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Learn more about the team behind unLOCKEd Victoria Erica Sarah Victoria Founder/Head of Marketing Erica Graphic Designer Sarah Copywriter Victoria Founder/Head of Marketing From just 11 years old, Victoria was passionate about marketing, deciding she was going to be like Angela from Who's the Boss, a high-powered, successful advertising executive in New York. Victoria has been working in the industry for 20 years and has built relationships with hundreds of companies, specializing in specific niches that all help her clients. Almost 10 years ago, Victoria observed the need for consistency across all marketing mediums, from logo design, to signage, and everything in between. She saw time and time again that when a logo or brand was created, the way it would work across marketing channels, such as on signage or websites wasn’t considered, often leading to brand confusion. With that in mind, she started unLOCKEd Company. Erica Graphic Designer Meet Erica, a graphic designer who knew she was destined for art from a young age. After a few high school co-ops, she realized that Graphic Design was her calling. Erica honed her skills at Conestoga College and started her design career. When she met Victoria at unLOCKEd, they quickly became partners in design crime. Since then, she's been obsessed with all things branding and website design, making everything look beautifully cohesive. Sarah Copywriter Sarah has been in love with writing ever since she was little. Her parents found pieces of paper with song lyrics and stories scrawled across them in crayons as soon as she could write. She nurtured her love all through her schooling, from essays for class to poetry contests in her free time. By the end of high school, she found an interest in marketing and communications and combined her passions through a double major at the University of Windsor. Sarah completes the team at unLOCKEd and allows the company to take on any project with their expertise in every area of marketing.

unLOCKEd Marketin g gets the results your business needs. Success Stories We have had the privilege of working with so many growing companies in our region and we think they should get to share their results with you. Client: Project: We started working with Oxford at their first location at The Boardwalk. Since then we have either branded or rebranded their 14 locations. This includes their flagship location where we helped set the standard for signage, print designs, furniture, millwork, paint colours, flooring, and more... LEARN MORE Client: Project: We have branded two CPS locations in the Medical Centre at The Boardwalk. Working with the interior designer we developed the interior branding for the offices. We continue to support CPS as new Doctors and staff join the office with business cards, name signs, name tags and adding them to the directories. All it takes is a quick call or email and we take care of the rest. LEARN MORE Client: Project: We have been working with The Boardwalk for many years in many different capacities. We have helped plan several events, worked on their behalf with radio, transit ads, publications, printing, graphic design, interior branding, interior and exterior signs. We've completed the wayfinding, signage and printed materials for the Medical Centre at The Boardwalk and work with many of the businesses and Doctor's offices on an on going bases. LEARN MORE Client: Project: We rebranded seven locations for Josslin and Keil-Dadson Insurance. Each location was unique and required customized options for signage. With each location in a different city, we needed to apply for sign permits for each of the locations separately. LEARN MORE Success Stories TESTIMONIALS Victoria becomes a main player on your team. When someone has passion for their work, people notice. Victoria has been with us from the opening of our flagship location. From design, print to new creative concepts she always over delivers. Her print idea's get your business noticed. Victoria is detailed oriented, creative, unique, always professional and polished. Last minute deadlines are not a concern. She has tackled every challenge we presented her with and we are convinced she thrives under pressure. I wouldn't trust my brand with anyone else. ​ Alison Meriano, Sales & Marketing Manager Oxford Medical Imaging Testimonials Let's get started. At unLOCKEd, we take care of everything, that's right, all of it. We are industry experts with an abundance of experience. We will get your business where it needs to be, on time, the first time, and for the right price. Integrated Design, Brand and Marketing, Firm Serving Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and beyond! Get started Our Services We handle the many moving parts so you can focus on your business. You do not have time to deal with a graphic designer, sign company, the city for permits, printing company, website developer, promotional supplier, digital media company…that’s why you work with unLOCKEd. You have a single contact for all of your marketing and branding needs so you can spend your time on your already full schedule. Learn more

