Five Friday Links: Shop Local

Welcome back summer! With it, comes the return of our Five Friday links! We’ve selected these links because of their inspirational message, local connection and/or educational content. Have a great read and a great weekend!

Google My Business
If you haven’t set up or claimed your ‘Google My Business’ page, make sure to do it as soon as possible! Google My Business is a great online tool for small businesses because it makes your business stand out when it’s googled. It’s an easy (and free!) way for your business to be found by potential customers.

Alleyways Market: Shop local in the Exchange
The first Friday of every month this summer, Alleyways Market takes over a back lane in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. Close to 60 vendors, ranging from artisans to restaurants will be featured. Be sure to take them in – just two more left this summer: August 4 and September 1.

Why Customer Reviews Are Crucial to Your Small Business
Many times, customers only post reviews when they’ve had a negative experience. Make sure to remind your customers to post reviews about positive experiences! This article by Inc.com explains why positive customer reviews are important to your business, and what to do about negative reviews as well.

Why It’s Time to Ditch Cross-Posting on Social Media for Cross-Promoting
Cross-posting makes sense: posting the exact same post on all of your social media platforms saves time and effort. A better way to engage your audience on each platform is cross-promoting. You do this by re-purposing your content to fit the style of each platform. It takes a bit more time, but it’s worth it.

How to Make the Most of Your Workday
“You start each day with a plan to get so much done, but soon find yourself becoming distracted, focusing on low-priority tasks and, simply, procrastinating. So how can you regain control of your time?” Sound familiar? Whether you’re going into an office or working at home, this article by NY Times explains how to get the most out of your workday. Surprise — there’s no one master solution but different solutions for different needs.