www.windsorlocal.com - Windsor Local

Welcome Local Businesses, Organizations and Professionals!

How to Use Windsor Local

Are You A Local Business, Organization or Professional?

  • This page describes how Windsor & Essex County local business owners, organization managers and professionals can use our online community platform.
  • To go to the page which describes how local residents and visitors can use our online community platform, click here.
  • To go to the page which describes how to give back and help Windsor & Essex County organizations and people in need, click here.

What Are Residents and Visitors?

Residents and visitors are individuals who are using Windsor Local to find local businesses, organizations and professionals to help them shop locally for products and services. They can find just about anything about a business all in one place. They are not Members and there is no cost involved in using the online platform.

What Are Members?

Members are business owners, organization managers and professionals who are listed as a member in Windsor Local. Membership will allow them to get much more local visibility and brand recognition. They can post just about anything possible about their business, including text, images, videos, links, blog articles, products, coupons, classified ads, social media feeds and much more, all in one place.

We often use the term "Member" or "Business" as a shortcut, but it actually refers to a Business, Organization or Professional Member listed in the Windsor Local database.

Main Menu:     Find â–¼

Local Businesses

Members can be found in the following ways:

  1. ' Search For Local Businesses' - this page will provide a search results summary listing of businesses, which residents and visitors can click to find more details about each Member.
  2. ' Search By Top Category' - this page will provide a summary list as in part (1), but it will be filtered by the Top Category that was chosen.
  3. ' Search By Sub Category' - this page will provide a summary list as in part (1), but it will be filtered by the Sub Category that was chosen.
  4. ' Search By Location' - this page will provide a summary list as in part (1), but it will be filtered by the Location that was chosen.

Business Search Summary Results:

Here residents can find local businesses, organizations and professionals (Members) to make it easier for them to spend locally. They can view their Member Profile listing and find or do many things:

  • View Listing - see Member details (more description below).
  • Send Message - send a direct message to the Member.
  • Show Phone Number - show the Member phone number, with Click-to-Call on mobile phones.

Member Profile Details:

Everything you want to show to your audience about your business, organization or profession - all in one place!

View Listing (see the Tabs in the Member Profile Listing)

Tab Name

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Send Message

(Yellow button) Send a direct message (DM) to the Member.

Write a Review

(Green button) Write a review about the Member's business.

Rating

(Yellow stars) Shows the rating status of the Member based on the Reviews they have.

Overview

(Tab) Detailed information about the Member: Business / Organization / Professional Details, Hospitality Information, Contact Information and About Us section.

Specialties

(Tab) The business categories and subcategories the Member is part of.

Reviews

(Tab) A listing of all reviews posted for the Member inside Windsor Local.

Articles

(Tab) Blog articles posted on Windsor Local by the Member.

Audio Files

(Tab) SoundCloud audio posts of any type, e.g. podcast, music, etc. posted on Windsor Local by the Member.

Classifieds

(Tab) Buy personal or business goods or services listed on Windsor Local by the Member.

Coupons

(Tab) Find coupons and discounts on goods and services listed on Windsor Local by the Member.

Events

(Tab) A listing of all events posted on Windsor Local by the Member. These events will also be part of the website Event Calendar.

Jobs

(Tab) A listing of all job offerings posted on Windsor Local by the Member.

Photo Albums

(Tab) Photo albums posted on Windsor Local by the Member to show their business, staff, products, services, events, etc.

Products

(Tab) Details about the products and services offered and posted on Windsor Local by the Member.

Properties

(Tab) For anyone selling real estate of any kind, details about the properties for sale/rent and posted on Windsor Local by the Member.

Videos

(Tab) Videos posted on Windsor Local by the Member to show their business, staff, products, services, events, training, etc.

External Reviews

(Tab) This tab will show reviews received by the Member outside of Windsor Local, for example from Google, Facebook, Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc.

Facebook

(Tab) A live link to the Member's Facebook page feed.

Twitter

(Tab) A live link to the Member's Twitter feed.

Instagram

(Tab) A live link to the Member's Instagram feed.


