Taylor-Smith Design - Get Seen Online

06/19/2026

**It shouldn't be this hard for new customers to find your business online. 🔭**

One of the quickest visibility checks you can do takes less than five minutes.

Start by searching for your business name on Google.

When you do, check:

• Is your phone number easy to find?
• Is your address correct?
• Are your business hours accurate?
• Does your website show up?
• Is your Google Business Profile displaying properly?
• Is your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) consistent everywhere?

This search tells you what people see when they already know your business exists.

But that's only half the picture.

Now do a second search.

This time, don't use your business name.

Search for the services you offer.

For example:

• Website designer St. Catharines
• Mortgage broker Niagara
• Plumber near me
• Massage therapist Niagara Falls

This search tells you whether new customers can actually discover you.

Do you show up?

Does your Google Business Profile appear?

Are your competitors showing up while you're nowhere to be found?

Most business owners are surprised by what they find.

Sometimes their business information is incomplete or inconsistent.

Sometimes they're easy to find by name but practically invisible when people search for the services they provide.

And sometimes a few small fixes can make a huge difference.

If you'd like a second set of eyes, I'd be happy to do a quick visibility check and point out any obvious issues. No pressure. No obligation.

Because your customers shouldn't need binoculars to find you. 😉

06/18/2026

Looking for some fun social media post ideas for July? Check out our blog.

Want ideas on what to post on your socials in July? Check out this 2026 list of fun - and somewhat wacky - International Day of... There's something for everyone!

06/18/2026

Another local business shout-out today.

Tax season is not something I look forward to. If you know me, you know that numbers are definitely not my favourite thing. That's one of the reasons I've been so happy working with Cam Johnson and the team at Liberty Tax.

Cam has a way of making the whole process feel easy. He takes the time to answer questions, explain things clearly, and point out items that I might otherwise miss. I never feel rushed, and I always leave feeling like I understand things a little better than when I walked in.

The entire team is friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. Whether it's a quick question or something more complicated, someone is always happy to help.

As a business owner, there are enough things to worry about without stressing over taxes and bookkeeping. Having professionals I trust looking after that side of things makes life a whole lot easier.

The location is convenient (2-290 Glendale Ave, St. Catharines), the service is excellent, and year after year I find myself coming back because I know I'm in good hands.

Thank you, Cam and the Liberty Tax team, for making tax season a lot less stressful.

Liberty Tax Canada

06/17/2026

Social media marketing has developed its own language.

Sometimes it sounds like people are just making words up at this point.

Hooks.
Reach.
Engagement.
Algorithms.
UGC.
Carousel posts.

So I created a plain-English Social Media Glossary for business owners who are tired of nodding along pretending they understand all of it.

📱 Read it here:

Common Social Media Terms Explained in Plain English Social media marketing has its own language. Reach. Reels. CTR. Engagement. UGC. Algorithms. Hooks. And if you're a business owner, sometimes it can feel like everyone else got handed a dictionary you missed. This glossary breaks down common socia...

06/16/2026

Looking for ideas for social media posts for July? Check out our new blog post.

Want ideas on what to post on your socials in July? Check out this 2026 list of fun - and somewhat wacky - International Day of... There's something for everyone!

06/16/2026

Three years ago today, I was diagnosed with advanced endometrial cancer.

It was a day I never saw coming.

Looking back, it answered a lot of questions about symptoms and things that just didn't seem quite right. At the time, though, it was the beginning of one of the most stressful chapters of my life.

And I found out on a fluke - a random decision to do a biopsy "just because it had been awhile". Deciding to have one changed everything.

The team at the Juravinski Cancer Centre was incredible. The care was excellent, the support was amazing, and treatment moved much faster than I expected.

Today I am grateful to be cancer free.

Not everyone gets that outcome.

I've had cancer twice. I've also had family members who weren't as fortunate. Cancer has touched far too many lives, which is why I believe so strongly in supporting cancer research, treatment programs, and fundraising efforts whenever we can.

More importantly, please get screened.

- Book the PAP test.
- Get the mammogram.
- Schedule the prostate exam.
- Have the colonoscopy.
- Say yes to the test your doctor recommends.

