Instant Chat available for your website.
Posted: November 20, 2011 Filed under: From the Creative Director, Technical Leave a comment »HandyRandy uses Zopim Instant Chat app to respond to and identify web-based opportunities and respond to leads. Clink this link to add Zopim instant chat to your website:
HandyRandy designs Online Marketing Services website for KAYAK
Posted: November 2, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director, hrc creative Leave a comment »Navigating today’s topsy-turvy online marketplace is a whole lot easier with Kayak.
As a sister company to HandyRandy, we paid great attention to design to current web standards in navigation, page layout and seo criteria. Yes, of course we still had a lot of fun!
Check out the site for various kayak illustrations inked by Calgary artist Val Lawton - each one supported by a description of the style of kayak which doubles as a metaphor for KAYAK’s service offerings. There are seven in all.
KAYAK is a Calgary-based strategic creative communications firm focused on helping small to medium size businesses integrate and optimize their marketing initiatives. Our experience runs deep in both traditional and online marketing, and we are well equipped to help you extend the reach and impact of your brand.
By ensuring that all of your online and traditional marketing efforts are pointed in the same direction (and the right direction), KAYAK will set you on a course for online marketing success beyond your expectations.
HandyRandy and Kayak transform Jubilee front of house
Posted: October 29, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., From the Creative Director Leave a comment »Jubilee front of house branding project.
In support of Newcastle Homes & Renovations and Pinnacle Wealth Brokers, we were asked to transform the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium front of house with Newcastle and Pinnacle branding. These images show the results.
Large format graphics by Anvy Digital.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Small business can get found on Google
Posted: October 24, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director, Technical Leave a comment »There was a day when volume was the key to being found organically in online search.
Google search results for HandyRandy Communications
The Corner Store had no hope of ranking in search over the Mega-Mart outside of direct keyboard input of their URL (more often than not, typed directly into the Google search field). However, times have changed.
Small businesses are now able to compete on a more level playing field against massive web sites and deep-pocket paid marketing campaigns thanks to a basic strategy of “talk like a human being – about real things.”
Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines are ever evolving their algorithims to thwart black hat tactics, punishing web sites for keyword stuffing, fraudulent linking schemes and invisible text – just to name a few – in favour of tactics that can actually get legitimate businesses found. Imagine that!
One of Google’s latest tweaks being higher ratings for referring sites such as blogs and “offer” landing pages over standard (read, inactive | stale | brochure-ware) web sites. Others include image-to-word ratios for marketing pages (40:1 or higher is typically favoured) and the quality of hyperlinks (where links mid-sentence take the participant to similar content on another page instead of “click here” links).
What this means in a nutshell, is that the use of normal human-speak and honest, relevant content are by far the two most significant things a business marketer can do to jump the cue and get their company scoring higher in organic search results. (And… yes, what could be more human than typos and questionable grammar?)
I believe the online world truly is open for business, no matter the business size.
Manning Innovation Awards a huge success
Posted: October 17, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., From the Creative Director, hrc creative Leave a comment »
The view from table 64, seated next to Venture Magazine editor Michael Ganley and his lovely wife.
The Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards featured Vortex Mud Flaps, Direct Injection Natural Gas for Diesel Engines, Roots of Empathy, Clean Keys, Dangers of NanoSilvers and more…
Attending the Ernest C. Manning Innovation Awards on October 14th at the Shaw Convention Centre in Edmonton Alberta was a humbling experience.
High school students and adults alike, shared the stage and well-deserved accolades for their distinctly Canadian innovations.
Having designed the displays, banners, a number of event collateral and more, the team at HandyRandy and KAYAK were grateful to receive a pair of tickets to the event.
KAYAK partner Paul Trieu partakes in the celebration.
some of our design work at the awards gala
LAUNCHED: Newcastle Renovations Website and Blog
Posted: September 26, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »We are pleased to announce the launch of the Newcastle Homes and Renovations Website.
Newcastle is co-preseting sponsor of the Owen Hart Foundation event: Russell Brand LIVE, playing OCT 15, 2011.
Visit their new site today.
Newcastle Homes and Renovations HOME Page
Newcastle Homes and Renovations BLOG Page
A shot at Creativity
Posted: August 29, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »Only a year after picking up a Nikon DSLR, our creative director is creating some out-of-this-world imagery.
