Ideas & Advice
A small business blog with helpful tips, practical advice and inspirational stories.



How to respond to negative reviews as a small business owner
The internet is one of the first places people turn to when they’re searching for a new provider or service. […]
Read more
Rooted in community: How Kelly Polanco stands out at local events
Rooted in community: How Kelly Polanco stands out at local events Estimated reading time: 4 minutes One of the best […]
Read more
Think outside the shop with a pavement pop-up
Think outside the shop with a pavement pop-up Estimated reading time: 3 minutes This is the perfect time of year […]
Read more
5 ways to use touch-free and remote payments
In a world of social distancing and mask-wearing, touch-free transactions are quickly becoming the norm. We’ve seen many small businesses […]
Read more
5 ways to stay mentally well at home
Although working from home is a great solution when going to the office or a physical location is not an […]
Read more
How to stay connected with remote employees
Shifting from a collaborative environment to a work-from-home situation can be tough – for reasons other than productivity. As a […]
Read more
How to use video to connect with customers
Right now, more people than ever are working from home in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. But if […]
Read more
How to work from home with kids
The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic as COVID-19 spreads rapidly around the globe. For most non-essential employees, our […]
Read more
How to launch & market your summer side hustles
Whether you’re a small business owner looking to branch out, or just want to earn a bit of extra cash […]
Read more
How to come up with a business name
Passion. Energy. Courage. That’s what it takes to start a new business. You have a great idea for a business, […]
Read more
7 ways to increase small business customer engagement
You’ve probably heard the term ‘customer engagement’ while marketing your small business. Customer engagement encompasses all of the ways you […]
Read more
Everything you need to know about TikTok for small business
Social media is one of the best places to market your small business and connect with your customers while driving […]
Read more
How small business is shifting in 2022
Regardless of industry, the small business world is ever-changing. In 2020, we saw resilient small business owners shift their offerings […]
Read more
5 steps to get online business reviews
Social proof is a powerful thing. When potential customers see that people are having a positive experience with your business, […]
Read more
11 ways to improve retail sales at your small business
Encouraging people to venture inside your shop or eatery for a closer look is a top priority for every small […]
Read more
How to use Instagram link stickers for your small business
Good news for small businesses — Instagram link stickers are now available to everyone using the social platform. This feature, […]
Read more
Adapting to change: Serving up something new with food truck-inspired takeaway
Adapting to change: Serving up something new with food truck-inspired takeaway Estimated reading time: 7 minutes The COVID-19 pandemic threw […]
Read more
How to create a stand-out shopfront
How to create a stand-out shopfront Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Even though online shopping has dominated the small business […]
Read more
Social media tips for small businesses
Whether you’ve been a business owner for decades or just launched your first side hustle, social media is one of […]
Read more
How to write a marketing plan when you know nothing about marketing
What’s the big secret to starting a successful business? The answer is, in a word, marketing. No matter how good […]
Read more
The three you need: Trade show marketing tips to make a lasting impression
THE THREE YOU NEED Trade show marketing tips to make a lasting impression Estimated reading time: 3 minutes A trade […]
Read more
15 free or low cost marketing ideas for small businesses
Dwania Peele, Owner and Executive Director of Canadian Small Business Women, a network that provides all the resources necessary to ensure […]
Read more
10 Business Owners that might not think they need a website (and why they do)
If you’re looking for a way to expand your reach and find new customers, it’s time to start thinking seriously […]
Read more
5 big benefits of social media for small business
Social media has evolved from a space for personal interaction into a vibrant marketing channel for businesses of all sizes. […]
Read more
Ready, set, glow: How this woman-owned business continues to grow
To be successful, small businesses have to grow – whether it’s evolving their offerings or ensuring their customer bases continue […]
Read more
Email marketing best practices for your small business
Email marketing is a great way to connect with your customers and deliver targeted messaging while driving engagement, sales and […]
Read more
6 unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes Yes, we know, we should show our love for those around us every day and […]
Read more
Creative announcement ideas to share your next big milestone
Getting married, having a baby or packing up and moving to a new city? When you have exciting news to […]
Read more
Save the date wording – what to write and how to write it
So, you’re getting married? Congratulations! Now it’s time to get organised — and one of the first steps is to […]
Read more