Integrated Design, Brand and Marketing Firm in Waterloo Make your business stand out with personal, one-on-one service from local branding and marketing experts. ​ Click to unlock the only marketing contact you'll ever need unLOCKEd Marketing specializes in... Website Design Your website is the first and, sometimes, the only thing your potential customers see when they are searching for your products or services. Having a website that people can find is crucial to growing your business. Social Media Management Let our social media experts unL OCKE the impact of every post, blog, and content block that your business shares. We ensure every word is aligned with your strategic goals, SEO is optimized, and your message is delivered clearly. Our expertise allows your team to focus on what is important: building your business.⁠ Digital Advertising ​ Your storefront logo doesn’t matter unless people actually make it to the store! unLOCKEd helps create digital marketing strategies, content, and advertisements to make sure customers are lining up out your door. AND MORE! .⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SERVICES unLOCKEd offers you a different marketing experience. You work directly with one person who has in-depth knowledge of the industry and the region, dedicated to managing and taking care of your marketing projects. This same person draws from a network of experienced professionals who specialize in every niche, identifying the talents, backgrounds and ideas best aligned to your business. Victoria LOCKE ensures you get the best in the specific field you need. unLOCKEd differs in our ability to solve problems for your business. We get to know your business, help you clarify your needs and then develop the solution. Our personalized approach crafts higher quality solutions on flexible terms. Benefitting from years of experience in the management process, Victoria LOCKE understands the core competency of owners and managers and works on your behalf. HOME unLOCKEd offers you a different marketing experience. You work directly with one person who has in-depth knowledge of the industry and the region, dedicated to managing and taking care of your marketing projects. This same person draws from a network of experienced professionals who specialize in every niche, identifying the talents, backgrounds and ideas best aligned to your business. Victoria LOCKE ensures you get the best in the specific field you need. unLOCKEd differs in our ability to solve problems for your business. We get to know your business, help you clarify your needs and then develop the solution. Our personalized approach crafts higher quality solutions on flexible terms. Benefiting from years of experience in the management process, Victoria LOCKE understands the core competency of owners and managers and works on your behalf. What we do Learn More About Our Company Learn More About Our Team We are proud to help local businesses across Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge with their marketing needs. CHECK OUT OUR SUCCESS STORIES Let's get started. Integrated Design, Brand and Marketing Firm in Waterloo ​ Make your business stand out with personal, one-on-one service from local branding and marketing experts. Serving Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and beyond. Call Us Contact Us Submit Thanks for submitting!

In a previous blog, The Importance of Interior Branding, we discussed how branded environments or interior branding can benefit your company. It is not only important for aesthetics and showcasing your logo, but also to demonstrate brand values and create consistency. Many design elements, such as colour, textiles, and even furniture, can be used to achieve this effect. To give you some inspiration for your space, this blog will provide a few examples of brand values and how they can be created through interior design. Accessibility Accessibility has become a common concern among brands. Companies want to make sure that their products, services, and benefits are accessible to everyone. If your brand claims it prioritizes accessibility, your space needs to show it. Make sure your location is updated with wheelchair ramps and accessible parking spots, and that your signs include braille along with text. Accessibility can also be implemented visually by making sure text is large enough to read from a distance, and the text colour is easy to read against the background colour. Further, ensure that all customers can equally access experiences within the space by gaining insight from a diverse range of people. Inviting feedback is also a great way to ensure your location is accessible to everyone. Sustainability Customers love to know that their product is sustainably sourced or made, but what about the packaging or the store? When someone orders your product, do they have to tear through multiple layers of packaging that will end up in the garbage? Using minimal packaging and making it recyclable or compostable is one way to showcase your sustainability. In-store, live plants or a moss wall make your interior design more eco-friendly and can even help clean the air. Lots of natural light can also create this feeling for customers. If your brand values sustainability, ensure your products and the feel of your space reflect this. Comfort Comfort can be included in a branded environment with simple design elements that are uncommon in commercial spaces. Warm light rather than harsh white light is one way to do this. If you want customers to feel good buying and using your products, create a comfortable, relaxing space they can do it in. A bookstore is one example of a business that values comfort. Soft, warm light and cozy chairs to read a book create this atmosphere for their customers. Paint and furniture colours can also have a similar effect. Luxury Think of a jewelry store or a travel agency. As soon as you step into the space, even if it’s just inches from a crowded mall hallway, you are transported into the world of luxury. Gold and glass cases line rows of deep purple, burgundy, and ivory tiles. Twinkling lights reflect on the diamonds and emeralds laid perfectly on velvet cushions. You are surrounded by the luxurious aesthetic you are shopping for. Or maybe full wall murals of a sunset or an attractive couple on a beach envelop you as you walk in. You can practically feel the sand beneath your feet and hear the crashing waves. If your company promises a luxurious getaway, show the customer the beautiful scene they don’t want to miss. We hope these examples give you some ideas on how to turn your space into a branded environment. unLOCKEd marketing experts can help you with projects like this and more! Check out our services on our website to start improving your marketing strategy today. Author: Sarah Murphy

