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Barb 0:00Our guest today has always been considered artsy. In her youth. She was involved in art and dance in theater. But it wasn’t until she moved to Outlook Saskatchewan back in 1983, that she found her passion. One of our guests, you’ve heard me say this before you still love to play in the dirt. But our guest today, she loves to play with clay. Remember that deep, that dark clay that we would play with his kids? Yeah, she actually makes her living off this, but we’re gonna let her tell you a little bit of the story. Barb 0:34So I would like to welcome Susan Robertson to the show today. And Susan, please kick us off by introducing yourself. Susan 0:42Well, I am Susan Robertson, from Susan Robertson Pottery. I have been a ceramic artist for over 35 years now. And I just moved to Broderick, Saskatchewan from Outlook big move a kilometer down the road and built a new studio, which is, as Barb will no doubt laugh through this, my retirement project. And my husband likes to remind me that I’m supposed to be retired. But yeah, I get to play in the mud all day. I don’t work for a living. I am really fortunate I get to play every day at work. Barb 1:24Exactly. You play for a living. So let’s back that up. Because you actually just told us a whole heck of a lot of things. You built this new studio and having been there, that studio is gorgeous. That compares to anything that you might see in a city. Nevermind that I’m going to head out to Broderick to Saskatchewan to see it. So tell us a little bit about the studio. And what inspired that build, especially since this is supposed to be a retirement project. Susan 1:48Well, we had a business in Outlook, as well as my pottery. And it was a small motel, and we lived in the motel as well. And we decided that, you know, we’re both thinking that we should retire. And COVID hittin that kind of went down the road. And then they announced a huge irrigation project. So we thought, well, perfect time to sell. But, of course, when we sold, we lost the motel and the studio space that I have. So we had to build elsewhere. And as my husband says, He knows that I would not be happy without a place to work Barb 2:32And play. A place to play! Susan 2:35Well, yeah. Yeah, laughing down. So we bought two lots side by side and built this space. And, you know, my husband said, build whatever you want. First mistake. I turned around and said, How about if I build what I can afford? And he said, Okay, and so we planned it. But in the planning, I also put it in a retail space. And he’s, you know, kind of shaking his head because, you know, like, Don’t you just want a place to go and play all day? And I guess it’s just not in my nature to sit? Well, it is definitely not my nature to sit still. And I always seem to have to be moving forward. And I think that’s because part of my philosophy is if you’re not growing, you’re dying. Barb 3:28Sure. Yep. Susan 3:30So you know, I added the Well, I had a small retail section, but it was just my pottery, whereas now I have a full blown Canadian handmade craft gift store. Yeah, so that’s, and so that’s why I’m so busy and working so crazy now, because most of what I used to do was wholesale. So I sell my pottery to stores all across Canada, but 250 of them. Okay. So now I’ve added this new dimension. And so now I’m learning all this retail stuff. And you know, and my husband just shakes his head and you go, exactly. Barb 4:12This is supposed to be a retirement project. So I think I met your husband very quickly in passing. But of course, I don’t know him well, and I have to say, I think he’s a very brilliant man who recognized what he needed to do to keep you happy. Because I have a sneaking suspicion if you were bored, you’d probably be driving him crazy. Susan 4:37Well, that’s what I say to him. I said, What do you want me to sit here and look at you all day, like, not happening? I love you dearly but Barb 4:46And that’s why you still love him dearly because you each have your own lives that are probably very full and rich and you get to do lots of things that keep you happy. So that’s a huge thing. Okay, tell me about this Canadian and handmade store that you’re growing. I didn’t even know that. That’s news to me too. Susan 5:07Yeah, well, if it is actually history, I’ve done so many things in my lifetime. I used to have a store in Outlook. And I had a stony little small studio, it was like 900 square feet on the corner of the two major roads. And at the time, it was only one stop where the stop signs were. And it was called A Wrinkle in Time. So I actually have retail experience that it was a Canadian handmade gift store. And when I moved from that location to my larger location, I decided that I didn’t want to spend time in the retail store. I just wanted to focus on the wholesale. Then when I moved back here, the wholesale is well, it’s not without its challenges, but it doesn’t present any new challenges, hey, and I’ve discovered that I need to constantly be doing new things. And I felt that re-inventing the Canadian gift Gift Store. Also, because we’re you know, Broderick is a town of 90, I think we’re up to

Well this was fun!  Desmond just released a brand new fancy video on his YouTube channel!  Check out his channel here: RYAN YETI – Marketing & Investing    Watch the video but here’s his script for reference:  Did you know that you were lied to your entire life about marketing?Many people think they need to just go out and buy some ads… however, you’ll quickly find that there’s a lot more to it than that.These days more than ever… you need to heavily invest in the places where people look for what you sell.This is called Inbound or Attraction marketing and it’s the most important step when setting up your business for marketing success.In this video, I’m going to walk you through the full attraction marketing process from beginning to end and give you the TOP 7 ways to consistently bring in a huge amount of new leads.That way you’ll 1) attract more customers 2) make the phone ring and 3) grow your business!