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From social media and SEO to branding, signage, and Google Ads, unLOCKEd Company takes care of everything so you can focus on growing your business. As a local B2B business owner, you started your company to share your passion and talent, not to juggle multiple agency communications or micromanage metrics. That’s why we provide an all-in-one solution, managing every aspect of your marketing—from strategy and creative to execution and reporting. Interested in learning more about how we can drive growth and success for your business? In this blog, we’ll share our experience and expertise, and how we can help you. One Contact, Every Solution At unLOCKEd Company, you get a dedicated marketing advisor, Victoria Locke-Wheal, who manages every aspect of your marketing. With over 20 years of experience and a trusted team of specialists, Victoria gets to know your brand, industry, and audience so we can market your business with a consistent, professional, and effective plan. We handle branding, logo creation or refresh, social media management, content creation, website design, SEO, ads, print, signage, and more, so you don’t have to juggle multiple agencies for your marketing needs. unLOCKEd Company is your one contact with every solution. Experience in Adapting With over 20 years of experience, we know how to adapt to a wide variety of B2B industries. From meeting your audience where they’re scrolling to picking up on industry jargon, we know how to make your marketing feel authentic and educated. We help you find your market niche and broadcast to your target audience, acquiring new clients and standing out from competitors. From commercial interiors to fabrication machinery, your industry is our new home. From Strategy to Execution No matter what stage you’re at in your marketing journey, unLOCKEd Company can help. Start-up looking for some strategy and tips? We’ll work with you at every step. Ready for a rebrand or refresh? We can help you update every aspect, from your logo to your interior branding. Maybe your marketing is already up and running, but you’re looking for a more hands-off approach? Let us handle your socials and content calendar, so you can get back to running your business. From Digital to Physical We can help you at any stage and in any space . Our marketing experts are experienced across a wide range of marketing services, so we can keep your brand consistent across digital and physical spaces. Let your brand identity shine through your social media posts, website content, outdoor signage, interior design, and more! UnLOCKEd Company was founded with the vision of providing consistency across all marketing mediums, and we still strive for that goal with every client and every project.  Local Expertise In addition to our experience and convenience, our local roots make us second-to-none. Partner with a dedicated marketing advisor who knows the Waterloo Region like the back of her hand and lives in the same neighbourhood as your audience! As a full-service marketing agency based in Waterloo and serving all of Waterloo Region — including Kitchener, Cambridge, Guelph, Ayr, and beyond — we know what works with your clients, from how to reach them to what they value. Your business deserves your full attention; let us make your marketing simple. One contact, one invoice, one strategy that works. Ready to experience the unLOCKEd difference? Schedule your kick-off call  today.

Starting your first job after graduation can be both exciting and overwhelming. At unLOCKEd Company, we’ve built a culture that helps new graduates grow into confident, creative marketing professionals while making a real impact for our clients. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work at unLOCKEd — and why young professionals choose to launch their careers with us. 1. You’ll Get Real, Hands-On Experience From day one, you’re not just watching from the sidelines — you’re actively contributing. Whether it’s drafting social media content, helping design campaigns, or supporting a client project, your work directly impacts local businesses. 2. You Learn How Agencies Really Work We’re not a huge agency with dozens of departments. Instead, you get exposure to everything: social media, SEO, branding, website updates, advertising, and more. You’ll quickly see how all the pieces fit together. 