None of these appointments are particularly fun, but they can save your life.

I almost didn't have that biopsy done. If I had waited, my story might have been very different. This year could have looked very different.

If sharing my experience encourages even one person to book a screening they've been putting off, then this post has done its job.

Today, I'm celebrating three years cancer free.

And I'm reminding everyone reading this that early detection can make all the difference.

06/15/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see businesses make with Google Ads?

Trying to use ads to fix problems that actually start with their website.

Because if your website is confusing, slow, missing information, hard to use on mobile, or not building trust… paying for traffic usually just means paying to lose visitors faster.

Google Ads can absolutely work.
But they work better when the foundation underneath them is solid first.

Here's a blog article breaking down a few things businesses should check before spending money on ads so they can stop throwing budget at clicks that never convert.

10 Organic Must-Dos That Save You Money and Boost Your Results Ads can work beautifully…but only if your foundation is ready. A lot of small business owners jump straight into paid ads because they want fast results. And I get it — you want more calls, more bookings, more leads…

06/14/2026

Not going to lie… last year I got invited to the Niagara River Lions Sip & Swish event and thought, “Well… I’m not exactly a basketball girl.” 🏀🍷

Turns out? I had an absolute blast.

I learned way more about basketball than I expected, enjoyed some amazing wine, and had such a fun ladies’ night out atmosphere without it feeling stuffy or intimidating.

So if you’re looking for something different to do with friends, I definitely recommend checking this out.

Join us for the Niagara River Lions Sip & Swish event, presented by WORTHResults Worth Results Coaching & Training with (my client and friend) Sue Wedsworth, on Wednesday, June 17 from 7–9 PM.

Your ticket includes:
🍷 Four wine tastings
🧀 Hors d’oeuvres
🎁 A special gift
🎶 Live music throughout the evening
🏀 Basketball tips and behind-the-scenes fun with the Niagara River Lions players and coaching staff

There are only a limited number of tickets available, so don’t wait too long to grab yours.

Hope to see some familiar faces there!

Niagara River Lions

The Niagara River Lions are a Canadian professional basketball team based in St. Catharines, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

06/13/2026

"The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing."
— Seth Godin

One of the most expensive words in business is "later."

I'll update my website later.

I'll ask for reviews later.

I'll start posting on social media later.

I'll look into SEO later.

The challenge is that "later" has a way of turning into months or even years.

Meanwhile, potential customers are making decisions every day. They're searching Google, checking reviews, visiting websites, and comparing businesses. If they can't find you, or if the information they find is outdated, they often move on without ever contacting you.

Here's the thing: not every marketing decision is going to be perfect.

You might choose the wrong photo.

You might write a social media post that gets little engagement.

You might spend time on a strategy that doesn't produce the results you hoped for.

That's okay.

Those things can be adjusted.

Doing nothing can't.

Most successful businesses didn't get everything right from the beginning.

They learned by trying, measuring, adjusting, and trying again.

This week, instead of waiting for perfect, pick one thing you've been putting off and tackle it.

Your future customers will thank you for it.

06/12/2026

One of the things I really love about working with local businesses is getting to see the people behind them show up for the community in big ways.

Dr Lee from Smilee Dental Centre is participating in this year’s Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Ride and raising money for life-saving cancer research.

Dr Lee is a veteran of this event, and this year his children, Aaron, Emma and Joshua, are also taking part in the ride. Maybe starting a family tradition? If you’re able to sponsor one of them (or all three), I know it would mean a lot.

Since it began, the PMCF Ride has raised more than $320 million for cancer research, treatment, and breakthroughs that have changed lives.

As someone who has personally been through cancer twice, this one hits a little closer to home for me.

Cancer research matters. Early detection matters. Better treatments matter.

And seeing local people put their time, energy, and sore muscles toward helping move that forward is pretty incredible.

I’ll drop the sponsorship links for Emma, Joshua, and Aaron here (and in the comments). If you’re able to help, even a little bit, thank you. ❤️

The ride is happening on June 13th to 14th this year if you want to watch or participate!

SUPPORT MY RIDE I’m participating in The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation Ride to raise money for life-saving cancer research. Please sponsor me and help mak