>>David “Let’s do this.”Super Short IntroHi, I’m Desmond and THANK YOU for clicking the video and hanging out with me for a while.Before we get into it, be sure to click the LIKE & subscribe buttons on the video because it helps us with the YouTube algorithm so we can get this video out to more people who need help improving their marketing game and growing their income.Okay, so you run a business and you need MORE clients?First thing’s first! You gotta figure out 1) what you’re doing right… 2) what you’re doing wrong… and 3) what you’re not doing yet.What’s that phrase we always say?>>David: “You need to be in the places where people look for what you sell”.Right. So say you’re selling insurance… What is the FIRST thing prospects do when they realize… “Hey… you know, I think I might NEED some insurance?”They go online and search for it of course.These days, for businesses doing it right, the Internet is essentially a giant sales funnel that’s constantly streaming in new potential customers.And this is what we want for you and your business.If you’re not getting clients yet from the Internet, it means your funnel is broken and we need to fix it.Let’s first look at your Reviews & search engines rankings.For this example, we’re going to pretend we’re an insurance company but this can apply to almost any industry or business.Do this… go over to a search engine and type the word Insurance, then the city you’re in.I’m in Canada so for example, I’m going to type in “Toronto Insurance”Alright, there’s 3 things to look for on this page. 1. Google ads 2. Local listings and 3. SEO.Google Ads are those listings at the top that Google tries to disguise as the actual search results. They used to be pretty easy to spot but now the only way you can tell is that little bold “AD” beside each of them.Google Ads are CPC or Cost per Click meaning that you only pay if customers click these links. These can be great advertising investments if you set them up right, however, it can be complex so I’d recommend reaching out to a marketing pro for help with this.>>David “Or figure it out yourselves, you look smart enough!”Next let’s look at the listings beside the map. These are called Google Local Listings. When you first set up your business address on Google Maps, you may remember using a service called “Google My Business”. Well that information is displayed here.For this section, you’re going to wanna make sure you have quality pictures of your work, a great description and make sure you fill out everything you can with lots of links back to your website.You can then promote or optimize your business listing to be one of these top 3 listings. This is a fantastic way to get new clients.Next, see how each of these listings show star reviews right underneath them?These reviews are some of the most important marketing tools you have. 93% of customers will make buying decisions based on reviews, so it’s imperative that you put some focus on these and get a ton of 5 star reviews.(Source: how do you do that? Well, obviously provide an amazing service with tremendous value to clients and ask them to leave you a review.>>David “But what if they were an a$$hole?”Well, and that’s the problem, upset/angry clients tend to be eager to leave bad reviews and happy clients tend to forget to leave 5 star reviews. So another thing you can do is send clients review gateway emails.What are review gateway emails? Well, after you finish work with a client, you can use this service to send out an email or text message asking them to leave you a 5 star review with 2 options…Either YES, you’ll leave a Google review where the service directs them immediately to Google to leave that 5 star review or..NO and the service will direct them to a feedback page where there’s an apology message and they can leave you an angry message on how you can improve.This is great because you can set this up to automatically be sent to your customers after using your service to get tons of 5 star reviews and you don’t risk accidentally getting bad reviews from upset clients.Make sense?>>David “So we send happy clients to rate us on Google and the a-holes to a website form?”Pretty much>>David “Niiiice””Okay, next, is something called Search Engine Optimization or SEO. This refers to the ranking of these top rankings. You can actually pay a marketing agency to have you rank in the #1 spot of these searches. Be careful though, there are a million companies that say they can do SEO but only a few that are any good.But, if they do it right and you end up ranking in the #1 position for this, it can be one of the best ways to consistently obtain new clients.However, say you’re ranking really high already for SEO and already have great

Barb  0:00   PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder impacts an estimated 9.2% of Canadians during their lifetime. Our guest today is not a statistic. He’s here to share his story and the support that he found in our community. I’d like to introduce you to Ronley Arnold. Ronley. Welcome. Ron  0:23   Thank you. Barb  0:24   Thank you for being here. Let’s start off with a little bit of an introduction. Tell us a bit about yourself and where you work. Ron  0:33   Well, I have found myself a position working with OSI-CAN or operational stress injuries Canada as a communications coordinator. So essentially what I do is I help with the online and virtual communication of the OSI-CAN needs to try and improve awareness about not only PTSD, but also I can always access services of everywhere we have within reach. Barb  1:04   Okay, okay. And you guys are provincial, actually, you’re a national organization and you work for the provincial chapter. Is that correct? That is correct. Okay, so these supports are then available across Canada? Are they exactly the same in every province? Or is it a little bit different province to province? Ron  1:22   Actually we are in Western Canada, we are really slowly building and we will be growing further as we go along. Our services, a lot of them are similar in other provinces, but they are run a little bit differently according to the needs and the resources that they’ve developed in those other provinces. Barb  1:43   Okay, so let’s talk about where the need for the services came from in the first place. So wherever you were in your life in your career, Something brought you to OSI-CAN take us back, if you can, to what was happening in