3. Mentorship & Collaboration Are Built In Working directly with Victoria (our founder) means you’re learning from someone with ove two decades of experience. You’ll also collaborate with designers, writers, and strategists, building relationships that guide your growth. 4. Every Day is Different Some days you’ll be writing blog content. Others, you might be brainstorming TikTok ideas for a client, sitting in on a brand strategy meeting, or helping prepare signage for a local business. You’ll never feel stuck in a repetitive routine. 5. You See the Local Impact of Marketing unLOCKEd is deeply rooted in the Waterloo Region. That means your work isn’t just for “big brands” you’ll never interact with — it’s for real small and mid-sized businesses you can see in your own community. 6. You Grow Fast Because you’ll be trusted with meaningful projects early on, your skills (and confidence) grow quickly. Many new grads find they develop stronger portfolios here than they would in a larger, more siloed agency. 7. A Supportive, Flexible Environment We know the jump from school to marketing work can be intense. That’s why we build in check-ins, feedback, and flexibility to help you thrive — not just survive. 8. It’s About People, Not Just Marketing At the end of the day, marketing is about building connections. And at unLOCKEd, we practice what we preach. We celebrate wins together, support each other through challenges, and make sure you feel like part of the team. Ready to Start Working in Marketing? If you’re a recent graduate looking for your first step into the marketing world, unLOCKEd could be the right place to learn, grow, and make a real difference. 📩 Reach out to learn about upcoming opportunities. Author: Victoria Wheal

Many of our clients come to us saying, “Oh, I just need a logo,” and assume everything else will fall into place. While we can help you design a logo that fits your brand and is recognizable to your audience, you need more than that. Your brand identity  is built from many aspects, including a logo, that work together to create your brand’s personality — a cohesive image conjured in the minds of your buyers. While a logo is a good start to forming this identity, everything else about your brand, from your social media presence to your signage, needs to work with it to create the distinct image that your audience will remember. Still a little confused about the difference? No worries! In this blog, we’ll discuss each and why they matter. Logos To begin, let’s define what a logo is: a symbol or other design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniforms, vehicles, etc. While a logo is essential to the marketing and operation of your company, it’s not all you need for success. Your brand logo is arguably the most important visual extension of your identity, but there’s so much more that goes into it. unLOCKEd can help you create a logo that uses appropriate brand colours, exemplifies your brand personality, and communicates your positioning to your audience. However, if the rest of your marketing doesn’t match, it won’t be an authentic, trustworthy, or recognizable image. That’s where the rest of your brand identity comes in… Brand Identity Your brand identity is the collective set of elements your company uses to portray its intended image, including visual components such as logos, colour palettes, and typography, as well as verbal aspects like brand voice and messaging. Your logo, while important, is only one piece of your brand identity. You need all the other pieces to portray the entire image or personality, or your brand presence will feel incomplete and fragmented. Some other aspects of your brand identity may include brand purpose, brand name, graphics, images, shapes, colour scheme, typography, tone, voice, and slogan. All of these elements should work together to create a consistent identity, ensuring there is no confusion when potential customers encounter your brand. Whether they find your social media, website, or store, all of these aspects can come into play to create your intended image. A well-planned brand identity is essential for communicating your brand's offerings, personality, and positioning at a single glance, making it recognizable to your audience and helping you stay top-of-mind. unLOCKEd can help you create and portray your brand identity, from logo creation and brand strategy to social media management, website design, and signage. You don’t “just need a logo,” you just need unLOCKEd. Contact us  today to get started.

