All Programs & Resources

Digital Main Street Mississauga

Digital Main Street helping small businesses in Mississauga go digital!

The Digital Main Street (DMS) program continues to support brick-and-mortar small businesses in Mississauga. Through a Digital Main Street grant awarded (to the City) by FedDev Ontario and the Province of Ontario, in partnership with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA), the City of Mississauga is proud to be part of providing the Digital Main Street program.

In the past, the Digital Main Street initiative has helped more than 15,000 main street small businesses across Ontario build greater resilience and increase their revenues. The Digital Main Street initiative is also part of Mississauga’s Economic Recovery Plan that outlines opportunities to help the Mississauga business community build back to better.

What is Digital Main Street (DMS)?

Digital Main Street is a program that helps brick-and-mortar businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. This program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs, and our Digital Service Squad, a team of digital experts who help brick-and-mortar businesses grow and manage their operations through digital tools and technologies.

DIGITAL SERVICE SQUAD

Free Digital Help is Here!

Mississauga’s Digital Service Squad (DSS) is here to help your business achieve your digital transformation by building your online brand, helping to market and sell your products and/or services online, and to be competitive globally all through the use of digital tools and technologies.

Mississauga is home to over 90,000 small businesses. Our digital specialists work directly with your business to review your digital footprint and provide guidance and support through digital tools and technologies.

Our DSS can provide one-on-one assistance with:

  • Completing a Digital Assessment of your business
  • Help complete the Digital Transformation Grant application ($2,500) 
  • Provide you with a free 360 degree image of your place of business. (value: $300)
  • Teach owners how to enhance their existing web presence through tools such as Google My Business, social media, e-commerce, etc.
  • Provide guidance, resources, and recommendations on growing digitally.

SERVICES

The Digital Service Squad provides complimentary services including:


Basic Online Digital Assessment [20 Mins]

We will take you through an online digital assessment of your business to assess areas of strength and improvement.

Analytics Analysis [2 Hrs]
Look over analytics and provide some quick actionable tips.

Create A Google Ad [2 Hrs]
Assisting in the creation of a Google ad/campaign – looking into competition and industry standards & discussing potential content that can be created in order to compliment the sales funnel.

Create A Social Media Ad [3 Hrs]
This tutorial will guide you through the basics of creating a Facebook Ad, Instagram Ad, Twitter Ad, and more. You will learn how to create ads and how to optimize and target your ad accordingly.

Explore Google Analytics [2 Hrs]
Looking at your google analytics reports, the squad member can provide efficient tips and tricks to understand your customer reports and provide guidance on how to analyze reports.

Keyword Search [2 Hrs]
Provide adequate keyword tips in order to rank higher on Google.

Please Note: All project times outlined above are estimates, each timeline will vary depending


Cover Your Basics [1 Hr]

Introduction to basic branding, making sure you create a consistent look in all your designs across all platforms.

Social Media Audit (Branding Strategy) [2 Hrs]
Teaching and guiding you to ensure logos, banners, bios, posting cadences and handles are consistent with your brand guidelines.

Use Facebook Business Manager [2 Hrs]
Work with your squad member to learn how you can take advantage of Facebook Business Manager. This includes setting up this free tool for your business to manage marketing and your social media efforts.

Visual Storytelling For Social Media [3 Hrs]
Visual storytelling through the use of stories on social media. Brainstorm with your squad member on ideas to create engaging stories, how to develop them, and schedule them on your social media. This includes basic tips for video, photography, and graphic design.


Please Note: All project times outlined above are estimates, each timeline will vary depending
 


Content Creation Strategy Session [2 Hrs]

Ever wonder what, how, and when to post on your social media channels? Having a content creation strategy session with a squad member will help you plan your content and get to know tips and tricks to increasing your social media engagement.

Content Publishing [1 Hr]
We will work with you to identify tools for scheduling content, provide assistance with set-up, and finally help to schedule your content through the chosen tool.

Develop An Email Marketing Campaign [2 Hrs]
Create meaningful email marketing campaigns. If you don’t already have an automated platform to send your clients/subscribers emails, a squad member can work with you to find you a tool and provide strategies on how to get started.