Local Products/Services

Here residents can find Products and Services listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post details about your Products and Services here.

How Do You Post Products/Services?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Products & Services

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Product post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Product".
â–º Upload photos of the Product.
â–º Set the photo display order.
â–º To edit existing Product posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Product post here by clicking the "+ New Product" button.

Coupons, Discounts & Deals

Here residents can find Coupons, Discounts and Deals listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post details about your Coupons, Discounts and Deals here.

How do you post Coupons?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Coupons

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Coupon post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Coupon".
â–º To edit existing Coupon posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Coupon post here by clicking the "+ New Coupon" button.

Real Estate

Here residents can search for Real Estate in the following ways:

  1. ' Search For Realtors' - this page will provide a summary list of Realtors, which residents can click to find more details about the Member. Make sure you are in the Search Results for Realtors.
  2. ' Search For Properties' - this page will provide a summary list of Properties, which residents can click to find more details about the Property. Post details about your Properties here.

How do you get in the Search Results for Realtors?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Get in Search Results for Realtors

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º Go to 'Manage Listing' and 'Additional Details'
â–º From the 'Categories You Specialize In' section, click the down arrow of the Category and click the boxes for the sub-categories that fit your profession. Note the number of sub-categories you can choose is dependent on your Membership Plan. You will now be in any searches that are filtered for 'Real Estate'.

How do you post Properties?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Properties

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Property post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Property".
â–º Upload photos of the Property.
â–º Set the photo display order.
â–º To edit existing Property posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Property post here by clicking the "+ New Property" button.

Job Listings

Here residents can find Job Offers listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post details about your Job Offers here.

How do you post Job Listings?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Job Listings

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Job Listing post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Job Listing".
â–º To edit existing Job Listing posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Job Listing post here by clicking the "+ New Job Listing" button.

Classifieds

Here residents can find Classifieds listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post details about your Classifieds here.

How do you post Classifieds?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Classifieds

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Classified post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Classified".
â–º Upload photos of the Product.
â–º Set the photo display order.
â–º To edit existing Classified posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Classified post here by clicking the "+ New Classified" button.

Photo Albums

Here residents can find Photo Albums listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post your Photo Albums here. They can be about your business, team, products, services, events or even personal items like vacations taken, etc. Whatever you like.

How do you post Photo Albums?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Photo Albums

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Photo Album post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Photo Album".
â–º Upload photos of the Product.
â–º Set the photo display order.
â–º To edit existing Photo Album posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Photo Album post here by clicking the "+ New Photo Album" button.

Video Posts

Here residents can find Video posts listed by all Members of Windsor Local.  Post your Videos here. They can be about your business, team, products, services, events or even personal items like vacations taken, etc. Whatever you like. 

How do you post Videos?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Videos

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Video post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Videos". Provide a link to your video from YouTube or Vimeo.
â–º To edit existing Video posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Video post here by clicking the "+ New Video" button.

Audio Posts

Here residents can find Audio posts listed by all Members of Windsor Local. Post links to your SoundCloud audio files here.

How do you post SoundCloud Audio?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your SoundCloud Audio

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new SoundCloud audio post, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "SoundCloud Post". Provide a link to your SoundCloud audio clip.
â–º To edit existing SoundCloud audio posts, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new SoundCloud audio post here by clicking the "+ New SoundCloud Post" button.

Member Reviews

Here residents can find Windsor Local Member Reviews for all Members of Windsor Local. Manage and respond to your Reviews here.

How do you Manage Reviews?

Post Type

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Manage Reviews

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To Manage Reviews, go to the sidebar menu and choose 'Manage Reviews'.
â–º List all reviews received.
â–º View Reviews details and respond to reviews.

Main Menu:     Explore â–¼

This section contains certain related items to explore, mostly about Windsor & Essex County or helping businesses grow.

Blog

This page will show blog articles released by Windsor Local. Member Blog articles are found under 'Articles' (see below).

