Shawn Barrans

Businesses like boutique hotels, and destination restaurants, unique experiences are already full on reputation alone. The question is not “how do we get anyone,” but “how do we get the right guests, on the right days, at the right price.” We use digital campaigns to support weekday bookings, shoulder seasons, gift cards, and higher-value experiences, without diluting your brand. 📲 See how digital can work quietly behind your reputation: https://lnkd.in/dszKREvm #digitalmarketing #toronto #canada #2026

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AI is like an all-you-can-eat buffet. There are so many options that it's dizzying. And there's no lack of new shiny toys being launched. This is why last night's B2B Marketing Community event was so great. There were presentations focused on how marketers are using different AI tools. The list included: - NotebookLLM (brent wees turned me into a believer!) - Genspark - Perplexity's Comet Browser - Relevance AI If you're interested in seeing how your Website ranks for SEO and AEO, check out cite-met dot com. (created by Mahmoud Halat) #AI #tools #b2bmarketing #toronto

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🚀 Ready to innovate your marketing strategy? Catch Kripa Anand on the CanadianSME Small Business Podcast as she talks to Brent Kobayashi Vice President of Digital at American Marketing Association (AMA), Toronto and founder of Kobayashi + Zeitguys Web Design & Development Key Highlights:  �� Harnessing AI & VR for marketing success  👉 Measuring marketing impact in the age of technology  👉 Creating a culture of creativity and innovation 🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gpBUPYHi We want to thank our sponsors: RBC, UPS, Google, A1 Global College of Health, Business and Technology, and ADP. Don’t forget to subscribe to the CanadianSME Small Business Magazine for more empowering content: www.canadiansme.ca #CanadianSME #SmallBusinessPodcast #MarketingInnovation #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship

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In this episode of the AI Surge podcast, I speak with Avi Noel - Managing Director of Red Minstrel Marketing based out of Toronto, Ontario. Avi and I discussed the evolving marketing landscape and solutions that AI provides. In this conversation, Avi emphasizes the essential role of profit in business, arguing that profit is not only necessary but beneficial for job creation and economic growth. He critiques the current perception of profit and stresses that marketing should be strategically aligned with generating revenue rather than being merely ceremonial. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gKgJ-aZ9 More information on him can be found here https://lnkd.in/gjgb-E_p and his more on his company can be found at https://lnkd.in/g8TXVmVF

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What truly stands out about these recent victories is how they challenge the idea of relying heavily on “industry expertise.” Major Tom secured a Gold award for Best Use of Data with Rieker Canada and a Silver with Seneca Polytechnic. These sectors—footwear and post-secondary education—aren't exactly close relatives. And let's not forget Teck Resources, which bagged a Gold in this category not so long ago, showcasing our consistent excellence. Marketing challenges are universal. How can you effectively link activities to tangible business outcomes? How do you navigate through scattered data to find meaning? How do you decide where to allocate more resources and what to scale back on? Engaging with diverse industries allows us to accumulate insights and strategies that transcend traditional boundaries, avoiding the trap of sticking to the same old strategies. While deep knowledge of an industry is valuable, there's also immense benefit in bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas inspired by entirely different fields. A huge congratulations to everyone who contributed to making these award triumphs a reality! 🎉

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Jessica Alex Marketing has launched a human-centred campaign in Toronto with the powerful message: “If your business sells to humans, we should totally work together,” urging businesses to prioritize people amid AI's rapid rise - https://lnkd.in/dR-Gsp5J “I do believe AI can be a vital, complementary piece to one’s work processes, but an emphasis is on the word complementary,” said Jessica Alex, Founder of Jessica Alex Marketing. #AICampaign #EthicalAI #HumanFirst #MarketingEthics #TechIntelPro

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👉Many early stage ventures struggle to clearly communicate their value in a way that drives action. Storytelling is not just a soft skill, it is a proven sales tool that helps you cut through the noise and move prospects from interest to final decision. In this virtual session, Randy Stackaruk, CEO of Virtica Interactive, breaks down the exact storytelling structures used by top performers. What you will learn: 🔹The Conversion Framework: A repeatable storytelling structure for pitches and sales decks. 🔹Persuasive Communication: Ways to refine your value proposition so it clicks emotionally and logically. 🔹Attention Tactics: Specific strategies to build trust within the first few seconds. 💡Register for the June 18 session before spots fill up: https://loom.ly/QbDlZZw #SalesStrategy #B2B #Hamilton #Halton #Ontario #Innovation #CDNtech #BusinessGrowth

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A website that looks great and converts nothing is an expensive placeholder.  Most website projects start with the wrong question. “What should it look like?” is how the conversation begins. “What should it do?” is often an afterthought.  Speed, accessibility, content structure, and conversion paths aren’t design preferences. They’re business decisions. When they’re left to assumptions, websites quietly stop serving the business they were built for.  The difference between a site that works and one that doesn’t usually isn’t the design. It’s the clarity of the objective behind it.  What’s one thing your current website should be doing — that it isn’t?

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Most marketing work struggles at scale. This work was designed for it. Major Tom’s work with Rieker Shoe Canada Ltd. and Shift Energy Group was recognized by the Web Excellence Awards across: Marketing Effectiveness, Data & Analytics, Email Marketing, and Website Design. What set this work apart wasn’t a single campaign or channel. It was the ability to manage complexity without losing clarity. Designing systems, data, and experiences that could adapt across markets, audiences, and decision timelines. That consistency across very different disciplines is what the recognition reflects. And that’s the kind of work we’re committed to doing more of.

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