Josh Rachlis

How do you grow a story beyond the page? In Now & Next, we explore how an Edmonton-based production company (Milo Productions Inc.) grew Time Hoppers from an e-book into a game, web series, and feature film—building a multi-platform experience for young audiences along the way. Featuring insights from Flordeliza Dayrit and Michael Milo, this piece offers a closer look at storytelling, adaptation, and what it means to create content that travels across formats. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QDwSS4

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Is email part of your marketing strategy? Email delivers the highest ROI of any channel, builds lasting relationships, and reaches your audience right in their inbox. #emailmarketing #marketingspecialists #barebonesmarketing #oakvilleontario #bbm19years

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I’m building Spector Studios with Riley Spector to standardize hiring and improve accessibility in Ontario’s film industry. Our belief: Structured access to networks + production resources = sustainable employment for marginalized entry-level creatives = stronger industry infrastructure (SDG 9). Our biggest assumption: Production companies will adopt inclusive hiring systems if logistical uncertainty is removed. Where do you see weak points? Is this an issue worth fighting for? Who else is working to make this change? We would love to connect and hear your thoughts and feedback. Please interact with this post and together we can build up by breaking the issues down.

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🗞️ CASL Compliance Email Marketing: A Practical Checklist for Canadian Small Businesses 📢 CASL compliance email marketing rules have applied to Canadian businesses since 2014, with penalties up to $10 million per violation. This practical checklist covers consent, opt-in forms, every-email requirements, unsubscribe rules, and record-keeping for small businesses in Ottawa, Toronto, and across Canada. ⭐️Read More: https://lnkd.in/dPQBECTe #DigitalMarketing ⭐️ iWEBAPP Agency Inc. - Web Design Company Toronto & Online Internet Marketing Agency Ottawa

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new in retail media news today: another grocery store chain is adding in-store digital ads. the deal between Vallarta Supermarkets & Quad follows similar deals in recent months: Hy-Vee, Inc. & Grocery TV and Albertsons Media Collective & STRATACACHE. https://lnkd.in/g7DusvD7

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The communications market is changing. We broke down the numbers, and sized up the opportunities. If you haven’t pivoted yet, you will need to.

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📧 Email Marketing Funnels that Convert Canadian Leads Clicks are great—but conversions are better. Email marketing funnels are more than sending newsletters—they’re a strategic way to nurture Canadian leads, build trust, and turn subscribers into loyal customers. In this Business Growth Resource, you’ll learn: ✔ How to map your email funnel for maximum engagement ✔ Techniques to craft compelling messages for Canadian audiences ✔ Segmentation strategies to target the right leads at the right time ✔ Automation tips to save time and increase conversions ✔ How to measure success and optimize your campaigns A well-designed email funnel doesn’t just capture attention—it drives measurable growth for your business. 👉 TURN CLICKS INTO CUSTOMERS! 👉 Register now via link: www.localjunction.ca #BusinessGrowth #EmailMarketing #LeadGeneration #SmallBusinessCanada #CanadianEntrepreneurs #MarketingFunnels #CustomerEngagement #LocalJunction #BusinessResources #SMEGrowth

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What does it really mean to be a marketing professional in 2026? AI can now write copy, design ads, segment audiences, and analyze data in seconds. The question isn’t whether AI will replace tasks—it’s what humans still bring to the table. At Chartered Institute of Marketing Management of Ontario, we see it clearly: the marketers who thrive are those who master strategy, judgment, ethics, and human insight—capabilities no algorithm can replicate. That’s why the CPM® designation isn’t about memorizing frameworks. It’s about demonstrating critical thinking, contextual intelligence, and ethical decision-making when technology commoditizes execution. What sets CIMMO apart? We’re built for the AI era. Continuous learning. Competency-based assessment. Real-world application over recall. CPM® holders aren’t just skilled—they’re adaptable, grounded, and future-ready. In the age of AI, being human isn’t a limitation. It’s your competitive advantage. 👉 Learn more about the CPM® designation at CIMMO. #MarketingInTheAIEra #CPM #CIMMO #MarketingStrategy #ProfessionalDevelopment #AIAndMarketing #CriticalThinking #MarketingLeadership

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The messy business of Super Bowl ads The Big Game is already fuelling online division. Advertisers may choose to tread carefully—or join the resistance, says Éric Blais in his latest Free to Disagree column in Campaign Canada https://lnkd.in/erKgTpEm