Main Menu Item

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Blog

â–º Find the Windsor Local Blog at Menu > Explore > Blog.
â–º View the Blog Summary List.
â–º View the Blog Details.

Articles

This page will show blog articles released by Windsor Local Members. Post your Articles (blog posts) here.

How do you post Articles?

Main Menu Item

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Articles

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Article, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Community Article".
â–º To edit existing Articles, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Article here by clicking the "+ New Community Article" button.
â–º Choose the Article you want to edit by clicking on the title link or 'View More' link.

Events

This page will show individual events in Windsor & Essex County. Residents can click on each one to get more details. Post your Events here. They will automatically be posted to the Main Events Calendar in Windsor Local. 

How do you post Events?

Main Menu Item

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Post Your Events

â–º Login to the Windsor Local portal and go to your Dashboard.
â–º To create a new Event, go to the "Publish Content" area and click on "Events".
â–º To edit existing Events, go to the sidebar menu. You can also create a new Event here by clicking the "+ New Event" button.
â–º Choose the Event you want to edit by clicking on the title link or choose the action you want by clicking the drop-down arrow next to the 'Actions' box.

Events Calendar

This page will show the events in Windsor & Essex County in a calendar format. It will list events per day. Residents can click on each one to get more details. The calendar can be adjusted to show on a monthly or yearly format. When you post Events (see above), they will automatically be posted to this Main Events Calendar in Windsor Local.

The Events Calendar

Main Menu Item

Image Popup
(click to enlarge)

Description

Events Calendar

â–º Find the Events Calendar on the Home Page or in the Main Menu > Explore > Events Calendar. The Calendar can be adjusted to show a month or a year. You can also move between months and years.
â–º See the number of Events posted for each day of the month or month of the year. Click on the number of Events to show the daily list.
â–º Click on one of the entries in the daily list to show the details of the event.

Outdoor Activities

Here residents can search for Outdoor Activities in the following ways:

  1. ' Search for Walking, Biking & Hiking Trails' - see trails with description, location, pictures and possibly reviews.
  2. ' Search for Parks & Playgrounds' - see parks with description, location, pictures and possibly reviews.
  3. ' Search for Sports, Fitness & Leisure' - this page will show businesses filtered by the Top Category 'Sports, Fitness & Leisure'.
  4. ' Search By Sports Fields, Arenas & Teams' - this page will show businesses filtered by the Top Category 'Sports Fields, Arenas & Teams'.

Entertainment

This page will show businesses filtered by the Top Category 'Entertainment'.

Art, Culture & Museums

This page will show businesses filtered by the Top Category 'Art, Culture & Museums'.

Travel Lodging & Campgrounds

This page will show businesses filtered by the Top Category 'Travel Lodging & Campgrounds'.

Main Menu:     Giving Back â–¼

At Windsor Local, we want to make it as easy as possible to give back to our community. These are the working parts of it.

Giving Back: How It Works

This will describe how our Giving Back process works, and will help with the menu items below.

Help Local Nonprofit Orgs & Charities

These are posts from nonprofit and/or charitable organizations who are Members of Windsor Local and are requesting help. It provides an overview of the organization's needs, who they are, who they help, an application (optional) and any other information they would like to add, including how they wish to be contacted. The public can then search and view these posts to see who they would like to help based on the information given and contact them. Windsor Local is hoping this is a much easier way for most of the public to find and match themselves with a local organization they would like to give back to.

Help Local People - Pay It Forward Request

Anyone who is a referral for a local resident or family in need of help can fill out a request form. The request will be logged and Windsor Local will do its very best to find a Member who would like to fulfill this request. Windsor Local is hoping this is a much easier way for Windsor Local Business Community Members to find and match themselves with a local person/family they would like to give back to. (If you are not a Windsor Local Member, see the next item).

Help Local People - Pay It Forward Status

This is for anyone who is not a Member of Windsor Local and wants to help fulfill 'Pay It Forward Requests' that have not yet been assigned to anyone. Windsor Local is hoping this is a much easier way for local residents to find and match themselves with a local person/family they would like to give back to.