Artificial intelligence and automation are becoming increasingly common in many industries, including marketing. A recent study by Influencer Marketing Hub even showed that over 60% of marketers had used AI in their marketing activities. While AI can be useful for tasks such as data analysis and task automation, it cannot replace the value of marketing strategy and expertise that requires real people. AI should not be ignored as a helpful tool, but the marketer using the tool makes the biggest difference. Companies with little marketing experience might think using artificial intelligence is a smart and cost-effective solution, but it is not nearly as helpful to their brand’s success as outsourcing. That’s where unLOCKEd can help. But you don’t have to take our word for it – here are some disadvantages of using AI in place of an experienced marketer. AI Cannot Replicate Human Connection While chatbots are common in today’s marketing strategies, they are not the same as human connection. Chatbots may be able to answer a customer’s inquiry quickly and efficiently, but they have limited responses and cannot display the emotion or empathy of a human agent . Quality customer service is essential to many customers, and a frustrating experience with a chatbot could result in a severed relationship with your brand. AI is incapable of the subjective thinking and emotional connections humans are, and these limitations can be detrimental to a company that relies on AI. Customers value the personalization that only people can offer. Additionally, using AI content means running the risk of sounding too robotic or repetitive, making it difficult for customers to connect to your brand. The Need for Human Intervention Although AI is useful for data analytics, it is only as good as the data it’s given. AI often requires large data sets of rich and functional information. This requires a human that understands the data and its application to feed it to AI. Successful AI content is not generated without human intervention and, therefore, cannot replace, only assist, a skilled marketer. Further, human intervention on the other end is often necessary to interpret or communicate the results of these analytics. Replacing the technical jargon and statistics-heavy information with wording that is understandable and useful to a customer is an integral part of a marketer’s job, and is still necessary with the use of AI. Over-dependence on Metrics and Analytics While quantitative metrics and analytics can be useful when making marketing decisions, they do not tell the whole story. Focusing on these components creates a failure in considering qualitative factors like customer satisfaction or brand loyalty . The numbers alone are not representative of a situation, and relying on the metrics and statistics provided by AI can create a hole in your marketing strategy. An over-dependence on this technology can actually create more problems than it solves! Additionally, it can take years for laws to catch up with emerging technologies . Relying on AI too heavily could have severe drawbacks if laws are later enacted against its use. It also puts the company behind in the event that marketing strategies beyond the use of AI are needed, and the company does not have the necessary employees or expertise to fulfill this. Lack of Creativity and Innovation Creativity is not something that a machine can replicate. AI is helpful for repetitive tasks because it is a repetitive technology; that’s what it is built for. Humans are required to brainstorm creative and innovative ideas that represent brand values and are relevant to consumers. Relying on AI can create a dull or disconnected strategy that comes out sounding boring or robotic . Creativity has always been an element that creates connections between people and sparks interest and inspiration. Ultimately, AI can be an excellent tool to automate and streamline aspects of the marketing process, but companies should be aware that AI shouldn’t replace the human element . Reliability of Technology and Algorithms Finally, there is the issue of reliability. Artificial intelligence is still newer technology that is not without its flaws. It may have difficulty recognizing certain information, such as sentiment , or producing consistently reliable predictions and analysis. On top of needing large amounts of data to produce beneficial results, the understanding of this data is not always dependable, creating a risk of relying too heavily on AI. Outsourcing your marketing will significantly benefit your company in the long run rather than trusting AI with your brand. If your company is in need of marketing expertise and assistance, unLOCKEd is here to help. 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. Author: Sarah Murphy

Welcome to unLOCKEd’s Marketing Mindfulness Series! In today’s hectic digital world, mindfulness practices can provide relief from the chaos when you can’t just shut it off. Mindfulness can benefit your personal and professional life, which we discussed in more detail in last month’s Marketing Mindfulness blog . If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to check it out! We are sharing one mindfulness practice a month to help you gradually implement mindfulness into your daily life. Trying to make a big change all at once can be daunting and frustrating, but with one small change each month, you can make a big difference! August Mindfulness Practice: Focus on One Task at a Time This month’s mindfulness practice is to focus on one task at a time. For a long time, multitasking was seen as the silver bullet for improving your productivity . However, it is now generally agreed upon that multitasking is not