your life that made you recognize you needed to find some help? Ron  2:05   Well, for me, I was diagnosed with PTSD. And I had gotten quite upset that there didn’t seem to be any resources for those with PTSD across the province. Okay. And so I was having difficulty trying to get the help I needed. I knew I needed to not only function in society, but even to be able to associate with my family properly. Got it. Barb  2:32   Okay. And can you talk about what was happening in your life that made you recognize that you had PTSD or, or how you were able to determine that that’s what it was? Ron  2:45   Oh, it was, emotionally, it was a pretty painful time. I was, at my worst, isolating myself in my basement. So my family couldn’t see me. I would disappear from society, I was having almost no contact with my immediate family or my extended family. A lot of them didn’t know what was going on with me. They just knew that I didn’t want to come and come out and meet with any of them or go for coffee or anything like that. Barb  3:18   Yeah. So some antisocial kind of tendencies were coming out, essentially, yes. Yep. And is that quite contrary to who you typically are? Are you a pretty social guy love to hang out with family, and I’m generally Ron  3:35   Quite social. At least I was before. I did well with people. I was actually a public speaker. I used to teach public speaking with the cadet program. I used to teach instruction. And I would get along quite well with a lot of people. Barb  3:57   Right. Okay. And so all of that was starting to change. Yes. Was your family part of the impetus to get help? Or did you recognize yourself that, you know, things that something wasn’t right? Ron  4:14   A lot of observations other people had of me like I was basically behaving outside of I hit 10. When I got PTSD, it was from 10 years in corrections. Okay. And I was starting to behave the way I do at work at my home, and how I responded to my wife and my kids. Barb  4:35   Yep. And so very militant. Ron  4:39   Incredibly, yes. Barb  4:40   Yeah. If that’s a word, I don’t know if that’s even a word. Oh, it is. How old were your kids at the time? Ron  4:47   They were about… Oh, man. I honestly am not sure how old they were at the time when this all started. Barb  4:57   Okay. Yep. Either way, it’s gonna have a pretty significant impact on them, I would think because our kids look to us to be consistent, but you know, have some compassion, have some empathy, right? Those sorts of things. And yep, I would guess that those were difficult emotions to get to. Was there any other? Was there any other? I don’t know, I’ll call them side effects or symptoms that you were experiencing? Anger, finding that you were drinking more than usual? What else? What, if anything, else were you finding? Ron  5:34   Well, I was getting angry at a lot of things very easily. My driving had become a lot more aggressive and risky. Barb  5:42   Ah, yeah. Ron  5:45   I actually had gotten into a car accident at one point, from the fears I was having, and having difficulty concentrating. Because I would look for dangers everywhere. And so it became getting to a point where I could not avoid feelings, and I couldn’t put them away and then concentrate on my driving, concentrate on what I was doing. And it was affecting everything that I did. Barb  6:14   Exactly. It was 24 hours a day, with the exception of you know, hopefully, still getting some sleep and maybe even that was disturbed. It was set on your shoulders for a long time. So let’s talk about that then. Because anytime we’re expecting, sorry, experiencing that emotional stress. Everybody carries it differently. I know I’m a shoulder carrier. Where did you feel it in your body?

BREAKING NEWS!  Desmond just released a brand new fancy video on his YouTube channel!Here’s his channel here: RYAN YETI – Marketing & Investing  Watch the video but here’s his script for reference:  “Did you know that the average person encounters up to 10,000 ads every… day.Think about that… ten thousand ads… every… single… day.Now say you’re responsible for a business with a marketing budget… How are you going to invest those marketing dollars to actually stand out from all that noise and get people to notice you above everyone else?THAT is a great question and this is our bread and butter so let’s talk about it.>>David “Let’s dooooo this.Super Short IntroHey guys, I’m Desmond and THANK YOU so much for clicking this video and hanging out with me for a while.  I’m an award-winning marketer, designer and entrepreneur who’s sold millions running marketing agencies since 2006.  I’ve had a crazy ride of high’s and lows but through it all, I believe I’ve learned some things that can help other people find success.All I ask is that you click that like button now so this video get’s out to more people who may need some help.Okay so you have a marketing budget and you want to break through the noise?First things first, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my previous video on Inbound Marketing.  I believe it’s super important to invest in getting that area dialed in first.That’s your marketing foundation so make sure you get that set up right.But once you have that, you’re going to want to find additional ways that your business can stand out and get noticed.That brings us to Annual Marketing Campaigns.Point #1: Pick One Time Every Year To Invest A Large Portion Of Your Marketing BudgetSometimes, instead of spreading out your marketing dollars throughout the entire year, it’s best to hit it hard with one big strategic marketing campaign!That way you’re basically everywhere for 2 weeks to a month and you really drill yourself into your prospects psyche.If you do this annually and you do it well, people will come to expect and even look forward to your marketing campaigns each year.This can work wonders if one of your main goals is “Top of mind” branding.  