The State Of The Web And How To Make $$$ From It

October 29, 2009

Ryan Wiseman and FindItGreyBruce.com would like to teach everyone in Grey and Bruce counties a little bit more about the web.

We are currently seeking support to develop and deliver a 10 part, digital skills course which will educate area businesses, organizations and individuals on the “State of the Web and How To Make $$$ From It”. We think the idea has merit for a variety of reasons such as digital capacity building for the region not to mention a unique local sponsorship opportunity for 10 forward thinking businesses.

The Sponsor Funded Model

We are very excited about the sponsor driven nature of this free web education course. It’s WIN-WIN-WIN.

Area businesses (sponsoring ones included!) and individuals receive quality education, insight and resources on how to better leverage the web to their advantage.

Our sponsors get showcased alongside what we expect will be a very popular web resource for many in the area (thanks in advance for enabling this!).

We’re excited as well to get paid to teach and produce content about the topics we love. We’re already thinking about a “green” education edition too! but lets not get ahead of ourselves…

We think the price is right

For around what you might pay to take such a course yourself, 10 area businesses will get some rock solid, future thinking web education/training + recognition for providing such a resource to everyone in the area.

To jump immediately on board and support this initiative + receive 365 days worth of valuable recognition for your business you can visit the sign-up page here.

For all the details please review the course overview (which can be downloaded below) or online at http://finditgreybruce.com/business/the-state-of-the-web/ A sample episode will be available in the next few days at this address as well.

Download a copy of The State of the Web Course overview and sponsor details here.

Written by Deb · Filed Under blog, business | Leave a Comment

Brand Camp “Website Intensive”

October 26, 2009

Why your website sucks… and what to do about it!

Those 5 local young entrepeneurs are at it again, bringing their next installment of helping businesses promote themselves using the internet. They have had two very successful training sessions with their initial Brand Camp and then an encore presentation.

Brand Camp “Website Intensive” is a one-day powerful training workshop for local entrepreneurs who are interested in growing their business using the internet. Most businesses can really benefit from expanding their promotions online but doing so is not nearly so simple as just “having a website”. Websites, themselves, can range from free, online fill-in-the-blanks templates to complex, interactive community-oriented sites that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to develop. Many people are not even aware of the options available and could literally be throwing their money away by investing in the wrong website for their business. Online promotion also goes much further than your website, and with social media trends such as Facebook and Twitter touching nearly every industry and demographic, your business could be losing out in a big way if you are not paying attention to and joining in the conversation.

Brand Camp “Website Intensive”, (also known as “Why Your Website Sucks… and what to do about it!”) will focus specifically on the things you need to know to get your business online in an effective way. Some of the things we will talk about are:

* different types of websites and what kind is best for you and your business
* designing your website to target the right audience
* Search Engine Optimization and its importance in bringing new customers to your website
* finding and using the right keywords for your business
* creating high-quality content (copywriting, video, and audio)
* promoting your website online and off
* online legalities and etiquette
* how to track and use the results that your website is getting.

This high-impact workshop will also be hands-on, ensuring that you will come away from the day with real results specifically for you and your business.

Your next opportunity to take part in this great, value-added event, is November 10th in Owen Sound!
Buy your tickets before November 1st to take advantage of earlybird pricing of 25% off!

For more information or tickets, please go to www.BrandCamp.ca

Written by Deb · Filed Under blog, business, technology | Leave a Comment

Summerfolk Reprise Concert – Coco Love Alcorn

October 26, 2009

Proudly Presented by The Georgian Bay Folk Society

She was a hit at Summerfolk! Here’s your chance to see what all the buzz is about – Coco Love Alcorn plays Knox United Church at 890 4th Avenue East in Owen Sound this Friday, October 30th at 8:00 pm.

Born in Nova Scotia, this eclectic performer has toured with 54-40, Ani Difranco and Lilith Fair; and guested on nearly 50 albums including recordings by Burton Cummings, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jesse Cook, Kinnie Starr and Loudon Wainwright III.

We loved her at Summerfolk. Simply put – we want more!

Make it a night out enjoying a meal at Jazzmyn’s or Rocky Raccoon’s prior to the show. Check out the ‘Coco Love Specials’. After the show, join in the ‘Meet & Greet with Coco Love’ at Rocky Raccoon’s or catch the sounds of Will Ross at Jazzmyn’s.

To purchase or reserve tickets ($15), contact the Georgian Bay Folk Society office at 519-371-2995 or email gbfs@bmts.com.

Written by Deb · Filed Under blog, music, people | Leave a Comment

Owen Sound Cultural Awards

October 16, 2009

The cultural awards ceremony was held last night (October 15, 2009) at the Roxy in downtown Owen Sound. We have such a rich culture here in our city.

The first winner of the Owen Sound Cultural Award for lifetime achievement in the arts was well known and repected, retired music teacher and luthier, Ed Bartlett.

Some of the other winners:

Sheila Milne, for dance; Owen Sound Little Theatre, for theatre; Sebastian Ostertag, for best emerging artist; Richard Thomas for literature and Larry Jensen for music. Sandra and Andrew Goss won in the category of visual and media arts. Eva Leflar, a long-standing patroness of the arts in Owen Sound, won the patron award. Ningwakwe Press won the award for cultural heritage. The new health unit building on the waterfront won the award for architectural design.

Here’s a quick look near the end of the evening.

Written by Deb · Filed Under blog, people, the arts | Leave a Comment

Finalists Selected

October 5, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2009

The Selection Committee for Dragons’ Den Meaford is pleased to announce the seven finalists who will pitch their business ideas to the panel of ‘Dragons’ on October 21st:

Meredith F. Cowan, Meaford
Kim Giffen, Thornbury
Jim Fewster, Meaford
Chantelle Boyes, Meaford
Jason Moore, Meaford
Normand Comeau, Priceville
Tanya Vesely, Meaford

All applicants were required to submit a one-page synopsis detailing their business idea with an explanation of its relation to one of the four pillars of the Municipality of Meaford’s Economic Development Strategy… Retail, Agribusiness, Tourism or Green.

Modeled after the popular CBC TV show, Dragons’ Den Meaford will take place at Meaford Hall on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 beginning at 7pm. Applicants will pitch their ideas to 5 local ‘Dragons’ for feedback and hopefully, cash. Each Dragon will bring a minimum of $1,000 to invest in the idea(s) they like best. This means that potentially, an entrepreneur could walk away with $5,000 for business start-up! Also up for grabs are a free business bank account, business plan assistance, business start-up mentoring, admission to a number of entrepreneurial workshops, an advertising package and more.

Tickets cost $10 (+GST), students $5 (+GST) and are available at the Meaford Hall Box Office by calling 1-877-538-0463 or online at www.meafordhall.ca.

Dragons’ Den Meaford is presented by the Meaford & District Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, contact 519-538-1640 or business@mdcc.ca

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