Main photo: Morgan Richter (front), manager of the Downtown Huntsville BIA and Digital Main Street program manager with (back from left) members of the Muskoka Digital Service Squad, Dan Powers, Kyra Watters, Marie Kamukuny, and Emily Blackman (supplied)
Submitted by Well Known Marketing and Advertising Agency
Across the province, businesses have been transforming their digital presence as a result of a partnership between the Province of Ontario, OBIAA (Ontario Business Improvement Area Association) and Digital Main Street, a program and service that helps main street businesses build and improve their online presence and digital capabilities. Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes and Georgian Bay BIAs and downtown core sectors are able to access the free services offered by the Digital Main Street program.
“We are thrilled to be taking on this exciting project,” says Kyra Watters of Well Known Marketing and Advertising Agency, based in Huntsville, which as been selected to act as Muskoka’s Digital Service Squad (DSS). “We know that there’s no shortage of talent and ambition in our region. This program will help to ensure that local business owners have the digital tools and literacy they need to showcase their hard work and get the foot traffic and online traffic they need to reach the next level.”
Watters will be joined by three representatives from her agency of nine professionals―Dan Powers, Emily Blackman and Marie Kamukuny―who will make up the core of the DSS team, and will consult business owners about their digital presence, Google products, and social media.
The rest of her team will help facilitate a variety of workshops on topics including digital advertising, customer communications, and building brand awareness.
Muskoka’s Digital Main Street program will launch in January, and business owners are encouraged to reach out to the DSS at [email protected] as soon as possible to make inquiries and schedule a consultation for the new year.
To learn more about the Digital Main Street program, business owners can follow the Digital Service Squad on Facebook and Instagram @digitalmainst.muskoka
To be eligible for DSS services and support, businesses must be members of their local BIA or be
deemed a downtown business by their Township.
Additionally, the Digital Service Squad is encouraging all Muskoka businesses that offer digital services such as social media management, web design, digital advertising and tech support to go online at www.digitalmainstreet.ca and register as a vendor within the Digital Main Street directory. The DSS will be referring to the directory of vendors when consulting with business owners, and suggesting they reach out to local business that offer services and products that can improve their online presence.
“The Digital Main Street program is a great resource and opportunity during the slow months for business owners in Muskoka to start thinking about the digital world in a different way,” says Morgan Richter, manager of the Downtown Huntsville BIA. “The DSS will provide meaningful and tangible resources to help businesses gain knowledge and insight into the rapidly changing digital world. I am excited for the opportunity to be the lead on this project and provide a valuable service and experience, to not only the Huntsville BIA members, but the surrounding downtown businesses throughout Muskoka.”
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