Meaning, if you want people to think of your business when they need your product or service.We have many clients, but to properly illustrate marketing campaigns, I’m going to use this video to tell you about work we’ve done for one of my favorite clients, Cherry Insurance.Cherry has been an amazing client of ours since 2013 and we’ve been fortunate to do some cutting-edge projects over the years.They’re located in a beautiful small city in Canada called Saskatoon. When local residents list off Insurance companies, many of them will have Cherry as one of their most recognized local insurance companies.How did we do that? Well, every year for the month of June, we always invest in a super creative, big marketing campaign for Cherry Insurance.Over years of experimentation, I think we’ve really hit on something that works marvelously.  We’ve found a way to get people to spend hours on an insurance website for the entire month of June.  And not only spend hours on the Cherry website, but also they get tons of other people to share Cherry’s website with their friends and family, who, in turn, spend even more hours on Cherry’s website.But what is this wonderful marketing strategy that we’ve been using with Cherry?>>David “It’s a secret, don’t tell em”No secrets.  Think about this, what do people love more than anything both on the Internet and in real life?Cute pets of course!In fact, a study surveyed 2,000 pet owners and found that 34 per cent of parents value their their pets more than their own children, saying that their pets are their ‘favourite child. ‘( a few years back, we created something called Cherry’s Annual Cutest Pet Contest!  The response has been incredible.We host a voting contest on Cherryinsurance.ca where people can post their cutest pet photo and share it with all their friends and family while encouraging them to come back every day to vote once.Contestants can only vote once per day.At the end of the month, the owner whose pet has the most upvotes, wins a big cash prize and plenty of other prizes.People go crazy.  For a relatively small city, the first place finisher can have up to 25,000 votes in one month… when people can only vote 1 time, per day.This causes Cherry’s website statistics in June to go crazy and it has worked wonders for their business.But it’s not just hosting a contest that got Cherry these results.  It’s also their courage to invest in super creative, attention-grabbing advertisements.Point #2:  Invest In Super Creative AdvertisementsDavid, what’s that thing we always say about the best marketing?>>David “The best marketing, doesn’t feel like marketing”That’s right.People see 10,000 ads every day.  If your strategy is to have the most cliche ad with a ton of text, it’s not going to be successful and you’re likely better off just saving your money.>>David “But what if I own a business that’s boring?”Those are actually the best businesses to advertise!If your business is in a boring industry, that can be one of the best things you have going for you!Think about it, all the most boring industries that are difficult to differentiate, have the best marketing.  Insurance has Geico… who uses a talking lizard mascot named Martin. And people remember Geico ads… because they stand out from the noise.  Or think about Coca-Cola… they sell sugar water.Coca-Cola has used some incredible advertising strategies over the years, including using animated Polar bears to sell their products on Christmas.In fact, did you know that Coca-Cola advertisements are responsible for defining who Santa Clause is?It’s true, before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around the world.  From Yellow Clause, to Skinny Clause, to Scary Claus.>>David “AHHHHHH”But in 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned an artist Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those exact paintings helped establish

Barb 0:00Today’s guest is passionate about encouraging families to connect outdoors. And she has gained over 40,000 social media followers just within the outdoor family travel space on her platform, Born to Be adventurous. In June of 2020, she kicked off a self publishing hiking guide called Hikes for Families, A Guide to the Canadian Rockies, and she kicked it off with funding through Kickstarter. This lady has worked at a number of different things. She’s been a high school teacher, a writer, a photographer, a social media specialist, and even a content creator for a number of different brands and tourism boards. So Annika Mang, is now the co-founder and CEO of TrailCollectiv. And she joins us today to talk about the new app and the program she’s launching. Annika, welcome. Thank you for being here. Annika 1:03Thank you so much for having me, Barb. Barb 1:05It is an absolute pleasure. So kick us off. Tell us a little bit about trail collective. What is that? Annika 1:12Yeah, so TrailCollectiv is launching very soon. Actually, it is launched, and you can check it out. But it is an app that is breaking down the barriers for families by giving them detailed trail information and safety information so that you can know where to go. But you can also know what to expect when you get to a trail to start hiking it. Barb 1:34Absolutely. So how did you start pulling that stuff together? Annika 1:41Yeah, so a lot of it is stuff that I’ve gathered a while going out hiking, I’ve done a lot of trails, we actually have over 200 trails in Saskatchewan. And we have a ton across BC and Alberta as well, with struggles going into eastern Canada and into the South. In the US, we actually have done a lot of the trails ourselves, but we have a group of excuse me, um, trail contributors as well that are contributing trails, which is exciting. So from the community, but people who know what families are looking for. So a lot of moms and dads that are you know, they know what families want. They know how to assess the trail, is it stroller friendly? Is it a city stroller, is it all train city stroller friendly, because those are making a difference? We have, you know, my co founder, Jess out NBC and I, we both have experience with working with people who have disabilities and getting them outside. And so we’re able to assess trails to kind of give notes on that, you know, how accessible it will be for someone who maybe has, has a disability. So those are kind of all things that kind of go into how we provide our trails on our platform. Barb 2:53You know, you actually touched on something really interesting to me there. It’s not just a list of trails, it’s, you know, how long is the trail? What amenities are