Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

The Value Of Trusted Saskatoon's Third Party Validation For Reputable Local Brands & Businesses

In the 21st century, marketing avenues are virtually limitless. From newer methods like email, social media, and SEO to traditional media such as radio and billboards, local businesses today have more tools than ever to connect with their audiences. As AI and digital technology evolve, these strategies will continue to grow more sophisticated, allowing businesses to engage with consumers in increasingly personalized and innovative ways. However, one form of marketing remains as vital today as it has been for centuries: word-of-mouth, also known as Third-Party Endorsements, Influencer Marketing or Third-Party Validation.

  




“Third-party endorsement refers to a solicited or unsolicited recommendation from an individual or entity who is neither the manufacturer nor seller of the product or service.” 


4 Reasons Why Third-Party Endorsements Are Crucial for Your Brand:


1. Establishing Trust

In today's era of information overload, gaining consumer trust is more challenging than ever. Third-party endorsements cut through the promotional noise by providing external credibility. When consumers see endorsements from trusted sources—whether industry experts, influencers, or reputable organizations—they are more likely to trust the brand.


2. Increasing Brand Authority

With brands constantly vying for consumer attention, third-party endorsements elevate your visibility and solidify your authority within the industry. Being featured on credible platforms boosts your brand's recognition and helps position your business as an industry leader.


"When an unaffiliated third-party expert speaks positively about your brand, it instantly boosts credibility—removing the self-promotional bias." – Entrepreneur Magazine 


3. Building Brand Loyalty

Consumers today crave authentic connections with the brands they support. When they see endorsements from trusted influencers or well-regarded sources, they feel a sense of connection and reinforce their loyalty over time.


4. Creating Social Proof

Third-party endorsements act as social proof, offering reassurance that consumers are making informed choices. Whether through customer testimonials, influencer partnerships, or media mentions, these endorsements help reduce skepticism and increase consumer confidence.


"Third-party validation offers 'social proof,' demonstrating that we are experts in what we claim. In today’s market, continuously building and reinforcing credibility is vital for every business owner and professional."- Forbes


The Power of Local Third-Party Validation by Partnering with Trusted Saskatoon 

Trusted Saskatoon provides third-party endorsements that resonate deeply with local consumers. The partners that pass our verification process and live up to their contractual obligations have the unique ability to leverage our large local following both online and offline. They also directly benefit from the significant (7-figure investment) that Trusted has invested in branding Trusted Saskatoon locally with a strategic advertising campaign spanning over 13 years. Trusted Saskatoon has a well-deserved reputation as 'the real deal' in Saskatoon and surrounding areas. 

Owned by marketing experts, Trusted targets your ideal audience based on your business goals, increasing your brand's credibility and driving measurable results. Our product IS our Partners, and we spend all our time and effort promoting them as the best option in Sakatoon in their categories. We craft tailored third-party content designed to endorse your brand in the most impactful way possible. 


We believe IN our Partners, not because they pay ( as it is a minimal investment compared to other consistent paid advertising options ), but because our team genuinely believes in and trusts them. 

Third-party endorsements are a valuable tool for modern marketers. They offer trust, authority, emotional connections, and the ability to overcome skepticism.

Want to discover how Trusted Saskatoon's third-party validation can benefit your business? Contact Us to learn more.


Learn more about how Trusted Saskatoon works in this video from Sara,  a marketing expert with over three decades of experience and the Trusted founder! 


Sanctum Care Group Joins Trusted Saskatoon's Non-Profit Category

The Trusted Saskatoon team ran a social media contest in 2018 to decide upon a new category; the majority asked for it to be  Trusted Saskatoon NON-PROFITS. This was a good fit, as we have always had a strong community focus. Trusted was proud to be recognized as the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce ABEX Award for Community recipient in 2017.

We are thrilled to announce that Sanctum Care Group is our newest Saskatoon non-profit partner. In this article, we will share WHO they are, what they do and why Trusted wanted to get more involved in helping Sanctum achieve their lofty goals! After reading this, we hope you will join us in helping them! 