Giving Back Recognition Wall

We are grateful to provide recognition for Donors and Volunteers to Windsor & Essex County nonprofit and charitable organizations and local individuals in need. This donor/volunteer recognition list contains Windsor Local members and local residents that used Windsor Local 'Giving Back' posts or 'Pay It Forward' posts to help a local organization or individual. This page will recognize those that are giving back to their community.

Main Menu:     About â–¼

About Us

Our main purpose is "Bringing Residents, Businesses, Organizations and Professionals Together in Windsor & Essex County". We talk about who our online platform serves, next steps for using it as well as our Purpose and Goals.

Our Team

Meet our team at Windsor Local. We are local residents providing local support!

Why Local Matters

This our blog post entitled, 'Why Supporting Local Businesses Matters More Than Ever'. Please read it to understand why it is important for the Windsor-Essex community to support local businesses such as yours.

Who Is It For?

This is a quick overview of who Windsor Local is for.

For Local Residents & Visitors

This is a description of how local residents and visitors can use the Windsor Local platform.

For Local Businesses & Members

This is a description of how local businesses and Windsor Local Members can use the Windsor Local platform.

FAQs

This page shows Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers about the Windsor Local website and Membership.

Contact Us / Support

If you are a Member and need support, have questions about the Giving Back process, or just need to contact us, you can get more information and/or submit the contact form here.

Media and Press

The Media and Press contact for Windsor Local

About Windsor, Ontario

Information about Windsor, Ontario, Canada

About Essex County, Ontario

Information about Essex County, Ontario, Canada

Main Menu:     More â–¼

Emergency, Weather, Medical & Help

This page shows a handy listing of frequently called or hard to find local information for emergency, weather, medical and help.

Local TV & Radio

This page shows the details of local TV and radio stations.

U.S. Border Crossing Cameras

This page shows live cameras on both sides of the border crossing at the Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

  1. ' Bridge: Live Cam Into USA'
  2. ' Bridge: Live Cam Into Canada'
  3. ' Tunnel: Live Cam Into USA'
  4. ' Tunnel: Live Cam Into Canada'

Schools - Elementary & Secondary

This page will show organizations filtered by the Top Category 'Schools - Elementary & Secondary'.

Libraries

This page will show organizations filtered by the Top Category 'Libraries'.

Suggest A Business

Fill in the form to suggest a business, organization or professional we can add to Windsor Local. The business, organization or professional must reside in the Windsor & Essex County area.

Suggestions & Corrections

Fill in the form to provide suggestions or corrections to existing data on the Windsor Local website.

Main Menu:     Members â–¼

Local Business Community

The Windsor Local Business Community (WLBC) is a private place where local business owners, organization managers and professionals can CONNECT. It is a place to make it easier for us to find what we need, share ideas and insights, give feedback, get inspired, and get help working through our unique business issues. A place to help each other GROW their local business.

Membership vs Free Listing

Here we highlight the top 10 reasons a Membership is much better than a Free or Claimable listing.

Why Join?

Here we discuss the benefits of becoming a Member of Windsor local. The Membership Plans are extremely affordable. All Membership plans can easily fit into any sized company's annual marketing and advertising budget. In the lower half of the page we outline a comparison of the features of the Membership plans, along with pricing and the ability to purchase a plan.

Membership Plans

Here we outline a comparison of the features of the Membership plans, along with pricing and the ability to purchase a plan.

VIP Plus Membership Plan

Here we display the features of the highest level Membership plan, the VIP Plus Membership Plan, along with comparison to the other plans, pricing and the ability to purchase the plan.

Advertise Your Business

Members can also advertise on the Windsor Local platform. Here we show the different types of advertisng banner positions available, their cost and the ability to purchase the ad spots.

Tutorials for Members

Here Members can find short video tutorials to help them manage the different elements once they log into their Member Dashboard.

Search for Businesses

Here residents can find local businesses, organizations and professionals (Members) to make it easier for them to spend locally. It is the same page that is found at the Main Menu > Find > Local Businesses.