the best answer. Working on multiple tasks at once forces your brain to rapidly switch between them, resulting in none of the tasks receiving the required attention. Benefits Focusing on one task at a time benefits you and your work. For example, it can minimize your cognitive effort as you are only focused on the task at hand rather than the work of switching between them. It also improves your focus in general, helping you avoid getting off track due to other tasks or distractions. Focusing on one task also allows you to get into a flow state more easily, resulting in better-quality work. Finally, it can help reduce stress while keeping productivity high. How to Implement This Practice If you are someone who is used to multitasking, this may not be a simple flip of a switch to implement. To begin to employ this practice, set yourself up for success. Ensure your workspace minimizes distractions that could get you off-task, and set aside time to plan when you will focus on each task you need to complete. Whether that is divided by hours or days, find a schedule that works for you! If you find yourself drifting back to multitasking, make a conscious effort to regain focus. Give that one task your undivided attention and energy for increased efficiency and quality of work. We hope this mindfulness practice helps! Be sure to look out for next month’s blog to continue this series with us! Author: Sarah Murphy

This year marks 11 years of unLOCKEd Company , and I’ve been reflecting on what this journey has taught me — as a business owner, strategist, and community partner. Running a marketing agency isn’t just about campaigns, ads, and analytics; it’s about people, persistence, and perspective. Here are 11 lessons I’ve learned in 11 years of building and growing unLOCKEd . 1. Relationships Are Everything Clients stay when they feel heard and supported. More than flashy campaigns, what keeps people coming back is trust, communication, and a sense that you’re truly invested in their success. 2. Strategy Beats Tactics Every Time Anyone can post on social media or run an ad. But without strategy—clear goals, smart positioning, and data behind decisions—marketing becomes expensive guesswork. 3. Flexibility Wins in Business No plan survives untouched. Algorithms change, new platforms emerge, and industries shift. The agencies that adapt quickly (and help clients adapt too) are the ones that thrive. 4. Community Matters Some of our best opportunities have come through local networking, volunteering, and community partnerships. Being present in your region isn’t just good PR—it builds real relationships. 5. Small Teams Can Do Big Things Outsourced marketing works because clients don’t want the burden of managing 5–10 different vendors. With one point of contact and a trusted team behind me, we’ve delivered projects that rival the work of much larger agencies. 6. Creativity Needs Breathing Room The best ideas don’t always come in back-to-back meetings. Building space into schedules for brainstorming, learning, and creative exploration has paid off tenfold. 7. Analytics Are Your North Star Without measuring results, you’re flying blind. Tools like Google Analytics and Semrush have been key in showing clients proof  that their investment is working. 8. Boundaries Protect Burnout When you run your own agency, it’s easy to be “always on.” Over the years, I’ve learned that setting boundaries—not just for myself, but for my team—makes us more productive and sustainable. 9. Celebrate the Wins (Big and Small) A website launch, a great ad campaign, a testimonial from a client—all of these are worth pausing to celebrate. Momentum builds when you recognize progress 10. The Learning Never Stops From AI-driven tools to evolving consumer behaviour, marketing is always changing. Staying curious and willing to learn has been the most important lesson of all. 11. Marketing Is About People, Not Platforms At its core, marketing is about connecting with people. The tools will change—TikTok today, something else tomorrow—but empathy, storytelling, and authentic communication will always matter. Here’s to 11 years of growth, challenges, and lessons — and to what’s next for unLOCKEd. — Victoria Wheal, Founder of unLOCKEd Company Author: Victoria Wheal

Your logo is often the first impression people have of your brand. But what happens when your logo no longer reflects who you are, feels outdated, or doesn’t work across today’s digital and print platforms? That’s where a logo refresh or re-edit  comes in. At unLOCKEd Company, we help businesses refine and reimagine their logos so they can grow confidently with a consistent, professional brand identity. Why Consider a Logo Refresh? A logo re-edit isn’t about erasing your history—it’s about keeping your brand relevant and effective. Common reasons clients come to us include: ✅ Your business has evolved, and your old logo doesn’t fit anymore ✅ The design looks dated and doesn’t align with modern aesthetics ✅ You need variations for digital, social media, and print use ✅ Your logo isn’t versatile in different sizes or colour formats ✅ You’re merging, rebranding, or expanding into new markets Our Logo Re-Edit Process At unLOCKEd, we treat every logo refresh as both a creative project  and a strategic decision . Here’s how we help: 1. Discovery & Brand Audit We begin by reviewing your existing logo and brand materials. We’ll talk with you about what’s working, what’s not, and what you’d like to carry forward. 2. Concept Refinement Our design team explores options for updating fonts, colours, and layouts while keeping your core identity intact. Sometimes this means a subtle polish; other times, it’s a bolder rework. 