available? On the trail? Is it family friendly? If you’ve got a stroller? Is it wheelchair friendly? There’s so many things that go into, you know, being able to plan outdoor time, how did you start to see the opportunity in the marketplace? Or how did you see the need for something like this? And it’s, you know, I kind of think that’s an obvious answer. But I’m curious what you have to say about that. Annika 3:29Yeah, so it could be a very long answer. But it started kind of back when I had my kids and I was really struggling to find the information that I needed. So my kids are now seven and eight years old. But we found it really hard. And even today to find that information that we want to get out and explore with them. I actually started a very simple blog a long time ago that probably not a lot of people know about called ACE family adventures. And from that, I started to have family and friends ask me for advice on where to go on how to go OUT out on adventures with their kids, soon with people I didn’t know. And that’s when I decided to start and create, you know, maybe try to pursue it more intentionally. And so I created a platform that’s called Born to Be adventurous. And that’s where I was able to share more of our family stories, share trails to go on, and share, you know, tips on what to do when you go outside. So that’s kind of kind of rolled into that. From there. I started writing a hiking guidebook that took me five years to actually publish, because it’s a lot with two little kids at home. And then that’s done really well, published in 2020. And I’ve always had this dream to create an app where families can more easily find this information and find more trails because when we publish that book or when I publish that book, I had a lot of families reach out and say, can you write a book around Edmonton? What about Saskatchewan? You move back here? Can you write a book around Saskatchewan? What about Vancouver? Because those are all places that I’ve lived and all places that we’ve explored. And I actually thought about writing books in each of those areas, and maybe down the road I will. But how can we impact more families and help them get upside, because the impact for some families is really big. And so that’s where the app started to be created. And now we’re launched. Barb 5:28Exactly. Well, and just looking at your background, I think your interest in all of this comes very naturally, because you were both a teacher, you have a Bachelor of phys ed, and a Bachelor is education is the other one. Now my notes are under something. So your interest comes really naturally to all of this talk about, you know, the

Attract Media 10 Reasons Why You Need A Website Redesign ASAP In today’s digital age, no matter what business you have, your website is your brand’s identity. It is the first thing potential customers see when looking for information about your product or service. Every digital marketing effort around your business points directly to your website. Want to know a shocking fact? It takes less than 3 seconds for users to decide whether they like your website or not. Because user attention span is very short, you have to ensure that the first impression they get is good. Not convinced? Here’s another stat. 88% of your website visitors won’t come back after having a poor experience with your website. So the bell rang? Great because now we are on the same page. Let’s find out the key reasons you should consider a website redesign asap. Let’s dive right in. What is Website Redesign? Website redesign is a process of improving the design and user experience of an existing website to make it more user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate. A typical website redesign process includes a complete revamp of the website’s front-end design, user interface, and user experience. Aside from these factors, a website redesign is necessary if you want to change the website’s core structure, functionality, or content. Now let’s move on to the common reasons you should now. 10 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Redesign Your Design Sometimes we don’t understand why we are not getting leads, sales, or conversions from our website even though we are getting traffic. The main reason is that your website design looks old and outdated. You have to face the fact that the Internet is very competitive, and if you want to stay ahead of the game, you need to have a modern, responsive design, and user-friendly site. Here are some reasons why you should consider a website redesign: Improve User Experience When it comes to improve your website’s conversion rate, you must focus on improving the user experience. A poor user experience will drive users away from your website and your competitors. A good user experience, on the other hand, will keep users engaged with your website and make them more likely to convert into customers. 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. If your website’s UX is poor, you’re likely losing many potential customers. So website redesign will definitely help you. Better Security As time goes on, new security threats arise, and new ways to protect against those threats are developed. And one more thing is customers buy from more secure sites. If your website is not up-to-date with the latest security standards, it’s at risk of being hacked. However, the design of your website is not the only factor determining its security. The way you host your website and the type of CMS you use also play a role in determining how secure your website is. Improved Search Engine Optimization Search engine algorithms are constantly changing and evolving. To keep your website ranking high in search results, you must ensure that it’s optimized for the latest algorithms. A website redesign is often a best way to improve your search engine rankings. It is also a great opportunity to update your content and add new pages. It can help you improve your website’s ranking for long-tail keywords and get more organic traffic. Outdated CMS Regarding the content management system of your website, it’s important to stay up-to-date. If you’re using an outdated CMS, your website will likely miss out on many features and security updates. With that, there is