Trusted Saskatoon welcomes Sanctum Care Group, the latest addition to our Trusted Saskatoon Non-Profit Category. This revolutionary non-profit organization is making waves with its innovative HIV care model, drawing attention from across Saskatchewan and beyond. In this blog post, we'll delve into the inspiring story of Sanctum Care Group, its founders, and their impactful work to provide holistic care to individuals with or at risk of HIV.

Katelyn & Morris

The story begins with Katelyn Roberts and Dr. Morris Markentin, two relentless individuals who defied skeptics to establish Saskatchewan's first HIV hospice. Katelyn, a former HIV case manager, pitched the idea to Dr. Markentin years ago over a meal at their favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Saskatoon. Their vision was to shift the focus from reactive to proactive care, providing preventative, holistic, and trauma-informed support before problems escalated.

Dr. Markentin, with years of experience in addiction medicine, recognized the interconnected issues of poverty, inadequate housing, and trauma as the root causes of his patients' challenges. Sanctum Care Group found its home in an empty building on Avenue O, a space provided by the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation. The initial days were challenging, with only two residents –a patient affectionately known as the "Lone Ranger" and Katelyn Roberts herself.  When the second patient moved in, the Lone Ranger stretched out a hand and said, “Welcome to heaven.” Soon, the 10-bed facility was battling a six-month waiting list. For many, it was the first time in their lives that many of the residents had a safe, stable place to call home.

The Impact of Sanctum Care Group 

Today, Sanctum Care Group provides solace for individuals with HIV, supports mothers in keeping custody of and reuniting with their children, and offers a peaceful environment for palliative patients. Dr. Markentin emphasizes that, at Sanctum, no one has to face death alone. The organization has extended its reach through various initiatives, connecting former residents to housing and Sanctum 1.5, a neonatal care home for pregnant women, those with HIV or those at risk of contracting it.



Acknowledging that the journey was far from perfect, Dr. Markentin believes that Sanctum Care Group has made a significant impact already, and they have so much more to give! The organization's signature fundraiser, the annual Sanctum Survivor, involves community leaders spending 36 hours on the streets, simulating the challenges faced by those with chronic diseases and no housing. This event raises funds and fosters a deeper understanding of the struggles in Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods.

 In 2023, the founder of Trusted Sara Wheelwright stepped up to participate as one of the ten survivors in the Sanctum Survivor event. Together, they raised a staggering $426,000, with Sara individually contributing an impressive $26,700. The huge final total was greatly impacted by the efforts of 2023 survivor participant David Dube, who surpassed his personal  $100,000 fundraising goal and announced at the Sanctum Gala that his total would be matched by the Les & Irene Dubé Foundation. 

Reflecting on her experience, Sara said: 

"The Sanctum Survivor experience was extremely humbling; I had no idea how many barriers our cities' most vulnerable citizens face in their daily lives. When I understood how impactful Sanctum is , I was determined to help them going forward - the work they do is so needed and I hope I can help them as they grow and share their model for the benefit of all involved! "

 This is a glimpse of their experience.

 

Sanctum Care Group's journey is a testament to the power of determination, compassion, and a vision for proactive care. As they continue to expand and share their proven programs, Sanctum Care Group is making a lasting impact on the lives of individuals with HIV and their families. Trusted Saskatoon is excited to have them in our Non-Profit Category, and we look forward to amplifying and supporting their transformative work for the community.


Sanctum Care Group is a Trusted Saskatoon Non-Profit - learn more about them and their programs on the listing.


Trusted Founder Sara Wheelwright Steps Up To Participate In 2023 The Sanctum Survivor 36-Hour Challenge

The Trusted team believes giving back is always in style. We are proud members of the Saskatoon business community. We love our city and do what we can in an effort to support local events,  non-profits and to help individuals in need. 