3. Versatility Testing Your updated logo is tested across different applications—social media, signage, websites, print, and more. We ensure it looks sharp and consistent everywhere. 4. Final Delivery Package You’ll receive a full package of files, including vector (AI, EPS), raster (PNG, JPG), and print-ready versions, plus monochrome and transparent options. This ensures your logo is future-proof  and easy to use in any scenario. Before & After Examples We’ve helped businesses across Ontario refresh their brand identities: mmSense Technologies Before: A cluttered logo with a busy pattern and hard-to-read text, making it difficult to capture the brand’s identity. After: A clean, modern design with bold typography and a refined symbol that communicates innovation and credibility. Cornerstone Before: A fragmented design with distracting elements that weakened brand recognition. After: A strong, cohesive logo with clear lettering and a refined icon that enhances professionalism and trust. SD Bookkeeping Before: A generic logo with an overused symbol that lacked uniqueness and brand impact. After: A bold, modern design with strong typography and a sleek accent that conveys professionalism and confidence. Why unLOCKEd? Unlike online logo generators, we don’t just “make a logo.” We take the time to understand your brand story, market, and long-term needs.  Our goal is to create a refreshed logo that not only looks great but also aligns with your overall marketing strategy. Ready to Refresh Your Logo? If your logo no longer feels like you —or simply needs to catch up with your business growth—we’d love to help. Contact unLOCKEd Company today to discuss a logo re-edit or full brand refresh. Author: Victoria Wheal

As you might know, I originally started unLOCKEd with the vision of providing consistency across all marketing mediums, from logo design to signage, and everything in between. That goal has stayed the same over the last decade, as we have helped clients see the importance of interior branding  and learn how to create a branded environment . However, as marketing and technology have evolved, we have bridged new areas, such as the power of video marketing . Still, through it all, we have always been our clients’ one contact  for all their marketing needs, emulating a clear brand image and allowing them to focus on running their business. In this blog, we will be sharing some of the ways we’ve bridged that gap, providing some tips for how to create a consistent brand experience from digital to physical spaces. The First Mistake… The first mistake clients make when they come to us is thinking that they just need a logo. The good news is that we can help with that! The bad news is that you probably need a whole lot more than a logo. Brand identities  require many elements working together to connect with the customer and create a compelling image. These elements are both visual and non-visual, including everything from your colour palette to your brand voice. Not only do these elements need to create a cohesive identity, but that identity needs to be consistent across mediums to be effective and avoid customer confusion. Luckily, unLOCKEd can help with your logo, and everything else you need! Digital Brand Experience So, before we bridge the gap from digital to physical spaces, let’s talk about how you build a digital brand experience. Your digital brand encompasses everything from your logo and slogan to your blog posts and social media! It can be a lot of ground to cover and can feel overwhelming when you are trying to juggle your day-to-day business operations. This is where unLOCKEd steps in – We get to know your business, help you clarify your needs and then develop the solution. Our years of experience and expertise allow us to produce high-quality, cohesive results across all of these mediums, and more! We help you stand out in your industry, tailor your content to local audiences, and drive the growth you’ve been looking for. Digital to Physical Your logo, slogan, website, and social media have been hand-crafted to perfection, engaging your audience and driving conversions. Luckily, this is how the majority of your customers will find you – your first impression is locked in! Now, you need to ensure that the impression carries over to your physical space. 46% of Google searches are local, so when those customers visit you in person, you don’t want them to be disappointed. Just as you ensured that every aspect of your digital presence was cohesive, your physical presence should be equally consistent – the power of branding  truly comes into play when every touchpoint in your physical space plays a role. Your interior branding should display your brand values, colours, and personality, the same way your Instagram page does, creating a connection with your customers and reinforcing your brand identity. Design elements, materials, and even placement can portray your brand values, creating a seamless, cohesive experience that leaves a lasting impression. Tips and Advice Finally, let’s get into some tips on how you can execute this consistent brand experience in your company. The first step is to have a very clear set of brand guidelines. This should lay out everything from your exact brand colours to your tone and voice. In every marketing decision, come back to these guidelines – can you fit the tone better in this blog post? Can you pick your flooring based on your brand values? This is the best way to keep things consistent. Second, consider everything you do as a part of your marketing! Any outward-facing part of your business is considered marketing (and even some inward-facing parts!). If someone is going to see it, stick to your brand guidelines! This way, your brand’s identity will start to feel natural and can even come across as more trustworthy to your audience. From bike racks to training documents to office design – it’s all marketing. Our last tip is to reach out to unLOCKEd to help with your marketing. No matter what stage your company is at, logo design, driving growth, rebranding, or anywhere in between, we can help! Don’t try to do a full-time job in your spare moments; 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 – me! Ready to experience the unLOCKEd difference? Schedule your kick-off call today! Author: Sarah Murphy

