Jessica Wong

Some great advice at Web Summit #Vancouver. - Design for connectors, not divisors - Protect time & mental health - Design for tangible outcomes - Keep the human in the loop (you!) #WebSummit2025 #DesignWithPurpose #MentalHealthMatters #FutureOfWork #HumanCenteredDesign #TimeWellSpent #UXStrategy #LeadershipMindset #DigitalWellbeing #DesignForChange #InnovationWithImpact #HumanInTheLoop

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From Widget to Revenue: 2025's On-Brand AI Assistants for Canadian SMBs 2025 is the year website AI moved from novelty to revenue for Canadian SMBs. With mature RAG pipelines and safer fine-tuning, on-brand assistants can qualify leads, deflect tickets, and drive bookings directly from your site—a practical win for marketing strategy and conversion rate optimization. Through business consulting and technical implementation, we blueprint the right architecture (RAG for current, governed answers; fine-tuning for tone and domain nuance) and choose hosting that fits PIPEDA and Quebec Law 25—vendor APIs, private endpoints, or Canadian data residency. Conversation design mirrors your brand voice and visual system, while a clean knowledge base (site content, PDFs, product docs, schema) keeps answers trustworthy. Guardrails block hallucinations, off-brand responses, and regulated claims. Secure function calling lets the bot book appointments, generate quotes, check inventory, and create CRM leads, with integrations to HubSpot, Pipedrive, or ActiveCampaign and CASL-ready follow-ups. We implement UX patterns that convert—proactive prompts, device-aware timing, accessibility, and bilingual FR/EN—then track performance with GA4 events, pipeline reporting, and A/B tests against human chat and forms. Cost/performance controls (response caching, retrieval filters, token budgets, edge inference) keep latency low and spend predictable. Ongoing training and content ops sync answers with promos and seasonal services. If you’re in Toronto or anywhere in Canada and evaluating AI chat, IN-STORE.ca builds, services, and promotes your assistant as one measurable engagement. Ready for a quick consultation to map your stack and forecast ROI? 🔗 Learn more: https://www.in-store.ca/ 💼 Explore our services: https://lnkd.in/dXFjWjAW 🟧 Interested? 🟠 Contact us: 📧 info@in-store.ca | 📞 +1-647-575-9506 #CanadianSMB #AIChatbots #LeadGeneration #PIPEDA #QuebecLaw25 #MarketingAutomation

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2026 is the new 2016: Why marketers are bringing back physical, personal, and purposeful strategy Canadian marketers are revisiting ideas that felt fresh a decade ago. Physical media, in-person activations, and more personal storytelling are returning as brands look for ways to cut through digital noise and rebuild real connection. The shift signals a renewed focus on strategies that prioritize emotion, presence, and human interaction over pure optimization. Read more 🔗👇

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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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"The decision to operate alone is often intentional – expansive growth is not a primary goal for many entrepreneurial women." I have found that people are often confused when you say that growth isn't your number one goal. The decision to stay small is for me is intentional. It allows for flexibility to build my work around my life (not my life around my work). I get to choose to work with clients and causes I connect with and feel aligned with. And I get to stay close to the creative process and actually make the work myself, which is the most fun part. I loved this article ft. Jill Dewes, a great example of someone listening to what their gut is telling them and carving their own path. I'm lucky to know so many other women who are solopreneurs, who value staying small (but are making a big impact in doing so). ❤️

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We can't wait to share how behavioral science is reshaping the way companies engage with customers navigating debt. See you Thursday!

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Something I've been noticing lately. A lot of brands are starting to feel the same. Same colour palettes. Same tone of voice. Same "clean, minimal, premium" energy. Like everyone's pulling from the same mood board. And honestly? A lot of it is coming from AI tools trained on the same popular references, optimised for broad appeal. Which isn't inherently bad. But if everyone's using the same tools the same way, the output starts to blur together. The brands I've seen cut through aren't the ones avoiding AI. They're the ones who did the harder thinking first. What actually makes us different? What feeling are we trying to own? And then used the tools to execute on that. AI can build a brand fast. But it can't tell you what your brand should mean. That part's still on you. If you're building a brand right now and feeling stuck on the "what makes us different" part, that's exactly what we help with at KoD. DM me.

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Balance is Everything. For many, financial stress makes life feel off-balance. The “More Balanced” campaign brings that feeling to life with striking visual metaphors. Our work for CRA aims to reframe tax season as a moment of relief, reminding Canadians that the benefits and credits available to them can help restore a sense of balance. ⚖️✨ Learn more about the strategy and craft that went behind the work in the comments below! Credits: Client: Canada Revenue Agency - Agence du revenu du Canada Campaign Title: More Balanced Creative Agency: Feast Interactive Inc. Agency Producer: Lindsay Hann Production: Spy Films Editorial: Nimiopere Film Editorial Colour: Alter Ego VFX: MOTOMOTUS Music: BoomBox

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In the room with @AlisonPreiss at #SocialNextToronto. Re: Your team might be your best marketing channel. Employee-driven storytelling, real voices, personality up front and services quietly along for the ride. Platforms are already picking winners here. Instagram favours real/raw perspectives over polished. And in Canada, nobody wants to feel like they're being sold to anyway. 46% of Gen Z and 35% of Millennials prefer social search. They are looking for themselves in the content, not a logo. Ties back to a lot of what I have been writing about around social trust. It's playing out in real time. #SocialNextToronto #Marketing #Authenticity #EmployeeAdvocacy