Here at unLOCKEd, we offer a range of marketing services to help unLOCKE your business’s full potential. We’ve discussed The Value of Outsourcing Your Marketing Over Using AI and answered the question “Why Hire a Social Media Manager?” in previous blogs, but today, we are diving into the benefits of using one company/contact to take care of all of your marketing. From signage to social media to website design, we can do it all, and here’s why that’s so important. Communication One difficulty of partnering with any outside party is communication. Through the pandemic and the broader world of social media, we have learned how much can get lost in a text message or social media post. The risk of miscommunication in online formats or even just between two people can scare companies into remaining self-reliant and resisting outside help. Much of this can be avoided by using one marketing contact. You don’t have to be worried about emailing multiple marketing contacts working on numerous marketing projects or how a social media campaign conflicts with a piece of information on your website. Additionally, unLOCKEd is a local company. We work with clients in our area so that we can meet with them in person and understand their business or the space they are working in. This face-to-face connection helps avoid any confusion or misinterpretations in order to properly manage your marketing projects and deliver your vision. Cohesion In line with this communication comes the second C: Cohesion. When displaying your brand, you want to be authentic and recognizable. One way to do this is to ensure all your marketing channels are aligned. Your brand colours, logo, personality, style, etc. should be consistent, from your signage to your social media platforms to your website to your interior design. This allows customers to find you more easily and have a uniform view of your business. Achieving this kind of cohesion is almost impossible with multiple marketing contacts. unLOCKEd offers you a different marketing experience. You work directly with one person with in-depth knowledge of the industry and the region, who is dedicated to managing and taking care of your marketing projects. This same person draws from a network of experienced professionals who specialize in every niche, identifying the talents, backgrounds and ideas best aligned with your business. This allows every marketing endeavour to align with your brand’s values and aesthetics while still getting the best in every field you need. Control The final C is a big fear when many companies consider outsourcing their marketing: loss of control. However, contrary to this, outsourcing your marketing with unLOCKEd actually gives you more control. If you plan on outsourcing your marketing, your company likely does not have the resources to make it what you want it to be. unLOCKEd marketing experts ensure you get the best in the field you need, allowing you to have better control over the impact and influence your marketing has. You work directly with one contact who keeps you in the loop through every project as we understand the core competency of owners and managers and work on your behalf. By working with unLOCKEd, you keep control of all your marketing channels and your vision while attaining better control over the results and metrics they achieve. unLOCKEd works with your company to make your marketing the most effective. You work with one contact and receive the best in every field, allowing your marketing experience to comprise of the 3 C’s: communication, cohesion, and control. Author: Sarah Murphy

When discussing your website and marketing strategy, one of the key terms that come up is search engine optimization (SEO). Most people understand that SEO is important for their company and website traffic, but how to improve it is a little more questionable. If you are uncertain about SEO and how it works, you’ve come to the right place. This blog will give you a crash course on all things SEO, including what it is, what affects it, how unLOCKEd can help, and more! What is SEO? SEO is the practice of orienting your website to rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP) so that you receive more traffic. Google surveys web pages to find the ones that are relevant and optimized to appear when someone enters a search query. What is SEO ranking, and why is it important? In SEO, ranking refers to your content’s position on the SERPs. A #1 ranking means that when people search for a particular term, your web page is the first result (apart from promoted results, featured snippets, and answer boxes). Appearing in the top 3 results is excellent because your click-through rates skyrocket the closer you get to #1. Appearing within the top 10 results is useful because it keeps you on the first page of search results. The higher your position on the SERP is, the more relevant, organic traffic your page will receive, resulting in more leads and sales. What are SEO ranking factors? Now that you understand what SEO does and why it is important, let’s discuss what Google looks at to decide if your website is optimized. OptinMonster recently provided a guide to Google’s top 10 current SEO ranking factors. These are some steps you can take to begin improving your SEO ranking: A Secure and Accessible Website – If Google is unable to access your page, it will not be able to survey and rank it. Page Speed – Google wants to provide users with the best web experience, and being able to access information quickly is a big part of that. Mobile Friendliness – More people now use mobile devices to access the web than desktops, so the mobile experience plays a significant role in how Google ranks search results. Domain Age, URL, and Authority – Google prioritizes websites that have been around for a while (3+ years). A relevant URL is only really important before this; focus on a URL that reflects your business and then optimize the content instead. Authority has to do with great content, the content’s creator, and off-page SEO (inbound links, social shares, etc.). Optimized Content – Factors such as organic use of keywords and terms related to the main terms people are searching for (LSI keywords), understanding search intent (navigational, informational, investigational, or transactional), content length (2000+ words ranks better), content optimized for answer boxes, and use of video content affect how Google’s algorithm ranks your content. Technical SEO – Google can better understand pages with the correct coding and layout (keywords in page titles, proper heading hierarchy setup, image alt tags, etc.). User Experience – Google uses AI to better understand your page’s user experience, a signal they call RankBrain (click-through rate, bounce rate, and dwell time). Links – Google uses inbound and outbound links to determine your authority and relevance, and internal links to tie together and boost other pages on your site. Social Signals – Social shares can indirectly improve your SEO by increasing traffic and building backlinks, although it is not a direct ranking factor. Real Business Information – This includes name, address, phone number, business listings on Google My Business and Facebook, reviews, and the right local search terms. How can outsourcing your marketing improve your SEO? Reading through this list may seem like an overwhelming amount of information. Although some of it can be implemented through simple changes, other ranking factors require large amounts of work or even redoing parts of your website. This is where unLOCKEd can help! Our marketing experts can devote the time and knowledge needed to improve your website and SEO. We know all the tips and tricks to help without taking your time away from running your business. Contact us for your website and other marketing needs. Author: Sarah Murphy