At unLOCKEd, we offer a wide range of services, from interior branding to social media management, and we know the ins and outs of each one. Today, we want to focus on one service that sometimes gets overlooked but is crucial to your business: exterior signage. While exterior signage can sometimes fade into the background of your overall branding strategy, it plays an essential role in helping customers find your business and making a lasting impression. Here are some types of exterior signs we help design and install: Fascia Signs Fascia signs are the main exterior signs on your building’s facade. Typically, they feature your company’s name or logo and come in various styles, such as PVC letters, channel letters for a 3D effect, or illuminated signs that stand out, especially at night. They’re essential for brand recognition, whether at a single location or across multiple sites. Window Graphics Window graphics are highly versatile and can display promotions, brand values, or just add aesthetic appeal. They are perfect for businesses with large window fronts, especially in strip malls or offices where visibility might be limited. They can also provide privacy while maintaining your brand presence. Window Graphics Vehicle Graphics Turn your vehicles into mobile billboards with vehicle graphics. Whether on company cars or delivery vans, these graphics allow your business to reach a broader audience without relying on foot traffic. Vehicle Graphics Pylon Signs Pylon signs, typically found at the entrance to plazas or standalone businesses, are essential for capturing the attention of passing motorists. Visible from a distance, they let potential customers know your business is nearby. Pylon Sign Awning Signs Awning signs are ideal for businesses with outdoor spaces, sheltered entrances, or locations on street corners. They provide both functionality and visibility, making your business stand out while offering shade or shelter. Awning Sign Carved Signs Carved signs are crafted from durable materials like wood, PVC, or high-density urethane (HDU), making them suitable for various environments and weather conditions. The intricate carving creates depth and texture, giving the sign a classic yet professional look. Whether painted or stained to complement your brand colours, carved signs are perfect for businesses looking to make a lasting impression. Carved Sign Ground Signs Ground signs are a staple for plazas or large spaces, often used to mark a location or advertise to passing traffic. They can serve as landmarks for first-time visitors and are easily recognizable. Ground Sign (Plaza) Ground Sign (City) Temporary Signage Temporary signage is often used at construction sites or for new businesses about to open. Site signs and temporary ground signs are excellent for generating buzz before a business launch or grand opening. Site Sign Temporary Ground Sign Signage is a critical tool in drawing in potential customers and promoting your brand. At unLOCKEd, we know the best tips for branding projects and ensure that every sign we create aligns with your branding and enhances your business’s visibility. Let us help you make a lasting impression with your exterior signage! Author: Sarah Murphy

After providing marketing and rebranding assistance to numerous companies, we’ve gained a deep understanding of the process. However, rebranding a franchise comes with its own unique set of challenges. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of these challenges, how we approach finding solutions, and offer some tips for rebranding a franchise – let’s get started! Maintaining Consistency The first challenge of rebranding several franchise locations is maintaining consistency. Since you may be working with multiple franchisee owners, they may have differing opinions on how to go about the rebrand. However, to ensure an effective and recognizable rebranding, it is essential to maintain consistency across all locations. The best way to combat this challenge is to ensure that you have clear and concrete brand guidelines in place with the franchisor, which are communicated to all parties involved. This way, you have a standardized plan to work with, and no one feels left out of the conversation.   Cost and Timeline The next challenge is dealing with the cost and timeline of rebranding franchise locations. It can feel overwhelming when considering the scope of a franchise rebrand. However, in the long run, a successful rebrand will ultimately offset the costs. The most important thing to remember here is to lay out a clear and realistic budget and timeline for the project. Without a plan like this in place, it may feel like you’ll never reach the end. Planning for a phased rollout and understanding the costs and time required for each location will help you celebrate the successes and feel less overwhelmed!   