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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.