 Help Sara reach her fundraising target and Support Sanctum Care Group by donating:  

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/sanctum-care-group-inc/p2p/sanctumsurvivor2023/page/sara-wheelwright/
 


"If you wait until you can do everything for everybody, instead of something for somebody, you’ll end up doing nothing for nobody." ~ Malcolm Bane 


On May 25 & 26, 2023, our founder Sara Wheelwright, and eight other community leaders will live as if homeless for 36 hours on the streets of Saskatoon as part of the Sanctum Survivor 36-Hour Challenge. In teams of two, Survivor participants will be given tasks to complete. Each lesson will aim to demonstrate specific challenges that society is often unaware of but are an everyday reality for those homeless with HIV. Participants will wear donated clothes and shoes. They will not be allowed personal belongings other than a phone (to update the public on their journey). The event itself is both powerful and unprecedented. It attempts to shed light on the intense hardship faced by people who experience poverty, homelessness and chronic illness here in Saskatoon.


Sara Wheelwright - Participant - 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge. 

Owner of Trusted Saskatoon and Trusted Marketing Services, Sara is an award-winning marketer, entrepreneur, and community supporter. Sara is committed to supporting our community and volunteers her time and professional resources. You will find her organizing & facilitating conferences to provide tools and a safe space to discuss critical social issues, such as youth suicide, domestic violence and trauma.

She donates ongoing marketing services to support many non-profit fundraising events and ongoing campaigns., Including, but not limited to, Wiegers Care For Kids, TLC@Home, Saskatoon Progress Club, Mending Little Hearts and TeleMiracle.

Nothing satisfies Sara more than promoting and supporting local non-profits and organizations to succeed. When she was approached to be a participant in the 2023 challenge,

 she didn't hesitate to step up; she had heard about the fantastic work Sanctum has been doing in Saskatoon and wanted to do all she could to help. 


WHAT IS THE SANCTUM GROUP? 


Sanctum is Saskatchewan's first hospice with respite and supportive care for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Sanctum Group is a registered Non-profit, and it runs several vital programs.


Sanctum 

The hospice and transitional care home provides around-the-clock transitional care for HIV-positive persons with social and high-risk behaviours and conditions, including homelessness, that prevents them from adequately caring for themselves. In addition, this home provides compassionate end-of-life care to HIV-positive individuals with a palliative diagnosis. 

Sanctum 1.5


10-bed prenatal care home which supports high-risk and HIV-positive pregnant women at risk of having their infants apprehended at birth.

Sanctum provides a community for individuals requiring supportive care to attain their optimum level of health while maximizing their control and dignity. Incorporating existing community services in Sanctum's safe and supportive environment, the prenatal home works preventively to meet these women's health and social needs more effectively and efficiently, improving the health and well-being of mom and baby while mitigating the risks associated with apprehensions of infants at birth.


As of May 2022, 92 mothers completed/graduated the program – 93 babies were prevented from entering foster care. In addition, mothers who have successfully graduated from the program have had an additional 56 children returned to their care. A total of 149 children are now successfully within the care of their mothers, either through prevention or return from foster care.

" I humbly ask for your support as a participant in the 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge, I have a target to raise $20,000 and I can only do that with the help of my friends, family and colleagues. Sanctum does much-needed work in our city, and I acknowledge that the 36-hour homelessness experience by no means accurately depicts the numerous barriers and complex issues faced by persons who survive daily in poverty and homelessness; however, I hope that drawing awareness of some of the many challenges our cities most vulnerable citizen face may be a catalyst for real and lasting change. Anything you can do to support me will be appreciated and valued. Thank you in advance "  Sara Wheelwright 

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

There are several ways you can support Sara in the 2023 Challenge.

1. Follow along on Sara's social media to take part in her journey in The 2023 Sanctum Survivor Challenge on May 25th & 26th 2023

Please SHARE Sara's posts to help spread awareness of this year's challenge. 

1.. Help Sara reach her fundraising target and Support Sanctum Care Group by donating here:  

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/sanctum-care-group-inc/p2p/sanctumsurvivor2023/page/sara-wheelwright/


4. Another way you can help is to donate much-needed Items to Sanctum. Please email sara@trustedcanada.com and she will arrange for pick up. See the list of items Sanctum 1.5 needs below. 

Resident Needs:

  • Winter gear – coats, boots, toques, mitts, etc.