a possible chance that you might get hacked. There are a lot of content management systems available in the market but no can beat WordPress.org. Rebranding A complete website redesign is necessary if you’re planning on rebranding your business. Your website is one of your brand’s most important touchpoints and needs to reflect your new brand identity. It is a great opportunity to update your website’s design, content, and messaging to reflect your new brand. Add Custom Functionality to your Site Every CMS comes with default built-in conversion tools. But some do not have all the features you might want or need for your website. You might need to add custom functionality to your website to achieve your goals. But the thing is you can’t do it because of the way your website is currently built. For example, in Shopify CMS you cannot edit the sitemap of your eCommerce store and have to use a third-party app like Hacked Shopify sitemap. If you want to add custom functionality to your website, you need to redesign it using a CMS that allows for customization. Industry-Specific Design Trends Changed It is something new that most business owners don’t know. Because of the fast-paced nature of the design industry, design trends are constantly changing. And if you want your website to look up-to-date, you need to make sure it’s using the latest design trends. Redesign your website again is a great opportunity to take advantage. Your Competitor’s Website Makes You Jealous Who does not love a good look? If you visit your competitor’s website and it looks much better than yours, it might be time for a website redesign. A good-looking website can help you win over customers and make a great first impression. If your website makes you jealous, it’s time for a change. Increase Indexing Rate From 2021 to now, Google is changing a lot. Google is now indexing websites in a mobile-first manner. It means that if your website is not optimized for mobile devices, then it’s likely not being indexed by Google. With this in mind, it is very difficult for your website to rank in Google’s search results. Creating your website with customer preferences in mind can help you get more leads and sales. You Don’t Like Your Website Anymore As human nature, we change our tastes with time. The same goes

BarbAre you ready to make the phone ring, the door swing and the till ding? One of the best kept secrets in any community is its network of local businesses. But no more secrets. From the skinned knee lessons that will make you wince, to the tell all exposees. These everyday people are doing extraordinary things in their businesses. BarbToday we’re sharing the secrets of Cuppa t’ Teas in Regina’s Cathedral neighborhood. These are the stories you thought you’d only hear on a Friday night over a cold bevi or quietly over a glass of wine. They are the gooders. BarbWelcome to The Secret Life of local. I’m your host Barb McGrath, Googlegirl and local business cheerleader. I’ve been helping local businesses thrive for over 20 years. From online businesses to multi location stores. You can turn browsers to buyers and thinkers to doers. Let’s find out how. BarbToday’s guest is Jule Gilchrist from Cuppa T’. So Jule get us started. Tell us a little bit about yourself and Cuppa T’ teas in Regina’s Cathedral neighborhood. JuleWell, I love tea. Back in the early 80s there was a tea store. And I was working and I would like probably half of my paycheck would go in there. Yep. And it was an oddity and it was way before its time. And then I am a, I would say ex social worker. So hey, when it was time for me to leave my career, this opportunity to have a tea store came up and I jumped at it. So that was 16 years ago. Okay. And I have never looked back. We are nestled in the cathedral area, which I absolutely love. Yeah. And we’ve kind of grown from there. And most of our teas come from Germany. So they have quite a stricter, higher standard, they tend to kind of test for a lot more things about 500. And I think it’s 27 items. One item shows up back to the country of origin. So they deal in a lot of clean tea. Okay, which is good because of the amount I drink. BarbOkay, but tell me about that, like what are they testing for? What would a tea that’s not clean be or have in it? JuleContaminants? So they’re not heavily big on organics, they’re more into well, this isn’t a good substance if it shows up we’re sending it back. Some teas are grown in areas where the fluoride is too high. And that fluoride is absorbed into the tea. So if it has a little bit too much of that back to the country of origin. Believe it or not, the tea you drink has bug parts in it. BarbOh my goodness. Are you serious? Okay. Yes. I don’t want to know this, I think. JuleAnd if it’s too high, we’ll go back to our country of origin. So they’re quite strict. Actually, any food you eat or give is gonna have some bug parts. BarbThat’s so excellent. Talk about my appetite for the day. Oh, okay. So, when you first started the store, have you always carried teas from Germany? Like, like, how did you find this out? Because that’s not common knowledge stuff? JuleNo, um, I carried from a wonderful company in Toronto. And they carry kind of more mid grade T, okay. And then we were kind of looking around just exploring. I had a business partner at that time. And she found a company in BC. And they were the distributors for a German company. We thought, What the hell, let’s try them because they’re different. Not many people carry their tea. So we tried them. And it was like, Oh, my God, this is good tea. Ah, okay. And then we looked at their fair trade practices, all that kind of stuff, how they kind of manufacturer where they get it from, what are their standards? And we kind of went, Yeah, sold. We’re on board. BarbGot it. Okay, so, so help me as the consumer. Understand what, from a flavor perspective? How when you consume tea and you’re like, Oh, my God, that’s good. Tea. What’s different about it, tea? You? What makes you? What makes you say that? Is it the amount of flavor like what is it? JuleIt is the quality? Okay, so you can have a chai tea, which is full of spices, and it’s gonna taste nice and fresh and have layers of flavors. And you can just taste all the elements, or