Abstract images, perfect as wall art, screen-savers, iPhone/iPad/iPod wallpapers, and more.
See more images (commercial and personal license available) at: randymilanovic.smugmug.com
abstract black/gold - copyright Randy Milanovic
abstract blue/pink - copyright Randy Milanovic
abstract yellow - copyright Randy Milanovic
abstract green/gold - copyright Randy Milanovic
It’s spelled E T H I C S
Posted: August 26, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »In an advertising world where exaggerations and word play are just two of the many building blocks of successful communications, I feel it’s important for marketers to recognize and separate the fun (do it) from the fraud (don’t do it).
As a subscriber to the Sheldon Chumir Ethics Foundation and a professional member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada GDC HandyRandy adheres to a professional code of business ethics.
Not all marketers do.
Earlier this Spring, our office received a call from VoiceAmerica (a successful, web-based radio platform).
- Voice America Logo
The call was professional, the caller identified herself as a producer, provided contact info, and went on to explain that her production assistant had identified our Creative Director (me) as an authority in the communications field and that they were interested in producing a talk show with me as a VoiceAmerica host.
Wow! I though. The offer came with an impressive list of benefits including: content control, coaching, distribution, promotion and marketing via their web site.)
I was more than a little bit excited.
Curious, I Googled VoiceAmerica and the experiences of other ‘hosts’. What I found was eye-opening. Try it yourself.
This would-be “host” emailed the producer and asked, ‘Is there a cost to this offer?’ Not surprisingly, I received an answer that Yes, the show production and its promotion was billable to the host (again, me) to the tune of roughly $6,500.00 USD ($500.00/show, 13 shows).
As it turned out, the search for a host was in truth, a veiled sales pitch.
They appealed to my ego. They appealed to my desire to promote my businesses. They made me feel great fo a day.
But they really didn’t want me. They wanted my money. I was crushed.
Illegal? No.
Scam? No.
Unethical? I certainly feel misled.
I feel that if VoiceAmerica was truly searching for talent, they should be paying the bills or at least telling me up front that there was a cost involved.
A final word from the recently wizened: if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.
This posting is my own opinion.
New Resource for NAL Resources
Posted: July 25, 2011 Filed under: Client happenings., From the Creative Director, hrc creative Leave a comment »
NAL Resources Brochure
Demonstrating a commitment to landowners, NAL Resources asked us to help them create a brochure and matching presentation folder to hold legal documents.
HandyRandy added a safety map to the package and got to work custom-designing the folder, selecting e-friendly papers and inks and writing the content to meet landowner needs. The result is this bold and beautiful collateral.
HandyRandy prefers to print with environmentally friendly inks, papers and processes. Ask us about the different options available today.
HandyRandy & KAYAK
Posted: July 12, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., From the Creative Director Leave a comment »Hello,
On behalf of HandyRandy Communications, we would like to introduce you to our sister company: KAYAK Creative Services Inc.
Integrated B2B creative services meant to maximize your business opportunities.
KAYAK offers you all the solid print and web services HandyRandy has brought to clients for more than a decade plus expanded services designed to integrate your communications activities and grow your online presence. Our newly expanded services range from social media setup and landing page creation to developing brand new “active” web sites and integrating both online and traditional marketing campaigns.
Visit our new Calgary Online Marketing website today, and subscribe to our bl0g to received fantastic new online marketing tips.
Paul Trieu, Client Service
Partner, KAYAK Creative Services Inc.
Partner, KAYAK Creative Services Inc.
Fantastic Photo Fabric
Posted: June 16, 2011 Filed under: Client happenings., From the Creative Director Leave a comment »
Printing on fabric solved the issue of glaring sunlight.
While setting up their new showrooms, Wildwood Cabinets encountered a glaring challenge…
Floor-to-ceiling windows and east-facing offices meant they would receive direct sunlight much of the day, making it a challenge to see new kitchen cabinetry photos shot by Ted Knude Photography.
HandyRandy offered a solution: print the photos on ImageText by Anvy Digital (a non-reflective fabric). Wildwood polished off the installation by custom-manufacturing matching frames, resulting in a beautiful finished product.
Large format graphics by Anvy Digital.
Another example of HandyRandy, our suppliers and our clients all working together (win-win-win again). To learn more about working with HandyRandy, please contact us today. With us, you’re in good hands.