Wedding thank you card wording: Writing tips & examples
You’ve said your vows, opened gifts and maybe even been on your honeymoon…now, it’s time to sit down and write […]
Read more
When to send save the date cards for your wedding
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! From the engagement to the planning, it’s such an exciting – and busy – time. […]
Read more
The ultimate children’s birthday party planning checklist
Whether it’s a get-together for your family or a backyard bash for all of your child’s friends, a party is […]
Read more
Your ultimate wedding planning guide
Congratulations on getting engaged! Now that you’ve celebrated your engagement with family and friends, it’s time to set a wedding […]
Read more
Say ‘I love you’ without saying ‘I love you’ with custom photo gift ideas
A picture says a thousand words…so, show someone you love them with a photo gift. Go beyond a simple framed […]
Read more
How to create a brand style guide
We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for tips on creating a brand style guide. Read […]
Read more
A glossary of branding terms that every small business owner should know
If you own your own business, chances are you’ve heard the term “branding.” But there’s a plethora of other words […]
Read more
How to create brand consistency online and offline
Image is everything when it comes to making a great business impression. Given that more and more people are going […]
Read more
10 things that make your business look unprofessional online
Whether you’re launching a business for the first time, or you’re looking for ways to grow your existing business and […]
Read more
How to Write Your Business Pitch [ eBook ]
As a small business owner, it’s vital to clearly and succinctly pitch your business to prospective customers or clients. However, […]
Read more
Create a unique look for your business & watch it grow
Beautiful design can help your business grow – especially when it translates into branding that works everywhere your customers see […]
Read more
Branding made for word-of-mouth marketing
As a small business owner, there are plenty of things you can do to make your brand stand out. But […]
Read more
Should you rebrand your small business?
The world — and the world of small business — is constantly evolving. Maybe you started out as just a […]
Read more
How to create a logo for your gym or fitness studio
We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vistaprint, for tips on getting the right look for any […]
Read more
Hiring a graphic designer: 6 times you should consult a pro.
If you’re a small business owner, you’re probably used to wearing many hats – accountant, marketer, IT department. But in […]
Read more
10 golden rules for designing your business card
Prepare your design carefully, and your business card will make you look professional, build trust and set your company apart […]
Read more
How to choose the best font for your business card
Picture the scene: You open a text document and type your business name. It’s dwarfed by the white background, so […]
Read more
How to stand out at outdoor events and street fairs
Outdoor events are fertile ground for making meaningful connections, attracting new customers and building buzz around your business. But you […]
Read more
8 retail merchandising tips for your website
Even though they exist in different spaces and may serve different purposes, websites and physical shopfronts actually have a lot […]
Read more
Event branding: Give your recurring events a unique look
Event branding: Give your recurring events a unique look Estimated reading time: 4 minutes One of the best ways to […]
Read more
Working with a Designer: 5 Essential Tips to Get the Best Results
Working with a designer can help you create a polished website or a visually appealing piece of marketing. But like […]
Read more
Flyer size guide
When it comes to attracting customers to your business, getting the word out is usually the first hurdle. That’s why […]
Read more
Design decoded: The top 12 easy to read fonts
How important is it to choose the right font for your website? With a legible font, your business’ message comes […]
Read more
How to design T-shirts in 8 steps
We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, for tips on creating impactful T-shirts. Whether for your […]
Read more
Postcard size guide
When it comes to marketing, there are lots of items you could add to your tool kit – business cards, […]
Read more
Attract attention with these signage design tips
We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vista, to get some tips on creating stand-out signage. Read […]
Read more
Business card size guide
A business card is a marketing classic for a reason – as a small business owner you’ve probably passed them […]
Read more
Outdoor event marketing & branding to help you stand out
Outdoor events, like craft fairs and farmers’ markets, are great places to make meaningful connections, attract new customers and build […]
Read more
How to create (& use) a logo for your yoga studio
We chatted with Tristan LeBreton, Creative Director at 99designs by Vistaprint, for tips on getting the right logo look for […]
Read more
Build a brand that builds a following
People love swag, whether it's a T-shirt from their favourite brewery or a promotional tote bag from a local shop.
Read more
Before you design your business card, ask yourself these 5 questions
Choice can be overwhelming. And while we’re pretty proud of the fact that we’re constantly adding new business card designs […]
Read more