Small business and non-profit organizations around British Columbia are struggling to get noticed in an extremely competitive market.
A one-day marketing bootcamp, held in Kelowna on Feb. 29, is offering assistance.
“Marketing is often an afterthought for small businesses, but it shouldn’t be,” said George Affleck, the president and CEO of Curve Communications, a Vancouver-based marketing agency. “Without the proper strategy, companies can’t stand out from the competition.”
Affleck and a team of experts are behind the one-day intensive marketing classes, which will teach participants how to jumpstart their marketing campaigns and build their brands. Affleck is a former journalist and Curve’s founder and CEO. He’s also the author of Buzz: How to Grow Your Small Business Using Grassroots Marketing. With more than 15 years in the industry, Affleck has developed what he believes is a fail-safe grassroots marketing model that can help launch or create awareness about any business. Affleck described his Buzz Formula – a marketing method he has honed over the years at the workshops.
“Unlike other courses, these marketing bootcamps won’t take a generic, catchall approach,” Affleck said. “Before participants even set foot in the training room, we will evaluate their existing online presences – from websites to social media.”
He is joined by Amanda Bates and Stephen Johnson. Bates is Curve’s vice president, brings more than 20 years of experience in journalism to the workshops.
Johnson is a master of Google search algorithms, pay-per-click campaigns and search engine optimization (SEO). He works behind the scenes to make marketing efforts stand out from the competition.
Business owners will learn how to manage their SEO, Google AdWords and Facebook advertising too.
“I’ll take participants on a tour of search engines and reveal how companies can profit from them,” Johnson said.
Participants will discover how to create ads for print, radio, television and online, write compelling content, and harness the power of email marketing while adhering to Canadian anti-spam laws.
Curve has years of experience in media buying and will show workshop participants how to negotiate ad placement, create promotional campaigns, foster community relations, place corporate donations and develop strategic pitches for journalists.
“I received countless pitches as a producer, but many of them lacked research and newsworthiness,” Bates said. “Journalists are busy and don’t have time to figure out what you’re trying to say. We know how to get their attention.”
Bootcampers will receive a free copy of Buzz and an hour-long complimentary one-on-one session with Affleck, Bates or Johnson. The Western News is also partnering with Curve Communications and will offer ad bundle discounts to all those who register for the Marketing Bootcamp.
Contact Kerry Slater at kerry@curvecommunications.com to register for the bootcamp.