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Stop asking how. Start asking why. On this week’s Bright Lights Podcast, Idan Driman, VP Marketing at Pet Valu, shares the biggest mindset shift he led on his team: moving from being a “production house” to becoming strategic thinkers. It wasn’t just about execution. It was about understanding why every campaign matters - and taking customer-centricity one step further: to being truly customer obsessed. When your team spends more time on the why than just the how, every creative choice resonates deeper with the people you’re trying to reach. Watch the clip. It’s short, but it hits. Did you find this post useful? Drop a comment - I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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🎧 New Podcast Episode Now Streaming! Fractional Pros Canada – Episode #59 Unlocking the Power of Creative PR Strategies (with Patrick McCaully) Most PR doesn’t fail because it’s “not polished.” It fails because it’s not original. In this episode of Fractional Pros Canada, host Robert Mendelson speaks with Patrick McCaully, a PR pro with 25 years across journalism and public relations, about what actually breaks through in an oversaturated media landscape. Patrick shares why bold ideas, humour, and strong storytelling matter more than connections and how to create pitches that journalists want to open. They dive into newsrooms, newsjacking, creative stunts vs. data-led campaigns, and how AI is changing the way people (and media) find companies plus practical ways fractional leaders and businesses can become consistently “media visible.” What you’ll learn: 🔹 Why originality beats “polished” PR every time 🔹 Lessons from the newsroom: how media really works 🔹 Creating media-friendly ideas (bold, viral, different) 🔹 Storytelling + timing: how to newsjack without being cringe 🔹 Using humour and counterintuitive campaigns to stand out 🔹 Balancing risk vs. innovation in PR events and stunts 🔹 How AI search is changing earned media and discoverability 🔹 Becoming a trusted media expert: outreach, visibility, availability 🔹 How to be more “findable” for journalists (and why it matters) 🔹 Handling bad PR and crises as a reset opportunity 🔹 Practical steps to earn media mentions consistently Perfect for: 🔹 Fractional leaders building credibility and visibility 🔹 Founders who want earned media without big budgets 🔹 PR and marketing pros looking for fresher campaign ideas 🔹 Anyone tired of generic pitches and “safe” tactics 🎙️ Listen now: YouTube – https://lnkd.in/gDyP_XG3 Spotify – https://lnkd.in/gjy3gQp7 #FractionalProsCanada #PublicRelations #PRStrategy #EarnedMedia #Storytelling #PersonalBranding #ThoughtLeadership #MediaRelations #FractionalLeadership #Podcast

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The biggest risk in scaling is not missing opportunities to make 💰...It’s losing alignment. Many Canadian companies are thriving right now. The ones I’m working with are scaling or preparing for their next growth spike, and it is inspiring to see 🫶 -Growth brings energy, momentum, and new possibilities. -It also brings challenges. Teams can get pulled in different directions and resources can be wasted on trial and error if strategic goals, brand strategy, and customer segments are not clear or well-known. Leaders are also focused on recruiting and onboarding new employees. This can be the hardest part of growth. When your strategy is documented and shared, new hires can quickly understand your direction, feel accountable, and contribute to success. If you are preparing to scale, here are a few questions to ask yourself: ❓ Do your team members know your strategic goals and how their work connects to them? ❓ Is your brand strategy clear enough that new hires can quickly understand who you are and what you stand for? ❓ Are your customer segments defined so your team knows who you are serving and why? ❓ Is your strategic plan documented in a way that creates alignment and accountability across the business? ❓ Do you have a structured sales cycle that your team can consistently follow and measure? ❓ Can you track and understand capacity so you know when to take on more, when to invest, and when to pause? Scaling is exciting. Clarity is what will drive your team and your new team’s momentum. You got this!

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Cowbell Brewing Co. is one of the largest breweries in Ontario. ⁠ ⁠ They reached out to CODO Design for an initial Brand Strategy engagement that quickly grew into a full identity refresh, sweeping packaging system, merch and an upcoming website update.⁠ ⁠ This deep-dive case study walks you through every step of the process — from positioning, messaging and Brand Strategy all the way to identity and package design, including concepts that didn’t make the cut. ⁠ ⁠ If your brewery is considering a rebrand or refresh this year, this case study shows what it actually takes to do it right.⁠ ⁠ Read the case study here: https://lnkd.in/gCPKWYJT Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) Natasha Fritzley

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Really hoping that SOME DAY the CRTC will finally come into the 21st Century with the rest of us and start modernizing their regulatory structures/framework once and for all. (WHY does everything they do have to be SO slow??)

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