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By Vlad Vidaeff   Do you not have the time to maintain active social media profiles?  Are you overwhelmed by the seemingly endless list of social media platforms?  Are you unsure about how to tailor your content to each platform and how to increase your following as well as the effectiveness of your posts?  The REFUGE Group offers advanced social media services customized to your specific business.  This blog will explore some of REFUGE’s offerings which fall under the social media umbrella. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   For the generation that grew up with AOL Instant Messenger, you are likely already familiar with bots.  In an era where boredom as a child was a common occurrence (something that has disappeared these days with advancements in technology and limitless entertainment options), “IM’ing” your friends was a popular activity for children and teens.  In addition to your real friends, there were several bots you could chat with such as SmarterChild.  While they were not especially useful in any way, bots were a way to pass the time.  Most of us would make fun of bots (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   When a new project doesn’t even have a name yet, it makes it that much cooler.  When it’s coming from Google, you have the attention of the general public.  This blog will explore the innovative new project by Google which blends Google search results and elements of a social media network. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   Promoted posts are an essential part of a company’s social media strategy on a variety of platforms.  Facebook’s algorithm has pressured brands to promote their posts to reach a large number of segments.  Other prime time players, including Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn also offer robust advertising platforms.  Until now, Promoted Pins on Pinterest were limited to large corporations such as Macy’s and Walgreens.  Small-and-medium sized businesses rejoice, Pinterest has announced that it has opened up Promoted Pins to all businesses on the network.  This blog will discuss the advertising options available to businesses, with a focus (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   Twitter, are you ready for some football?  The NFL and Twitter have recently announced a streaming partnership for Thursday Night Football games.  This blog will discuss the terms of the agreement and what it means for the struggling social media network.  In the past, I have been critical of Twitter for several proposed or implemented changes to its platform.  In this case, I whole-heartedly support Twitter’s effort to make live TV an important aspect of its strategy moving forward. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   As a full-service boutique advertising agency, The REFUGE Group offers a vast array of marketing services ranging from traditional marketing to digital marketing and public relations/events.  Under the digital marketing umbrella, one of our core competencies is the analytics services that we provide to our clients.  This blog will give you a preview of the way in which we provide key metrics on a weekly basis. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   LinkedIn has been the haven for B2B marketers for quite some time.  Known as the “Facebook for professionals,” the network’s active users are mostly professionals in a variety of industries.  Along with individual profiles, many companies have company pages on LinkedIn.  Given its user base, LinkedIn has recently introduced LinkedIn Account Targeting.  This blog will discuss how companies can run effective account-based marketing campaigns by using this new tool. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   Looking back on the technological innovation that has taken place during my lifetime alone is remarkable.  Here’s a snapshot of what things were like when I was a kid: I would log-on to the Internet using dial-up so I could IM with my friends; while I was online, our landline phone could not be used; loading a web page took so long that I would often read a magazine while I was waiting; cell phones resembled small bricks and the best part was playing snake; a couple years earlier, cell phones didn’t even exist; if I (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   The good old days of Facebook are long over.  The days where Facebook’s algorithm made it easy for brands to reach consumers with a significant reach are long gone.  Facebook’s current algorithm makes it essential to use Facebook advertising for successful advertising campaigns on the social network.  This blog will discuss Canvas, the recent full-screen ad experience built for mobile. (more…) (more…)

By Vlad Vidaeff   It’s no secret that Twitter has been in a state of flux lately: the company has been playing musical chairs with its executives, its stock price has plummeted, and it’s planning to eliminate its iconic 140-character limit.  In another major change, Twitter has recently introduced a ‘best Tweets first’ timeline.  This blog will discuss the features of this new update and whether it’s a solid decision for Twitter’s short-term and long-term growth goals. (more…) (more…)