Please Note: All project times outlined above are estimates, each timeline will vary depending


Set It Up [2 Hrs]

Just starting out on social media? We will work together with you to assist you in setting up your social media accounts of your choice. Select the platform: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIN, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, and more!

Basic Graphic Design Tips – Content Creation [2 Hrs]
Through an interactive session with your squad member, learn how you can create simple graphics to enhance your online presence and design for different platforms. The squad member will brainstorm with you on how upcoming posts can look like and be unique to your business.

Social Writing Audit [2 Hrs]
Have a squad member audit your Bio’s, About Sections, Descriptions and more on your social media channels. Included in this audit will be feedback and assistance on ensuring content is clear and compelling for your readers.


Please Note: All project times outlined above are estimates, each timeline will vary depending


Create And/Or Review Your Google My Business Profile [1 Hr]

An interactive session that will go over creating a Google My Business Account for your business and take you through ways that you can fully optimize your presence online.

Provide 360 Images Of Your Place Of Business [1 Hr]
We will visit your place of business to take 360 degree images that can be uploaded on your Google my Business and/or your website to help attract customers to visit your business.

Existing Website Audit [1 Hr]
We will review your existing website and provide recommendations in the areas of design, written content, user-experience, SEO, and more.

Why You Need A Website [1 Hr]
Meet with a squad member to discuss how a website might be right for you. This session will also discuss the type of website needed such as an e-commerce website for online shopping.

Need To Hire A Professional [2 Hrs]
If you are looking for assistance with your business, a squad member can work together with you to identify the type of person(s) needed and for what role, work with you to develop potential job description(s), and guide you to our digital vendor directory for assistance.

Website – Contact Us
If you need a new website, please contact your squad member.


Please Note: All project times outlined above are estimates, each timeline will vary depending

GET STARTED & SIGN UP

To learn more about the program and/or sign up, click the button below:

"*" indicates required fields

Business Address*
Business Owner First Name*
Business Owner Last Name*
Type of Business*

Number of Employees*
Have you received a Digital Main Street, Digital Transformation Grant?*
How did you hear about Digital Main Street in Mississauga?*
Would you like us to take 360° photos of your business? (It's free)*

Notice of Collection:

The personal information on this form is collected under the authority of section 108 of the Municipal Act, 2001 and the agreement between the City and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) with respect to the Digital Main Street/Digital Service Squad Program (the Program). Your personal information will be used for the processing and administration of the Program. The OBIAA and other Federal and Provincial funding governments will have access to the records containing your personal information pertaining to the Program. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Economic Development Office by e-mail at EDO@mississauga.ca

TESTIMONIALS & PAST CLIENTS

Partnering with Digital Main Street last year was a turning point for our bakery. It really opened our eyes to the possibilities of growing our business in the digital economy. Little did we know that the upgrades we would be making to our online presence be it through social media advertising or building an e-commerce enabled website would be critical for surviving the challenges brought on by COVID-19 this year. The Digital Service Squad was incredibly helpful throughout the application process. We were educated about improving our business through digitization and were guided every step of the way.

– Supermoon Cheesecakes

Doo It Up Hair Bar

The DSS helped Doo it Up Hair Bar create a strong online presence to remain competitive by supporting them with their social media channels.

Border Mexican Grill

The DSS helped Border MX with their Google My Business Page and assist with their Digital Transformation Plan.

Glamour U

The DSS helped Glamour U adopt new digital tools and technologies for their business to have an online presence.

Stonehooker Beer

The DSS helped Stonehooker Beer improve their digital footprint and take 360 photos for their Google My Business Page.

Country Charm Mennonite

The DSS helped Country Charm Mennonite in Streetsville digitally transforming their business through suggestions such as working on a content calendar and helping users navigate through their website.

Indian Cuisine by the Lake

The DSS helped Indian Cuisine by the Lake set-up their business on Google My Business Page including taking 360 photos.

PROVIDER

Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC)

The Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) is your central source for small business information, resources and guidance. Whether you are starting or growing a small business, MBEC can help.​

In partnership with: Digital Main Street