
Why Canada?
Canada is known for its blistering cold, igloo-filled landscapes and overuse of the word “eh”. In reality, Canada is much more than “the thing above America” or the go-to destination if you really want to see a beaver. Over the last few years, The Great White North has become home to one of the fastest growing forms of advertising today – content and video marketing. Believe it or not, the days of travelling to New York or Los Angeles to shoot a high-profile video may have finally come to an end.
1. The Dollar
The recent plunge of the Canadian dollar may have sent financial advisors and stockbrokers home to cry about their losses, but it’s been a blessing in disguise for service-based companies north of the border. Literally, the dollar has dropped as fast as Keller Zabel’s stock price in Wall Street 2.
For the first time in years, American companies with flat marketing budgets can count on a higher return on their investment if they choose to do business in Canada. With American exchange rates so high, it gives Canadian companies a little more dough to bake with, which can lead to extra video assets and a stronger campaign. With the exchange rate currently at 1.37%, you’ll get an extra 37 cents to every dollar you spend in the Canadian market (as of Feb 23/16).
2. Scenery and Landscape
It may seem a little obvious, but in case you’ve never opened a book, been on the Internet or viewed the default desktop backgrounds of Windows, Canada is known for its variety of breathtaking scenery. From the mountainous terrain in the west to the hilly farmland in the east, it’s easy to find exactly the landscape you’re looking for at a fraction of the price.
Many big name films and TV shows have opted to film in Canada to cut operational costs and sometimes a little more privacy. Box office hits “The Revenant” and “Deadpool” were filmed in northern Canada and Vancouver respectively, with the highly anticipated “Suicide Squad” slated for release this summer which was filmed in Toronto. The list continues with popular TV shows including Suits, police drama Flashpoint and Hannibal.
With gorgeous scenery come well-known landmarks, which can help to improve a brand’s awareness amongst its consumers. Even if you’re an American company, it’s likely you have some form of assets in Canada, whether it’s property, employees or consumers, there is an opportunity to connect and grow your business.