Helping organizations maximize the power of new web technologies – at a fraction of the usual cost – is the mission of OnCouRSS, a new local business.

Co-founded by local entrepreneurs James McBeath and Shelley Montreuil, OnCourRSS helps small and home-based businesses, artists, social groups and not-for-profit organizations take their websites and marketing to the next level through a range of new web technologies known as social media.

“Our goal is to help people walk through the jungle that is social media,” says McBeath. “Our technology provides the maximum functionality and flexibility at the lowest cost.”

Social media is the term used to describe two-way communications on the web, such as blogs, podcasts, networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, and photo sharing and video sharing sites like YouTube. Many websites also use Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds to automatically let others know when they have posted new content and to share that content in real time.

“The Internet is now the world’s largest source of information,” McBeath says. “Most people today don’t make decisions about what to buy or where to travel without visiting a website. If you’re not on the web, you have no chance at getting their business, because your competitors are probably already online grabbing their attention first.”

Blogging and podcasting can enhance your website by permitting you to establish yourself as an expert in your field. “Blogging and other new media permit you to really show people that you know what you are talking about,” says Montreuil. “Podcasting, especially, allows web visitors to get a much more real sense of who you are as a person and that can be the extra something that will help a potential customer to choose you instead of the competition.”

OnCouRSS uses WordPress, a web publishing tool that can put people completely in control of their website content, quickly and inexpensively.

“With WordPress you can change your site whenever you want to, without contacting a programmer,” says Montreuil. “OnCouRSS can help you manage social media, make sure everything is working properly and keep you apprised of new technologies.”

OnCouRSS services include assessing your existing marketing plan and developing a realistic, cost-effective online strategy that will use the power of social media to leverage your business.

Using WordPress templates, which can also be customized, OnCouRSS can quickly design and develop a website that includes traditional functionality, plus a full range of additional features, including social media technologies and e-commerce. The company also provides website hosting services and can develop content for and maintain your website if you don’t have the time to do it yourself.

Current OnCouRSS clients include S4Potential (s4potential.com), Acorn Custom Homes (acorncustomhomes.com), Reith Financial (reithfinancial.ca) and Puppets Up! (puppetsup.ca). The company has also designed a multi-user site for the World Kayak Blogging Network (worldkayakblogs.com).

In addition to launching OnCouRSS, McBeath and Montreuil continue to operate their own separate companies, Breathe Productions and Strategic Media Solutions, respectively.

Breathe focuses on traditional website development for medium to large companies and Strategic Media Solutions designs and develops marketing strategies.

“Neither company was focused on social media, so OnCouRSS was born,” says McBeath.

“OnCouRSS is a way for both of us to step into the fast lane of social media,” says Montreuil “It lets us take our experience and passion for new media and use it to help clients develop a high quality product at a much lower cost.”