you can have just an over spice black. Got is kind of flavored with artificial stuff. And if there’s a lot of artificial things in there, you’ll notice that once you buy your tea a month or two down the road, it doesn’t taste as nice anymore, because it’s all that artificial crap that’s in there. BarbYeah. And you know, that’s very true. It doesn’t matter what I’m eating. If there’s artificial flavors in there. I find I can identify them now. And many of those artificial flavors. They leave a bit of an aftertaste. Yeah. Hey 10 Yeah, no, thank you. If my food still continues on the net, no, I’m good. It doesn’t work. Okay, so nestled in Regina is 13th Avenue. Have you always been there? Yes. Ah, JuleWell Actually, I’m gonna have to say no, we were on 15th Avenue for 15th or 14th Avenue, maybe for a year or two. But I’ve been 16 years on 13th Avenue. Yes. BarbSo how did you find the location or it just happened to be available and and it was you could just tell it was a perfect location to be. JuleI’ve always wanted to be on 13th and I was taking a walk. There was a place for lease. Boom. And it was that I think it was that day she put it up and it was like a phone call introducing myself. And away we went from there. Oh,

Web design industry is always changing and evolving, so it can be tough to keep up with the latest trends. As of August 2022, there are 5.03 billion people around the world who use the internet today – equivalent to 63.1 percent of the world’s total population. Statista says that number will only grow in the coming years, reaching an estimated 5.78 billion by 2025.Now the thing is, how are you going to make your website stand out from the rest? How can you ensure that your website is relevant and engaging for your target audience? Today I’m going to share 11 essential web design statistics that will help you understand the current trends and how you can use them to your advantage in 2022.Before we start, It’s important to understand that web design trends are always changing. What was popular last year may not be so popular this year. And what’s popular this year may not be popular next year. So it’s important to keep up with the latest design industry stats if you want your website to stay relevant.1. 75% of Website Credibility Comes from Web DesignWhen someone visits your website, they’ll first notice the design. And whether the user realizes it or not, the design will play a big role in their opinion of your website. With that in mind, ensuring your website has a good design is important. A well-designed website will help you build trust with your visitors and make them more likely to do business with you.2. 74% of Users Are More Likely to Return to Mobile-Friendly SitesA website with a good mobile experience is more likely to be visited again by users. It’s no secret that more and more people are using their smartphones to browse the internet. According to Google, 70% of Internet users spend their time on mobile devices. So it’s important to ensure your website is mobile-friendly to keep your visitors returning. Or you are going to lose a big part of your audience.3. 73% of Companies Invest in Design to Help Their Brand Stand Out from CompetitorsEveryone wants their business to stand out from the competition. And one way to do that is with a good design. A well-designed website will help you attract attention and make a positive impression on potential customers. A good design is also a great way to show that you’re an innovative and forward-thinking company.4. Slow-Loading Websites Lead to a $2.6 Billion Revenue Loss Each YearA poor website design can have a major impact on your site and one of them is slow loading time. Online consumers will likely leave if your website is slow to load before they even get a chance to see what you offer. Also, website speed is a ranking factor in Google search so that a slow website can hurt your page ranking.5. Users Spend 88% More Time on Pages with VideosIf you are running an eCommerce store, you should include product videos on your product pages. Because it play vital role. Studies have shown that users spend 88% more time on pages with videos than on pages without videos. And if you’re selling products, you want potential customers to spend as much time as possible on your product pages. Product videos are a great way to engage potential customers and help them learn more about your products.6. 92% of Consumers Read Online Reviews and TestimonialsWhen buying a service or product, most people will do their research online before making a purchase. And one of the best ways to get information about a service or product is through reviews and testimonials. It’s important to ensure your website has plenty of positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers.7. There Are Currently Over 2 Billion Active WebsitesThe number of websites online is constantly increasing. And that number will only continue to grow in the years to come. We mostly know popular sites because of their branding, Saskatoon web design, and Saskatoon marketing. But, as the number of sites continues to increase, it’s becoming more and more difficult for businesses to stand out from the crowd. A good design will help you attract attention and make a positive impression on potential customers. So what’s stopping you from getting started on your new design?8. Investment in Ux Design Can Have Up to 9,900% ROIIt’s 2022, and everything is about user experience. Because if users don’t have a good experience on your website, they’re not going to stay. And if they’re not staying, that means they’re not buying, which is why investing in UX design is important. Adding visual elements, action button, easy to use navigation bar will help you keep visitors on your site and make them more likely to convert into customers.9. WordPress Accounts for 42.2% of All WebsitesWordPress.org is the most popular content management system and powerful tool in the world. And it’s not surprising why. WordPress is easy to use, has many features, and is affordable. WordPress is a great option if you’re looking for a content management system for your website.10. Because of the Increase in Mobile Traffic, Amp Pages Are Becoming More PopularAMP pages are designed to load quickly on mobile devices. And with the increase in mobile traffic, AMP pages are becoming more and more popular. If you want your website to load quickly on mobile devices, you should consider using AMP pages.11. 94% of First Impressions Are Related to Your Website’s DesignYour website’s design is the first thing potential customers will see. And you only have a few seconds to make a good impression. A customer will likely make a split-second decision about whether they will stay on your site. So it’s important to make sure your design is professional and engaging. The good news is that you can always hire a professional web designer to help create a great-looking website.Wrapping it upSo that was a brief overview of some of the latest web design trends for 2022. As you can see, investing in a