  • Toothpaste and toothbrushes

  • Sports bras/nursing bras

  • Adult colouring books/coloured markers

  • Laundry baskets

  • Underarm deodorant 

  • Shampoo/conditioner/body wash/soap

  • Feminine hygiene products

  • Lotions (scent-free)

  • Disposable razors

  • Nail clippers

  • Socks/underwear

  • Bath Towels

  • Face cloths

  • Pillows/ pillowcases

  • Slippers

  • Maternity wear/sweat pants(leggings)/Nightshirts(P.J.’s)

  • House coats

  • Pyjamas

  • Men's and women's sweats, shoes, comfortable indoor clothing

  • Crafting supplies

  • Nursing pads

  • Nipple cream

 

Baby Items:

  • Outdoor wear or winter wear

  • Diapers

  • Baby wipes

  • Diaper cream

  • Formula

  • Pacifiers

  • Nasal aspirator

  • Sleepers

  • Car seat covers

  • Baby soaps/lotions

  • Sent free baby laundry detergent

  • Face cloths

  • Baby towels

  • Receiving blankets

  • Baby nail care kit

  • Breastfeeding pillow

  • Baby under shirts

  • Bottle washers

  • Bottle warmers

  • Bottle liners

  • Bibs

  • Diapers

  • Teething rings

  • Baby socks

  • Night lights

  • Crib/bassinet sheets

Household Items 

Please note: Health Regulations require that these items be unopened and in their original packaging.

  • Instant pot

  • Ninja blender

  • Bread maker

  • Large slow cooker

  • Canned goods

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Cereal

  • Nonperishable food items

Trusted Celebrates Amazing Local Business's Who Have Been Trusted Saskatoon Partners For Over 5 Years



TrustedSaskatoon.com's 10th Anniversary year is coming to a close here in 2021. We celebrated with a huge contest, where we face away over $20,000 in prizes from our Trusted partners here in Saskatoon. We added new features and welcomed more fantastic local businesses to the growing Trusted Saskatoon community. We have taken the time to recognize Trusted Saskatoon partners who have been with us for many years of our journey, some for over ten years! Our mission continues to save you time, money, and stress when choosing locally-owned businesses that serve Saskatoon and the surrounding area. This article celebrates and recognizes the latest Saskatoon Businesses that Saskatoon partners have trusted for at least five years!

Kathy Bond Pilates, Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Experts for over eight years!


Kathy Bond has been Saskatoon Pilates Centre's passionate owner and operator since 1999. She has over 50 years of experience as a dance teacher and fitness instructor and has taught Pilates for decades. Kathy celebrated her 75th birthday in 2021, but you wouldn't know if you met her! She has a zest for life and so much knowledge and joy to share,  and she's still at her studio every day because of her love of people, their health, motion, and overall wellness. 

The relationships she has forged are a massive part of her business, as some of her clients have been with her for over 20 years and have become dear friends. 

WOW, THAT IS INCREDIBLE!


Kathy also dedicates her success to her team of excellent instructors over the years, who support their clients' journeys to achieve optimal well-being through movement, fitness and a deeper awareness of their body/mind connection. She couldn't have come this far without them. We are confident that she and her team can help you get fit, get healthy and have your body move and feel as it should, with ease of motion and no pain! 

As her tagline states…

Every Body Matters’

Find out why Kathy Bond is the most respected and trusted Pilates instructor in Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan; we couldn't be more proud to promote Saskatoon Pilates Centre as Your Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Centre!

Invisible Fence Brand of Saskatchewan was brought to Saskatchewan by Solange Bosse in 2015. She has been helping families and their furbabies gain freedom and safety all over the province ever since! Solange is passionate about helping pets and pet owners, and she has been a committed volunteer for wildlife rescue for over 25 years!