QR (Quick Response) Codes in Online Marketing
Posted: May 23, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Technical Leave a comment »
Scan these with any SmartPhone using a QR Code App.
URL. Text. Telephone number. SMS message. Anything you want to communicate is just a QR (Quick Response) scan away.
One might think that you need to be a little bit “geek” to get QR codes, but just imagine the possibilities: what would happen if you included a QR code in your print marketing to launch a new micro-site, call a help line, run a contest, compare prices? All this and more is easily accomplished with a simple scan by your smart-phone with a QR Scanner App installed.
Free QR Scanners are available for the vast majority of SmartPhones on the market today. Check their respective App stores. Ask HandyRandy to create your QR code(s) today.
Far more than cups and saucers…
Posted: May 19, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »There’s also a considerable amount of skill, craftsmanship and pride in a quality product.
Building the Wildwood Cabinets online presence from scratch, HandyRandy began by touring the cabinet-makers’ facility, interviewing the owners and setting out a site plan. Over the course of development, we learned many things that make this company unique: specially formulated stains, a brand new showroom, and attention to detail to name just a few.
“Contemporary, transitional or traditional, your new kitchen will be more than you ever expected.” This is the promise made by Wildwood Cabinets owners Jack Rapkowski and Dan Moyen.
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Considering a new or refreshed website? Curious about social media integration? Ask us what we can do to create a positive, professional online presence for you. Contact HandyRandy today.
At HOME with Wildwood Cabinets
www.wildwood-cabinets.com Showcase
Showcase - Feature Images Overlay
Disappearing act.
Posted: May 17, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »Proving the promise, “Is your boardroom a mishmash of temperamental equipment and a jumble of cables, components and extension cords? Teatrx will make your biggest A/V challenges and all that clutter in your boardroom disappear forever…”, the design direction for this A/V technical services firm’s website was abundantly clear: less is more.
After
Clutter-less, high-tech, pristine board rooms are the result of careful planning, technology integration and furniture/room modifications. Launch website.
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Learn what HandyRandy can do for you. Contact us today.
Before
The knee bone’s connected…
Posted: May 13, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »
It's all connected. Or, at least it should be.
The knee bone’s connected to the leg bone. The leg bone’s connected to the hip bone. The hip bone’s connected to the back bone…
You get the idea. All the bones are connected. Just as connected are traditional, owned and earned media.
- Traditional Media: Search (Google, Bing), Newspapers, Magazines, Television, Outdoor, etc.
- Owned Media: Your own company Websites, Blogs, Twitter, etc.
- Earned Media: Word of Mouth (direct referrals), Buzz (being talked about amongst peers), Viral (blogging, tweeting by others).
No doubt, you know that media mixes can contain print, outdoor and other collateral components. Today, there’s more. Much more. Businesses need to adopt a new set of communication tools just to get in the game – and empower their personnel to deploy these tools to stay in it. We can help.
Contact HandyRandy today to review your communications strategy.
Innovative Marine “Launch”
Posted: May 5, 2011 Filed under: Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »
Dames Marine Services "launch" QR code into marketing mix
Dames Marine Services jump at opportunity to launch QR code technology into their marketing mix.
Given the vast majority of Dames’ customer base are avid users of smart phones, including a QR code on their vehicle to automatically open their mobile-enabled web site made for a perfect fit.
It also allowed them to keep the vehicle clean and clutter-free — an important attribute given they detail and restore yachts on the B.C. Coast. Visit them online at www.damesmarineservices.com today, or if you happen to see the car, scan it!
Contact HandyRandy now to learn more about how we can integrate QR technology into YOUR marketing projects.
SCRIPTed for Youth
Posted: April 28, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director, hrc creative Leave a comment »
Boys & Girls Club of Calgary SCRIPT Program Poster
It’s tough to connect with youth involved with street life. Time to think outside the box (and onto the smartphone). Youth are clearly early adopters of new technology. As such, they are a key beneficiary of QR code technology. Poster by HandyRandy Communications Inc. April 2011.
SCRIPT is designed to support youth who are experiencing issues of homelessness or involved with street life, ages 13 – 20. If you or someone you love are experiencing these issues, please contact SCRIPT today by calling 403-828-4673 (HOPE). A program of the Boys & Girls Club of Calgary.
