion, there are certain hard and fast rules when it comes to the subject of social media. In this month’s article, we’ll look at some of the key pointers for the ever-popular Facebook.

Your Business on Facebook
Social media brings with it a whole new level of customer interaction. Spark discussion; invite feedback; share experiences – and so on. With this in mind, the following tips are designed to focus your Facebook marketing efforts.

Keep Up With The Times
Facebook presents a unique opportunity to connect with your audience – more so in fact than you could ever hope to achieve through your blog or website alone. If you’re in business for yourself, you’re more than likely to be keeping up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in your chosen field. You may even run regular webinars and talks, alongside consulting with clients and prospects on their business needs.

You can channel all this valuable content into an interactive playground like your Facebook page, where an interested audience seeks out fresh new content to digest.

From industry tips and insider knowledge to the latest trends, your Facebook page is a dynamic environment that promotes discussion and interactivity. By passing on the benefit of your knowledge for free you’ll also be raising your stock.

Keep ‘Em Coming Back For More!
Whether you choose to reward great ideas with discounts, or simply want to conduct a little market research, Facebook represents an invaluable platform from which to reach out.

Keep your readership engaged by adopting a varied approach, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Judge how well you’re doing by the level of interaction occurring on the page itself.

Broaden Your Horizons
It’s no longer just about the wall. Facebook’s meteoric rise in popularity is matched only by the host of plugins and applications flooding the market on a weekly basis. From shopping tabs to hosted support pages, there is a veritable treasure trove of useful material you can use to heighten the customer experience.

Oh, and more importantly, to drive traffic to your site! Check out ‘Get Satisfaction’ and ‘Fan Appz’ to get yourself started.

And Now For Something Completely Different…
Facebook is generally acknowledged as a place for light-hearted social interaction. Even if your company has a reasonably serious image, Facebook provides a valuable opportunity to show some personality by injecting humour into proceedings.

For those of you who want to keep it ‘strictly business’ – Facebook is still a useful tool for promoting your brand and breathing a little life into the business. Use the page to highlight significant events and milestones on the company calendar – supported by high quality corporate images to add a little variety and credibility.

In this article we’ll examine some simple ideas to come up with fresh, engaging content designed to drive traffic to your site and keep them coming back for more.

Blogging Your Way to New Business
The goal for any blogger is to publish unique and compelling content. With this in mind, it’s probably worth noting here that the following ideas are designed as a general guide, so feel free to take the ideas presented somewhere new and get your creative juices flowing!

How to…
How many times have you asked Google to come up with the answer to a particular question? How to? guides present a fantastic way to engage the reader and encourage interaction through working examples and so on. They are also a great way of demonstrating your expertise and credibility within your chosen niche. Support well-written, informed content with great visuals and downloadable content for extra bonus points.

Common Problems – Great Solutions
Just as the internet is a great resource for finding out how to do things, it also provides a valuable opportunity to find new ways around general or specific problems. It therefore follows that presenting a structured, concise entry dedicated to a particular issue is a surefire way of both attracting traffic and presenting yourself as a knowledgeable expert in your field.

Proven Methodology
One drawback with the internet age is that anyone can present themselves as an expert in anything. A great way of building credibility and attracting traffic is through the use of referenced case studies. Back up your advice with hard evidence, demonstrating how a methodology has been applied to assist a particular client and the subsequent results. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

The Latest News
A great case in point for regular updated content – positioning yourself as a valuable resource for the latest industry news is a great way of attracting and retaining traffic. Becoming your clients’ ‘go to’ resource for the latest news via a simple RSS feed is a great way of staying connected to your audience.

Book Worm
Don’t assume that everything your audience reads is online. In fact, the majority of internet users are only interested in snippets of information. Providing references to offline material is a great way of demonstrating both empathy for your readers’ needs as well as your own knowledge on a particular subject.

Feedback
Requesting feedback is by far the most simple method of both gauging your success and encouraging user interaction. Don’t assume you know it all, open up your blog and invite your readers in – you never know what valuable ideas and suggestions could come out of it.