Month: April 2011

We've researched and we've researched. And we've folded some experience into our portfolio. And time after time, this nugget of wisdom stands out when our eye turns to web design. Don't overdo it.   No, really. We've all seen websites with awful design decisions, and we've walked away feeling overwhelmed - too many bright colors, no contrast, drop-shadows on the wrong text. The lists of web design faux pas are seemingly endless.   But it's good to remember that the best aesthetics are contained within simplicity. It sounds very Zen, but it's true. When you're designing a website, white space (more…)

Generation Z. They're profiled as efficient multi-taskers who can text, blog, play on Facebook, post a Tweet and still get their homework done on time. They're media savvy, technology savvy, thrive on speed (who remembers a dial-up connection?) and they need instant gratification.   Origins We're not really sure when they came to be, but the general consensus falls between 1994 - 2004. What we do know is that they're the quintessential no-holds-barred generation who were born connected to the digital age. Generation Z is 23 million strong and marketers are now realigning themselves and their strategies to make their (more…)

Google AdWords are the sponsored links that appear alongside your search results in Google and sometimes on web content as well. The process involves specifying targeted pay-per-click keywords, which can become quite an effective (and cost-effective) way to advertise online.   Touted as possibly the “most successful business idea in history”  AdWords requires a combination of business acumen, patience and a heavy investment of man hours. Safe to say that before you begin, you should know what you’re getting into.   Tweak Your Keywords. Constantly. Once you begin advertising with AdWords, you’ll have to spend time everyday, studying and tweaking (more…)

With Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn being all the rage for electronic communication, sending e-mails to your (opted-in) client base may seem passé. And for a certain generation, it is. As Mark Zuckerbug, CEO at Facebook has said, email is too much of a cognitive load for youngsters.   However, at The REFUGE Group, we don’t believe that email is completely dead. Marketers continue to employ this messaging medium to alert consumers about in-store and online deals, raising awareness for social causes and for staying in touch with their client base.   Besides, email and e-newsletters have quite a lot more (more…)