Avmax INTO THE BLUE
Posted: April 26, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »
Print and online items for Avmax Aviation Services.
Since 1976, Avmax has grown to become a world leader in a full spectrum of aviation support services and resources.
Back in 2005, Avmax invited a short list of creative firms to pitch a rebranding of their core business. The strength of our team, coupled with an extensive network of communications talent, project management capabilities and top-tier suppliers made HandyRandy the obvious choice to take Avmax’s brand “INTO THE BLUE”.
Over the years, HandyRandy has created advertisements, posters, display elements and more.
MiniBulk MegaMakeover
Posted: April 21, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »MiniBulk, a leading North American supplier of FIBCs (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers) recognized the strategic importance of a credible, branded online presence.
HandyRandy was engaged to bring the company’s outdated website up-to-date, incorporate an innovative, user-friendly mini bulk bag configuration tool and deploy the Website in both English and French Canadian languages. Designed and developed to current web standards in usability, navigability and SEO readiness, the new website is a prime example of both form and function.
MiniBulk.com
Newly launched Website (top) and previous outdated website (below).
Contact us at any time to learn more about what we can do for you.
Outdated site
Arnika Centre pro-bono
Posted: April 8, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »
stationery and brochure for non-profit
The Arnika Centre for Dual Diagnosis is a service for adults and teenagers 16 years of age and up with an intellectual disability and a mental health problem.
It is a community-based service within the Calgary region since January 2003.
It is also an interdisciplinary team of professionals with members from psychiatry, psychology, neurology, nursing and social work.
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HandyRandy is proud to have volunteered our services for this excellent organization. Website
Ready for a “bright” idea?
Posted: April 1, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »
Conventional (at left). Illumina Back-lit (at right).
Always on the leading edge of large-format printing technology, AnvyDigital brings their customers a new (and environmentally friendlier!) printing technique that let products shine.
The solution: Seeing is believing! HandyRandy’s creative team opted for a straight-up comparison between conventional and Illumina Back-lit products.
- Conventional maximum ink density: 230%
- Illumina Back-lit maximum ink density: 400%
Illumina Back-lit delivers deeper blacks and richer colours across the spectrum. Perfect for presenting food, cosmetics, fashion and more.
To learn more about this revolutionary product, contact AnvyDigital today.
AnvyDigital and HandyRandy Communications have been working together for more than a decade! (We are each other’s client AND supplier.) HandyRandy highly recommends AnvyDigital for large format printing projects of exceptional quality.
Fencing ’til the cows come home?’
Posted: March 31, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, Client happenings., hrc creative Leave a comment »
Taking care of bin...ness everyday!
Longtime HandyRandy client LoadRunner Bins came up with an innovative service offer: roll-off bins on a trailer, delivered to rural locations and directed to farmers, acreage owners, municipalities, etc.
The innovative part of this offer is the ability to swap out bins at a client’s site, whether along a fence-line or in a yard. Just one more innovative service option from LoadRunner Bins.
Visit www.loadrunnerbins.com for more info.
They’re “Taking care of bin….ness every day!”
The big “one one!”
Posted: March 24, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »
The big "one one!"
Eleven already. Whodathunkit?
No longer the new kid on the block, HandyRandy Communications pulls in no less than a dozen new clients at the end of 2010 to kick off year number eleven in style!
Topping the list are ROGERS Communications, NAL Resources, Newcastle Homes & Renovations and MiniBulk to name a few. See our related blogs for details.
And of course, we launched this blog. We hope you find it interesting.
Learn more of what we’ve been up to this past decade.
It’s all in the presentation.
Posted: March 22, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »
HandyRandy Corporate Presentation
Download our PDF Presentation.
Learn more about our virtual agency model.
My business has a personality?
Posted: March 21, 2011 Filed under: Buzz, From the Creative Director Leave a comment »
Corporate or Casual or somewhere in-between...
Of course it does.
Be it corporate or casual or somewhere in-between, your business most certainly does have a personality.
For instance, consider a law office or accounting firm. They are definitely corporate. What about Toys-R-Us or Starbucks? Not so corporate, but all are legitimate businesses.
Think about the fonts, colours and language each uses to present their wares or services.
How does your own company present itself?
Learn more by completing a personality scale at www.handyrandy.com – just click the photo in our slider bar.
