Search Results

It’s no secret that AI is changing search and SEO. Your visibility is no longer reliant on your Google ranking; it is increasingly dependent on AI recommendations. The reality is that search is no longer just Google – it is still important, but it’s not the whole picture. Today, people search in two different ways: traditional search and AI-driven search. Traditional Google searches include Google Search results, Google Maps/Local Map Pack, “near me” searches, and high-volume discovery searches, which are still affected by our established SEO practices. However, AI-driven searches through tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, voice assistants, and AI summaries increasingly recommend one or two businesses they believe best fit the request. That shift changes how visibility works. What’s Changing (and Why It Matters) The old SEO mindset was: “As long as we rank somewhere on the first page, we’re fine.” The new reality: “If we’re not clearly understood and trusted, we’re invisible.” AI systems don’t just look at rankings. They look for clarity, consistency, and credibility across the web, honing in on context through who you are, what you specialize in, where you operate, what customers specifically  say about you, and whether your online presence gives confident, consistent answers. If these questions aren’t answered thoroughly and consistently across sources, your SERP ranking doesn’t matter to AI. Why Traditional SEO Alone Isn’t Enough Anymore Traditional SEO practices focus on keywords, links, technical structure, and authority over time. On the other hand, AI-driven discovery focuses on clear answers to real questions, service-specific language, context from reviews, FAQs, and brand mentions, and consistency across platforms. While strong traditional SEO helps, it doesn’t automatically translate into AI visibility. That’s why businesses are now optimizing for both systems at once. The Two Visibility Pillars Every Local Business Needs The first pillar your business needs is Google local visibility, which acts as your foundation. This is still where most high-intent local searches happen. Key elements of this pillar include an optimized Google Business Profile, correct primary & secondary categories, service descriptions written for real people, reviews that mention specific services, consistent location and contact information, and presence in the Google Map Pack. This pillar protects and grows current demand. The second pillar your business needs to build is AI recommendation readiness, which will provide your visibility growth. This pillar ensures your business is clearly understood by AI tools, positioned as a confident, relevant recommendation, and easy to “summarize” as the right choice. Key elements include clear service explanations (not generic copy), FAQ content that mirrors how people ask questions, reviews that describe outcomes, not just satisfaction, consistent brand facts everywhere online, and content that answers “why choose you?” without fluff. This pillar prepares you for how people will search next. Why Reviews Matter More Than Ever Every business knows it’s important to ask clients and customers for reviews, but not all reviews carry the same weight anymore. AI systems don’t just count stars; they read the words. For example, this review: “Great service, highly recommend!” is less powerful than this review: “They helped us with a full office move, coordinated timelines perfectly, and handled everything without disrupting our staff.” Specific language results in stronger visibility signals for AI tools to read. What Smart Businesses Are Doing Now Smart businesses aren’t abandoning Google, but they’re also not chasing every AI trend. Work on strengthening your Google Map presence, improving how clearly your services are described, encouraging better review language, and ensuring your brand story is consistent everywhere. In other words, prepare for AI discovery without neglecting today’s traffic. The goal isn’t to be everywhere, it’s to be the obvious choice. When someone searches on Google, in Maps, or in an AI assistant, they should see the same message: “This business knows exactly what they do, and they’re trusted.” That’s how visibility works in 2026. How We Support This Shift At unLOCKEd, our role isn’t to chase algorithms. As your marketing partner, we protect your current visibility, strengthen trust signals across platforms, position your business clearly for both Google and AI discovery, and focus on real outcomes: calls, leads, and qualified inquiries. No hype. No gimmicks. Just smart positioning for how people actually search now. Ready to stay visible in 2026? Book your kick-off call  with unLOCKEd today.

Your audience’s customer journey needs to be consistent and build value from touchpoint to touchpoint in order to turn their potential into a conversion or lead. If your branding, website, signage, SEO, ads, and social media are disconnected and incoherent, interest turns to confusion. Building an integrated strategy of consistent visuals, messaging, and customer experience positively impacts trust, conversions, and long-term brand equity. UnLOCKEd was founded on the core principle of building this consistency across mediums. That’s why we act as your single point of contact for all your marketing needs, connecting every touchpoint of your customer journey and driving real growth for your business. In this blog, we’ll explore the real costs of inconsistent branding, the benefits of an integrated strategy, and how unLOCKEd can help your business succeed. The Costs of Inconsistent Branding Inconsistent branding across marketing channels leads to confusion, a lack of trust, and lower conversions. Think of your marketing as a web; each string is connected to every other string through paths of social media presence, website design, user experience, SEO, ads, signage, your Google Business Profile, and so much more. This web spans your digital and physical mediums, all leading to the middle: a conversion. If these strings start to snap – your website disconnected from your social media – a potential customer loses a path to the centre and may fall off the web entirely. Consistent branding keeps your marketing web strong, building your reputation across touchpoints, driving real growth and brand equity, and encouraging your audience to funnel to the middle. The Benefits of an Integrated Strategy An integrated strategy ensures that all your touchpoints across your marketing web remain consistent. A coherent marketing approach builds trust with potential customers as they maneuver from string to string, connecting with your social media presence, building confidence from your Google Business Profile reviews, and moving toward a conversion on your navigable website. From the moment a customer finds your brand to the moment they convert, every medium they interact with, digital or physical, should help build a consistent picture of your brand identity that they can connect with your business. This image helps your business develop its reputation, portray transparency and trustworthiness, and ultimately increase conversions. Your Single Point of Contact At unLOCKEd, our marketing experts weave your touchpoints into a strong and reliable marketing web. From your physical location to your digital experience, we develop your integrated strategy to ensure every string is connected. Dealing with multiple vendors and contacts can result in disconnected outcomes. From social media and SEO to branding, signage, and Google Ads, unLOCKEd Company handles everything so you can focus on running your business. Ready to drive growth and success with consistent branding across all mediums? Contact unLOCKEd  today.