Every week, Solange and her team travel the province, providing outstanding support and service for this wonderful product that has applications that work in urban yards and for rural properties on acreages and farms. No farm is too large, and no yard or home is too small for Invisible Fence Solutions! Their products have helped hundreds of pets and their families lead safe and harmonious lives together. She should know, as she has two wonderful dogs: an incredible Dane named Sophie, a cockapoo named Alvin, and a crazy cat called Steve. Oh yeah, Solange and her daughter also have a beautiful horse named Koda. Solange is proud to offer its proven P.E.T. Approach training method that ensures an unparalleled success rating of over 99%. She doesn't just sell you the equipment and go on to the next clients; she helps to educate you and help train your pets, making it an easy transition for all. Invisible Fence Brands of Saskatchewan is our province's number-one choice for pet fencing solutions. The Trusted team is proud to promote the Invisible Fence Brand Of Saskatchewan as your Trusted Saskatoon Pet Fence Expert for over five years. It looks forward to supporting them and encouraging them for many more years! Congratulations Solange!

Burnt Orange Solutions Trusted Saskatoon I.T. Professionals For 5 Years!


Burnt Orange Solutions is a locally owned and operated Saskatoon I.T. company, and the team has been helping area businesses and consumers for over ten years. Gareth Mckee, an immigrant from the U.K.,  initially joined Trusted Saskatoon in 2013. After a few years, he relocated the family and the business to Biggar, Saskatchewan, where his wife Alison, a family doctor, was working. When they returned to Saskatoon in 2017, they wanted to rejoin the Trusted Saskatoon community. 

Whether you are dealing directly with Gareth, Kay, or any of his dedicated team, they aim to reply and address your I.T. concerns as soon as possible. They are proud to offer a one-hour response time…who else can do that? Gareth has a massive passion for I.T. & data security. he owned an I.T. in the U.K. before moving to Canada and served in the British Army. Gareth keeps himself up to date with everything happening in the I.T. Industry; he is constantly learning and updating the skills of his team. In turn, he is committed to educating his clients on best practices. Gareth provides the Trusted Saskatoon team with regular I.T. Tips and helpful data security articles for our Saskatoon Trusted Tip Library.
 

Be assured Burnt Orange Solutions will do the best job it can for you. This is true 'I.T. Support You Can Trust and Understand.' After all, honesty and trust in a professional I.T. security firm are tremendous for your private and confidential data on your own I.T. systems. At Burnt Orange Solutions, they take pride in their artistry and fix each system as if it were their own. 


We are honoured to have them as Trusted Saskatoon partners. Burnt Orange Solutions really is the best Saskatoon I.T. company!


Trustedsaskatoon.com will save you time, save you hassle and save you money. Our local Trusted Saskatoon team is committed to finding outstanding businesses like the ones highlighted above. Be assured that ALL the companies featured on our Saskatoon directory have been checked verified, and are annually contracted to uphold the 5 TRUSTED GUARANTEES of service! 

5 Trusted Guarantees

  1. Provide the service and quality promised.

  2. Complete the job on time.

  3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.

  4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.

  5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.


Trusted Saskatoon was founded on the principle that great local businesses deserve the promotion. We know they are out there; we have found many already and work hard to find more. Please help us by nominating your favourite Saskatoon businesses here.

Citations, mentions, and SEO - how being a Trusted Saskatoon partner positively impacts local Google rankings

Citations, mentions, and SEO explained by Sara, owner of Trusted Saskatoon. 

There are many benefits to being a Trusted Saskatoon partner. My local team spends all of our time and energy promoting the Saskatoon partners on the directory as the best options in their industry in Saskatoon and the surrounding area. Once a business passes our unique verification process we invest in consistent advertising and we promote them both individually, and as a community as trustworthy, reputable locally owned, and accountable businesses. We do not do this because they ' bought our favour', we do it because they have proven themselves to be trusted.  Each of the businesses listed on Trusted Saskatoon has signed a contract where they agree to uphold the 5 Trusted Guarantees of Service. 

There is a lot of work and effort that goes on behind the scenes that may not be immediately obvious or understood by our Partners. In this article, I explain how my team helps our partner's websites rank higher in local search independently of their listings on our Saskatoon directory.

 

The SEO Impact Being Trusted Has On Our Partners Local Search Rankings

The key to being found online is having correct, consistent information online. That combined with fresh\new, relevant content on sites that are both yours and NOT yours, is what the internet and search engines really value!   
This is where local SEO citations and mentions on high-quality local directories such as Trusted Saskatoon, on social media, and other trustworthy websites and sources come into play.