Barb 0:00 In today’s episode, we’re tackling the tough conversation of dogs surrendered, unwanted behaviors and support for pet parents in our communities. We’re going behind the scenes with a local dog trainer, and an animal welfare enthusiast to deconstruct the recent media coverage on shelters and rescues being overwhelmed. Barb 0:25 Welcome to The Secret Life of Community Show. I’m your host, Barb McGrath, Google girl and local business cheerleader. Let’s get started. Barb 0:36 Today, we’re doubling the fun with two experienced and insightful guests on the topic of animal welfare. Louise Yates is a former dog kennel owner and volunteer for the past 20 years, along with Jennifer Berg, who has been providing force free science based dog training and behavior modification services for over 17 years. Welcome, ladies. Thank you for being here. Louise 1:05 Well, thank you for inviting us. Jennifer 1:06 Thank you. Thank you so much. Barb 1:09 Absolutely. Louise, can I get you to tell us a little bit more about yourself as we’re getting started? Louise 1:14 Sure, my hubby and I owned and operated K-Lane Kennels, we actually just retired after doing it for over 20 years in the first part of May. And through all those years, I have been involved in several volunteer projects within animal welfare locally and internationally. And currently, I have a new dog. He has been with us for three months. And he’s about a year and a half old. And I’m training him to do search and rescue volunteer work. So hopefully one day he’ll save somebody’s life. That’s an aspiration we’re working towards. Barb 1:54 Exactly. And that is fantastic. And in fact, this story of how the dog came into your life actually goes right along with our topic today. So once Jenn’s had a chance to introduce herself, maybe you want to tell us a little bit more about how he came into your life. Louise 2:08 Sounds good. Barb 2:09 Okay, awesome. Jenn, take it away. Tell us a little bit about yourself. And what does force-free, in science mean like, what does that actually mean to me as the pet owner? Jennifer 2:20 Okay, well, I’m a force-free, science based, humane dog trainer. And I’ve been doing that for over 17 years now. What do I do and what is a force-free, humane, science based dog trainer? Well, basically, it’s about learning to train dogs, communicate with dogs in a way that is not using intimidation, or coercion or any equipment that causes any kind of discomfort. And it’s basically teaching them the behaviors that you want them to do and possibly avoiding behaviors you don’t want them to do. Barb 2:54 So if I was to translate that into the parenting realm, force-free, science based would be just like back in the 60s and 70s kids were spanked, but now, it’s not so cool. So the same thing. Dogs were trained to fear or to experience pain to change behavior. And so the idea is supporting the dog through the learning process without having to be afraid without having to, you know, be worried if he or she makes a mistake. Is that kind of a guess in a nutshell? Jennifer 3:31 Yeah, and setting them up to succeed, and then reinforcing that rather than setting them up to fail and then punishing or correcting it. So it’s giving them a fair chance, rather than not doing that. Don’t do that. Don’t do that. It’s more like, I’d like you to do this. Good job. I’d like you to do this. Good job. So there’s just a matter of time before hopefully before the dog training community gets on board with that. I mean, there are groups of us who are already on board with that. And you know, started 20 years ago, 30 years ago, even but, you know, that change is hard. And change takes time. And sometimes there needs to be a law or sometimes there needs to be some sort of barriers to doing the alternative. Barb 4:10 Exactly. Yes. And for anybody who listens to the podcast regularly, I talk about our fur babies quite regularly. And in fact, they’ve, you know, interrupted the odd recording and made an appearance at the odd time. And so some have heard our stories about our rescue and what we think may have happened in the past versus the work that we’re doing now. We’ve seen some really positive results. And we’ve seen our rescue, decompress, and it’s because we’re using exactly what you’re talking about force-free, science based. He trusts us. He trusts us in a completely different way than I think he was able to prior to being rehomed. So Louise 4:53 And it’s great that you mentioned that connection to how children were raised to dogs because I find it really interest thing that, you know, people get it that you’re not supposed to spank children, and you’re not supposed to wring them out, you know, I grew up in those 60s and 70s. And I remember kids getting the strap in school and all of that, and people know that now, they don’t do that anymore. But then those same people will come home with a dog and do some of the aversive methods. So, you know, making that shift is, is a big step, if, if all someone has ever known is a more violent approach, then that’s what they take. And there’s so much you don’t use the same methods with your dog as with your kid, and you’re gonna, you’re gonna go to much better places in your relationship. Exactly. Jennifer 5:38 Yeah. And I would like to jump out of that just a little bit, that the basis is also not so much, as well as the intention, but also, you’re able to understand your dog more because of what you’ve learned. And so you can