Customer Confusion Any rebrand comes with the challenge of customer confusion. Especially with franchised locations, customers may grow attached to the way their location looks and feels. This can make changing these locations feel worrisome. On the other hand, a well-thought-out rebrand makes these changes for the overall brand strategy and market positioning. Overall, these advantages will outweigh any sacrifices that individual locations may have to make. Once again, the best way to avoid customer confusion throughout the process is a phased rollout and clear communication. When rebranding a location, consider running a targeted campaign in that area or to loyal customers to inform them of the changes while reaffirming your brand’s continued quality and service. You could also put up posters in stores before the rebrand to let customers know what to expect before you get into the job!   Maintaining Brand Equity The final challenge of a franchise rebrand is maintaining brand equity and customer loyalty. You may be rebranding for any number of reasons, from market repositioning to changing product offerings. Your new brand identity may have an altered or entirely new audience. To maintain your brand equity and relevance, conducting thorough research on your brand positioning and audience needs is essential – you don’t want to go into a rebrand blind. If you have done this, then the best way to retain your audience and maintain a positive brand perception is to manage customer expectations and perspectives. Once again, be transparent with your audience about what is changing and why. If you continue to meet their needs and maintain their trust, there is no reason you will lose their loyalty. Furthermore, this transparency is a great way to win over new customers you are trying to appeal to.   Tips Now that we’ve discussed the challenges that come with a franchise rebrand, here’s a compiled list of the tips we’ve mentioned throughout to ensure that your rebrand goes as smoothly as possible! Market and audience research Phased rollout/clear timeline Clear rebrand guidelines Measuring effectiveness Clear and consistent communication Transparency with customers/audience We hope these solutions and insights help if you are considering a franchise rebrand. As always, unLOCKEd is the "marketing agency near me" for all your needs, rebranding or otherwise. Contact us today to get started! Author: Sarah Murphy

Good marketing and branding involve ingraining your brand identity into every little part of your business. In 2025, branding goes beyond a logo and a slogan; it’s in your social media captions, ad design, interactions with customers, and interior design. Interior branding  encompasses everything in your business’s physical location. Whether that’s an office for your employees and clients, a retail store for your customers, or anything in between, incorporating your branding throughout your workplace creates an authentic, interactive, and inspiring experience for your staff and customers! In previous blogs, we’ve discussed some of the best tips for branding projects, including biophilic interior design , creating a branded environment , and the power of branding in the little things . These are great resources if you’re trying to plan, update, or improve your interior branding. In this blog, we’ll add to this list, diving into how wall graphics and murals can transform your business space.   Wall Graphics vs. Murals Let’s start with what these terms mean. Wall graphics are customizable images and graphics printed on self-adhesive vinyl material that is then applied to a wall. On the other hand, wall murals are generally painted directly on the wall. Depending on the artist, these are somewhat customizable, as well. Each of these options can add an aesthetic and inspiring element to your workspace, depending on the look you’re going for. Wall graphics can have sharper, cleaner lines and may be more cost-efficient, but wall murals can showcase local artists and show off your brand’s artistic side.   Wall Graphics & Murals in the Office In the office, wall graphics and murals can inspire employees, impress clients and partners, and encapsulate your brand identity. Putting effort into your office space shows your staff that you care about and appreciate them, and a branded environment can increase their motivation and job satisfaction. Further, specific colours can affect your emotions and mood (stay tuned for a future blog about this), and showing off your brand values and identity can be a great first impression to clients visiting your office!   Wall Graphics & Murals in Retail Similarly, wall graphics and murals in a retail location can help you impress and connect with customers while inspiring your staff! A prominent brand identity helps consumers connect with and trust your brand, and a graphic or mural showcasing your brand values can help communicate this with them. Additionally, an aesthetic, branded environment can make your workplace more enjoyable for your workers. Wall graphics and murals can even act as a photo opportunity for your company or customers to share on social media!   Tips for Adding Wall Graphics & Murals to Your Workplace If you’re thinking about adding wall graphics or a wall mural to your workspace, here are some tips to get you started! Consider brand identity, values, and colours Pick a visible location that staff or customers are sure to see Consider lighting on and around the graphics/mural (natural and artificial) Make sure your graphics/mural won’t be visually obstructed Prioritize a professional installer or artist for the best result   Wall graphics and murals can transform an otherwise plain and boring space into an aesthetic, branded masterpiece. If you’re looking to delight your customers or inspire your employees with an artistic addition to your workspace, be sure to contact unLOCKEd – your local marketing agency in waterloo and the one stop for all your marketing needs!

