Canada Day in Ottawa! What's going on?

One thing is for sure, Ottawa knows how to celebrate Canada Day! Every year thousands upon thousands of people storm the downtown streets of Ottawa in celebration of Canada's birth and it can be an absolute pain to navigate your way through the mess.

Thankfully, the Internet can show us the way.

This year, don't be that person who complains, "Oh, I don't wanna go downtown...there's too many people...where will I park?...what's going on?...where will I pee?...oh, it's too hot..."

Stop it! You should be able to enjoy all the wonders of Canada Day in Ottawa by simply being prepared. Below are the best online resources to ensure you are ready for Canada's biggest celebration!

Free Stuff and Events:

Free things are plentiful on Canada Day in Ottawa. Your number one resource to find out what, when and where things are taking place is at the National Capital Commission's Website.

Here you will find the most comprehensive list of events, information and details on Canada Day.

Instant Information:

Social media tools like Twitter should become your best friend this Canada Day. If you need almost instant answers to what's going on in Ottawa, use your mobile phone and be sure to follow @Canada_Day on Twitter. These folks are there to answer your questions from road detours, event times and locations, and anything else you may want to know on July 1st.

Chat about Canada:

If you're looking to open up a dialogue about Canada Day with other people around the world, check out the Canada Day Facebook Page.

Unlike New Year's Eve, which always turns into a bust, Canada Day is always an absolute treat if you know what's going on. Don't forget, the fireworks display (which never disappoints) starting at around 10 p.m.

Wear sunblock, bring water, and prepare to celebrate Canada's 142nd Birthday, eh!

The Oprah Effect

A documentary entitled The Oprah Effect premiered last Thursday on CNBC. The show chronicles "Oprah's unprecedented impact on business that's worth billions and goes inside businesses to find their secrets to getting on the show and how just a brief mention by the queen of influence can turn entrepreneurs into millionaires." Ever seen an "Oprah's Favorite Things" episode? [Insert screaming here.] Enough said. People go crazy for free stuff, especially free stuff that is acclaimed by THE opinion leader out there.

Oprah is not the only one out there touting certain brands and products. A similar new-ish phenomenon is the rise of "mommy bloggers." Mom-friendly brands have discovered this new marketing space - they have come to "battle for their attention, hoping for reviews from "real moms" and access to the valuable power of word of mouth." In return, influential mommy bloggers can get free stuff from companies, big media buys, and luxurious trips! Not too shabby. Statistics show that women are "responsible for $2.1 trillion of U.S. consumer spending, controlling about 80 percent of household expenditures." These mommy bloggers are now taking advantage of a system that has long targeted them with marketing messages to buy, buy, buy.

Mommy blogging has even picked up here in Ottawa: New Ottawa Mom, Postcards from the Mothership, and A Crafty Mom, to name a few. I wonder if they have had any companies (from here in Ottawa or elsewhere) contact them for promotional opportunities!

Ottawa's Little Italy Uses Social Media Well!

In an ambitious campaign to remind Ottawa that Little Italy's businesses are open during the final phase of construction, the Preston Street BIA has launched an online social media campaign that is about to get Ottawa moving!

Luigi is the lovable chef that has been predominately featured on signage over the last month throughout Ottawa's Little Italy. Now, Luigi is branching out online with a social media campaign that will see a $5,000 Grand Prize Shopping Spree awarded to one lucky participant later this summer.

How does it work? All you have to do is Catch Luigi! Over the course of the 13-week campaign, participants are being asked to follow Luigi on Twitter, Facebook, and on the Preston Street website to track his location.

Make note: Luigi is a 5-foot 8-inch cartoon cardboard cutout that will be found at local events and inside Preston Street businesses. Those who can catch Luigi will need to follow his clues online and will have a limited time to find him. Those who see him will then take a picture with the cartoon character and send it to catchluigi@prestonstreet.com.

Weekly prizes will be awarded as well, and participants are encouraged to submit as often as they are able to catch the lovable Luigi.

For full contest details, visit Catch Luigi.

You can track Luigi by following him on Twitter (@catchluigi) OR become his friend on Facebook (Become Luigi's Facebook Friend).

Within minutes of the campaign's launch, Tweeters from all across Ottawa were standing by for the first clue (expected to be given on Wednesday, June 3rd).

pattichurch RT @krusk Great to see locals having fun and experimenting with new marketing tools. Go Luigi! http://twitter.com/catchluigi

Good luck Ottawa!

3 Easy Things to apply to your Twitter campaign

Earlier this week the team over at Marketing Breakthroughs, Ottawa's number one choice for making mid-sized companies grow, got together and took part in a brainstorming session to hash out some tips and tricks on how to best utilize a Twitter campaign. The truth is, Twitter's abilities are vast and to be able to sift through all the information online about this social networking tool can be tiring.

With the help of the great minds over at PRNews, we were able to create a list of 3 useful ways to properly tweet your messages to the proper audiences. Enjoy!

1) Learn these keystrokes to best engage your Twitter community:

• "@" - used when replying publicly to a tweet (eg: @twitterusername insert message here);
• "d" - used when sending someone a private direct message (eg: d twitterusername insert message here);
• "RT" - when you read something you like, pass it on to your community. (eg: RT @twitterusername insert the original tweet here).

2) Tweetbeep.com - What are others twittering about you, your product, your company, or your business community? This handy tool sends you an email if anyone mentions you. This is the best way to monitor what's being said about you.
For example, Esther at www.blinds.com was recently part of a webinar where she explained the way she uses Tweetbeep.com. By monitoring the Twitterverse she is able to provide proactive customer service, she can address customer concerns, and she's able to provide solutions almost immediately.

3) If you're planning on executing a local Twitter campaign and you know your audience is somewhere in the area, how are you supposed to find them? The best tool to find locals in your area, and thus speak to people who you want to communicate local messages to is: Nearby Tweets.com. This tool is the best way to find people in your area who would be interested in what you're doing!

As practical usages for Twitter continue to present themselves, it's a good idea to keep these three points in your head. They will always remain useful in the growing Twitterverse.

Have any Twitter questions? Let us know, and we'll answer them for you.