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Ontario’s World Series ad didn’t go viral because of money. It worked because it hit the sweet spot of timing, tone, and context. A single, emotional message during a major cultural event sparked headlines and conversation worldwide. For small businesses and nonprofits, the lesson’s clear: ✅ Don’t chase every trend. ✅ Anchor your story to moments people already care about. ✅ Lead with emotion, not algorithms. When the timing is right, your message doesn’t just reach - it resonates. #MarketingStrategy #BrandStorytelling #NonprofitMarketing #SmallBusinessGrowth #CakewalkSocial

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What the hell is “good collaboration”? Challenge ideas out loud. Nod and reflect. Silence as agreement. ...or wait, does that mean uncertainty? Yeah. Now try to do that in a country like Canada... multicultural by design. In Toronto alone, over 50% of the population was born outside of Canada. That means different values, norms, and expectations… all in the same meeting. So what does collaboration even mean when everyone brings a different rulebook? That’s what we’re diving into: Shape Canadian Network: 5 Key Values for Connecting Across Cultures 📅 Tuesday, Sept 9 | 12–1 PM EST 🎙 With expert John Edward McGraw This is not a lesson in politeness. It’s a reset on how we actually work together. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gkdi8CFC #TheSoundofC #CollaborationWithoutConfusion #SmartLeadership #MulticulturalTeams #JohnEdwardMcGraw #EmpoweringCollaborator #RealTalkLeadership

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What does it mean to inherit more than just a business? Presenting "GENERASIANS," our new mini docuseries created in partnership with Eye Dot Studio that explores the relationship between first- and second-generation Asian Canadians through family businesses. At a time when conversations about immigration and identity are often flattened into headlines or stereotypes, "GENERASIANS" offers nuance. Asian Canadians are among the most entrepreneurial communities in the country, and family-run businesses remain a cornerstone of immigrant life. But the realities behind those storefronts — including quiet disagreements, lingering pressures, and bringing these businesses into the modern era while preserving what made them successful in the first place — are seldom seen. Blending interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and personal reflections, "GENERASIANS" offers a deeply human look at ambition, obligation and belonging. Whether you’ve grown up inside a family business, stepped away from one, or simply wondered what it takes to carry a legacy forward, this is a series that will resonate. 🎬 Watch the series: https://lnkd.in/eYn2rUA7

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I'm happy to tell anyone that Aimee was the best boss a creative director could ask for - but that's not just pumping her tires. In the brief stretch when I had bosses - including my time at the Ottawa Senators - I learned about all of the unique challenges that come from being a creative reporting to a stakeholder. Most of these challenges hinge on the stakeholder's trust in letting you communicate the brand. An exec has to know when to snap the reins and when to just let go. Aimee makes an art of this by injecting herself into the creative process equally as team captain and the game's biggest fan. Working for her is collaborative, loud and full of feedback. The result is uplifting. She pushes the work to be better, without questioning the abilities of the creative. This is only possible because of the trust she establishes at the start of every project. She’d say “There’s a reason why you’re here” as often as “Nah, I don’t like this”. Or “I f*cking love this” as often as “Dude, no.” When you’re starting out as a creative, it’s hard to separate feedback on your work from assessments of your overall value. When your boss takes the time to build trust at the beginning it helps you keep those threads separate, making the work better, faster and truer to the brand.

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Inside the Agency | Episode 1: TITAN ONE 🎥 Introducing Inside the Agency — an original series by TRMA that takes you behind the scenes of marketing agencies across Toronto, revealing the questions, the work, and the careers taking shape behind closed doors. Episode 1, featuring Titan One Inc., looks inside an agency that blends strategy, design, and performance-driven marketing to build impactful brands. #TitanOne #InsideTheAgency #TRMA

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I redesigned a Canadian brand's website. Here's what changed — and what didn't. What changed: → Visual identity — from generic to intentional → Brand messaging — from "what we do" to "why you need us" → User experience — from confusing to conversion-focused → First impression — from forgettable to premium What didn't change: → Their product (it was already good) → Their team → Their pricing (well, they raised it after) This is what most founders miss. Your product isn't the problem. Your brand presentation is. The best product doesn't always win. The brand that looks most trustworthy does. I work with founders, D2C brands, and businesses across India, Canada, USA, and UAE to close this gap. If your brand isn't reflecting the quality of your actual work — Let's fix that. 📩 Book a free 20-minute brand audit

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Creatives can lead a humanistic approach to AI . . . Here’s how. Canadian graphic designer Jean-Pierre Lacroix explains how creative agencies and brands can make better use of generative AI by using it to expand team creativity. As in the past I came across this article on the Web and thought it both interesting and inspiring. Given our challenging times, I think you will too. Enjoy!...

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For Toronto startups, a robust branding strategy isn't just about a logo; it's about crafting a distinct identity that resonates deeply with your audience. In today's dynamic market, a clear, minimalist brand voice cuts through the noise, signaling professionalism and innovation. At Spark Studios, we understand that true brand strength emerges from strategic design – from intuitive website development in React and Next.js to captivating web design with Framer, and even precise pitch deck presentations. We guide Toronto businesses in establishing a premium visual language and a strategic digital presence that elevates their market position. It's about more than aesthetics; it's about creating a cohesive, memorable experience that builds trust and fosters growth. Imagine your startup launching with a brand that speaks volumes through its clarity and thoughtful execution. How are you ensuring your brand's foundation is built for enduring impact in the Toronto tech scene? #BrandingStrategy #StartupSuccess #TorontoBusiness #WebDesign #DigitalIdentity

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