When it comes to social media marketing, there are many variables at hand, from algorithms to audiences to advertisements to engagement. Seeing the metrics that prove your strategy is driving success is essential, but sometimes the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Many businesses prioritize Instagram and LinkedIn for their marketing efforts, the former for its visuals and virality, and the latter for its B2B digital marketing and thought leadership reputation. However, when you ask which offers the highest engagement, the answer is not as straightforward as you might like. Each platform has different algorithms and audiences that prioritize different types of content and engagement. In this blog, we’ll break all this down, so you get the complete picture before deciding which social media is best for your business.   Content Types The first difference we’ll look at is content types. Visually, this one is starkly obvious. Instagram is for visual content – photos, reels, stories, and carousels. On this platform, creative assets are key, and brands that consistently deliver eye-catching visuals can build loyalty and increase engagement . The algorithm favours consistency and relevance, and brands can drive engagement with hashtags and interactive features. In contrast, LinkedIn is for thought leadership and networking, thriving on text-based posts and conversations. On this platform, conversations and education often outperform overt selling . Brands can drive B2B leads and sales by posting industry insights, case studies, and articles, prioritizing quality over quantity. Despite their differences, brands often have a presence on both platforms. However, understanding these differences can help businesses tailor their content to each in order to drive success and engagement.   Audience Types The next difference is audience types. As mentioned above, LinkedIn tends to be the leader for B2B online marketing. The audience consists mainly of executives, recruiters, entrepreneurs, and corporate professionals, as the platform is designed for business professionals, industry leaders, and decision-makers . This is a significant factor in whether your business will drive high engagement on the platform. If this is your target audience or you are focusing on nurturing leads, LinkedIn is the platform for you. On the other hand, Instagram is great for a wide variety of markets. Instagram has a diverse user base that includes professionals, creatives, and consumers. While not traditionally seen as a B2B platform, Instagram’s ability to showcase company culture, humanize brands, and engage audiences through visual storytelling makes it a valuable tool for certain industries . If your brand prioritizes visual storytelling and creative content, Instagram may be the platform to help you connect with your audience.   Engagement Types Lastly, there are different types of engagement on each platform. Platforms encourage different behaviours and provide different means of engagement. This means that engagement rates will vary as platforms count different behaviours with different levels of intention. For example, LinkedIn prioritizes comments and discussions, while Instagram thrives on shares and saves . Further, not all interactions, such as bookmarks, DMs, and link clicks, are counted in engagement rates. While LinkedIn shows the highest average engagement rate, its lower saturation and prioritization of conversations help to accentuate this. On the opposite end, Instagram shows the lowest average engagement rate, yet more content is being consumed than ever. With reels and stories dominating, users are watching more but interacting differently — passive engagement is rising . Creating shareable and saveable content might be the behind-the-scenes route to success on Instagram.   Overall As we said in the beginning, the numbers point to LinkedIn, but they don’t tell the whole story. Depending on your content, audience, and engagement types, either platform could be best for your brand’s engagement rates. At least now you have all the information to make an educated decision on the matter!   Need more marketing guidance? unLOCKEd is the one stop for all your marketing needs! From expertise to strategy to execution, contact us today to find the best solution for your business. Author: Sarah Murphy