AI features, workflow automation, AI integration… as marketers, it seems to be all we hear about these days. Of course, these tools are monumental steps in supporting marketers and promoting growth, but when we look at 2026 industry predictions, it’s not the only thing to pay attention to. On the other side of the coin is the need for human expertise, creativity, and review as we begin to better understand and respond to this AI craze. As much as AI has become a helpful resource, it has made us crave humanization, personally and professionally. In 2026, we will see these two sides balance out – finding the value in AI assistance without losing ourselves and our companies to it. In this blog, we’ll go over our 10 marketing predictions for 2026, how they weave together technology and humanity, and how unLOCKEd can help you stay on top of it all! AI Becomes a Standard Part of Small Business Marketing By now, if you haven’t hopped on the AI train, you’re falling behind. Small business marketers may have been hesitant at first, but the time to “wait and see” has passed. Big companies’ investments in AI have made it impossible to keep up without the tools, but not because it’s replacing marketers, because it’s supporting them. The repetitive, time-consuming tasks are what AI does best, so let it! With human review, AI can speed up processes such as writing captions, research, drafting outlines, and even small creative tasks, leaving you with more time to apply your experience and expertise toward strategy and execution. That’s what unLOCKEd’s experts do best. Hyper-Personalized Content (Without Feeling Creepy) Mass marketing has had its glory days and is now in the past. Personalized content has been the key for some time now. However, AI, automation, and the prioritization of first-party data have ushered in an era of hyper-personalized content. Audience segments and a customer-first tone help break through the oversaturated market and connect directly with your customers. Tailored emails and personalized landing pages are just a couple of ways hyper-personalization can help capture your audience's attention and guide them through the conversion funnel.  “One-Contact Marketing Support” Becomes More Common Too many small businesses are overwhelmed dealing with too many vendors. When you’re focusing on trying to run your business, you don’t have time to call back and coordinate with your various marketing contacts who have promised to make things easier for you. unLOCKEd offers one-contact marketing support – your one dedicated partner for all your marketing needs. From social media and SEO to branding, signage, and Google Ads, we handle everything so you can get back to running your business in 2026. SEO Will Shift Toward Human Expertise + Helpful Content SEO has become anyone’s game as companies try to keep up with the rapidly evolving search landscape. From AI Insights taking over the SERPs to Google cracking down on generic AI content, 2026 will be a year of finding what actually works: human expertise and helpful content. Above all, that’s what people are searching for! Businesses need real insights, unique takes, and higher quality. Real-world knowledge and experience outrank keyword stuffing any day. Short-Form Video Remains King — But With Simpler Production With the rise of TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, we’ve seen short-form video held high on its pedestal for the last couple of years. In 2026, short-form video will remain king, but not for the high-production, polished projects. Instead, authentic day-in-the-life and staff videos will ultimately provide the relatability that audiences connect with. Show them behind the scenes and talk directly to each of them to build the trust and brand loyalty that companies strive for. Google Ads Will Get More Expensive — So Strategy Matters Growing algorithm complexity, inflation, and increased competition are nudging up the prices of Google Ads. As they get more expensive, it will be more about strategy than budgets, especially for small companies. Better tracking and analytics data will allow for better targeting and smarter budgets. Collecting more, better-organized data will be the key to personalization at every stage, and who’s better with data than AI? Brand Refreshes Over Full Rebrands In a landscape where new is better and updates are normalized, brands can feel comfortable implementing a refresh without feeling the need to do a full rebrand and start over. We’ve seen companies as big as Google refresh their logo without losing the trust and reputation they’ve built, so why shouldn’t you? A logo refresh, colour refinement, or website cleanup can be enough to modernize your image without losing the consistency and clarity your audience has come to count on. Local Search Optimization (LSO) Will Be Critical One thing we prioritize with every client we work with is our local expertise. If your snippet isn’t ranking on the SERPs, your Google Business Profile (GBP) needs to. Reviews, photos, updates, and hyper-local keyword positioning will allow you to actually reach the people near you. At unLOCKEd, we live and work in the Waterloo Region, serving businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Ayr, and beyond. Our local expertise helps us create marketing strategies that connect with our community authentically while driving measurable results. Email Marketing Makes a Comeback If you’re anything like us, you’re getting tired of deleting the many, many marketing emails that clog up your inbox. We get it. But every once in a while, one catches your attention. Increased automation and personalization are enabling companies to craft compelling, valuable marketing emails that don’t immediately end up in the trash. With higher quality content, less quantity is needed. Sending one email that gets read instead of five that don’t will help build your reputation, especially in B2B and high-trust service industries. Consistency Will Outperform Creativity Our final prediction has been our biggest lesson of this year: consistency will outperform creativity. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to keep showing up with quality content. This is an area where AI’s speed will help drive growth. Building a plan with AI’s quick brainstorming and marketers’ tested strategies will lead to success in 2026. In this sense, marketing will feel more operational and less “inspiration-based,” but that isn’t to say that creativity doesn’t have its value. With more freed-up time, your brain is free to add that human touch, find that creative element, or put your own spin on that trend. Find your consistency and then find a way to stand out. At unLOCKEd Company, we’ve seen the value of AI in our marketing, but we also know that it would be nothing without us. Our experts have the strategy, execution, and skills to help your business thrive – contact us  today to get started.

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