What are citations and how do they impact local SEO?

Citations are online mentions of your business on 3rd party websites. If your business is listed on Trustedaskatoon.com, that counts as a local citation. The same goes if your business information is mentioned or featured on 3rd party blog posts or online newspaper/media articles- such as the Star Phoenix new faces new places for example. Citations and online mentions are important for local businesses online since they send out signals that tell Google and the other major search engines they can trust your Saskatoon business.

Why do we recommend focusing on citation building?

We all want to be on the 1st page of Google for our category in our local market for our main target search keywords. If your website ranks higher in search, then it should attract more visitors, generate leads and that should lead to more business. 

To be well ranked in local searches, you need to make sure the search engines have all of the correct information they need about your business. If your most important data is not consistent, the search engines are less likely to put your website forward as a high-ranking option for local prospects searching for your products and/or servcies. 

How The Local Search SEO Point System Works

Google is essentially the head librarian of the web, and as there are over 570,000 new websites added per DAY to the internet it’s a HUGE job! As such, Google has lots of 24/7 ‘library assistants’ helping with the massive and ongoing task of ranking the approximate 1.7 billion websites currently listed on the world wide web. If these assistants, or ‘web crawlers’, find links on 3rd party websites that link back to your business’s website, then they know it is trustworthy and you will earn an SEO point. If that backlink is on a quality local website, like www.trustedsaskatoon.com, then you are awarded additional, highly valued local SEO ‘points’. The same is true for citations; if web crawlers find your business information listed in important online directories, mentioned on other people's blogs, and featured in articles / local news, it solidifies the fact that they can trust your business information to be correct.

Citation building is a small but important piece of the local search marketing puzzle. Our team is working on our clients' behalf to ensure the information we have about them on Trusted Saskatoon is up to date and relevant.

Check out the video below for more information, and if you have questions please do reach out to our team!  

What’s the difference between online citations and online mentions? 

An online mention is when a business or brand is referenced, or "mentioned" on the internet. While often referring exclusively to social media mentions, they also count every time an online publication, website or blog ‘ mentions’  a brand or business name. If the mentions are combined with backlinks to your website and over 300 words of rich locally-focused content all the better.  By rich, we mean that the content includes elements such as quality, copyright-free images, relevant keywords, embedded videos, location-specific words, etc. If that is the case, then the value of that mention increases A LOT! This is why we ask our Partners to work with us to provide information about their specific business/ industry. We take that information and write quality Trusted Saskatoon Tips that feature them as the local experts in their industry!  

When we tag our Partners on our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter platforms the search engines and the web crawlers take note, this, in turn, adds additional SEO POINTS and improves their website’s organic search value. Their business and websites gain more ‘authority' within their respective industry categories in local search. Positive SEO leads to increased visibility, which can then prompt more mentions and further increased SEO points. Less is definitely NOT more when it comes to citations, mentions, and links to websites.

If Partners want to make the most of our expertise, promotions, and online klout, then they need to provide us with more information in the form of interesting, helpful and engaging expert tips about their industry. Our team will do the rest, we know how to take the content and get as many ‘ SEO points ‘ as possible. We then pay to promote that content locally so it reaches your ideal prospects. The more we can help our clients build a solid citation and link-building foundation the better they rank in local searches for their categories.  Our goal is that our Trusted Saskatoon Partners get their unfair share of leads in their categories locally online! 

About Trusted Sara

The founder of Trusted Saskatoon, Sara Wheelwright has over 25 years of marketing experience. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur and marketer, she expanded Trusted’s services by launching a full-service Saskatchewan digital marketing agency, Trusted Marketing Services in 2014. The success of Trusted is a testament to the importance of having business integrity in a digital age, where access to free-flowing information is constantly influencing consumers. Her experiences and insight are relevant to all business owners interested in progressive marketing strategies. Her biggest strength is being able to communicate the complexities of online marketing and how the internet works to local business owners in a way that they can fully comprehend. This, in turn, empowers them and helps them compete in this new marketing landscape.


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TrustedSaskatoon.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

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