By Eric Walker on 5/8/2008 9:39 AM

As technical director of digital marketing here at R2i, I am often the bridge betwen technology and design within the digital marketing wing of the company.  I also get to spend time thinking about how both groups can work together smoothly.
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By Dave Taub on 5/5/2008 5:17 AM

Let’s talk about branding and the corporate website; the website being the cornerstone of your branding/marketing efforts. Recently, clients have come to R2i requesting some sprucing up of their site….some redesign work…spring cleaning if you will.

But before we get our cleaning supplies in hand, we really need to address some very important questions... How will a redesign of your website affect your overall brand? What type of technology will be needed to implement additional functionality within your website?

What appears to be a simple request most often develops into a more comprehensive analysis of your brand and messaging. Many of these projects evolve into a complete brand re-evaluation and technology review as well as ongoing marketing efforts to maintain momentum. We employ a holistic approach to every R2i design project, starting with a thorough examination of the elements that comprise your brand. So ask yourself this, does your ... Read More »

By Matt Goddard on 4/30/2008 12:32 PM

Social networking and social media – both have the world “social” in them, but they should not be confused as the same thing. In fact, unless you understand how they are different and how they interact, your attempt to use them in a digital campaign strategy is probably going to miss the mark.

In simplest terms, social networking is the “what,” and social media is the “how."

Let’s start with the “what.” Social networks are made up of peers seeking and giving advice to make better decisions. Advanced social networking science can even tell us which people give out the most advice in the network and have the most influence. These people are called opinion leaders. Some social networks a ... Read More »

By Chris Chodnicki on 4/2/2008 12:08 PM

Today, the RIA battle lines are drawn between Adobe and Microsoft, and they’re fighting for the loyalty of people like you, who will use their products to build websites, widgets, WEB 2.0 tools, and whatnot. In the Adobe camp is a legion of graphic designers, who are experts in tools like Adobe Flash. In the Microsoft camp are the developers with expertise in the .NET framework, developer tools, and server-based products. Both sides want to retain their loyal followers and while attracting defectors from the other camp.

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By Chris Chodnicki on 3/25/2008 11:20 PM

We tend to be habitual in our use of the internet. Searching the internet has been relatively the same for years. We hardly question the process or the 'secret sauce' search engines use to rank results. Type the phrase, get results. Scan those lists and descriptions looking for clues and click on the first or most interesting link. Read the page and return to the original search result to repeat. Been there and done that a thousand times.

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By From the Trenches on 3/11/2008 9:10 AM

We want you to be a part of R2i's "Big Apple" expansion!

We can't fit you in our luggage, but here's the next best thing: Give us your ideas on industry topics that R2i should tackle by Friday, March 28th. The person who submits the idea that we use will get a $200 gift card to the Apple store!

So let us know what's on your radar...

By Chris Chodnicki on 2/26/2008 11:46 AM

In the Internet world there is a new kid in the town, and the name is RIA. It stands for Rich Internet Application (if you see it as “Rich Interactive Application,” that’s just Microsoft terminology and trying to be different). In a nutshell, RIA is a browser-based application that achieves the experience of a desktop application with little server-side interaction. With the limitations of browser-based applications obliterated, expect to see some pretty cool RIAs on websites and other digital gadgets, like phones, cameras, and TVs. Read More »

By Matt Goddard on 1/31/2008 11:50 AM

Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing continues to evolve.  Some companies have been at this awhile but many are just starting to turn up their efforts.  We thought it might make sense to put out a small list of items integral to search and I wanted to share the list on my blog.  Some of these will act as a refresher and some of them will be new.  As this is undoubtedly a never ending discussion, we encourage you to post your comments, experiences and/or any additional thoughts. 

Click the link below to view our list:

Ten Things to Consider

This list was included in our most recent monthly email newsletter. To sign up for R2i.nform, click here.  Along with Search M ... Read More »

By Chris Chodnicki on 1/22/2008 9:23 AM

Today’s real estate market is definitely a buyer’s market. This represents a dramatic turnabout from just a few years ago, when sellers could simply list their property, name their price, and expect competing buyers to bid and even overbid for the opportunity. Our online real estate (i.e., our website) also has its buyers’ and sellers’ markets, in terms of the hills and valleys of site traffic and the effort we need to expend to keep our online properties hot. Read More »

By Dave Taub on 1/17/2008 6:19 AM

Focusing on vertical integration can pay off on many levels but mainly by maximizing business profits. We recently had an opportunity to work with a Florida client doing just that. Here’s how we branded their vertically integrated services.

The Exotic Car Gallery, located in sunny Orlando, Florida, is an unforgettable experience and home to a rotating collection of rare super cars that include Bugatti, Maserati, Ferrari and many more. The Luxautica club is an exclusive automobile club for car enthusiasts passionate about driving the world’s finest vehicles. Forza Collection is the leader in sales and acquisition of these rare super cars for clients around the world.

Each company is a separate entity, but vertically aligned with shared resources. The Exotic Car Gallery is in essence a museum of rare cars; a place where car enthusiasts can marvel at cars they’ve dreamt about. The gallery also acts as a holding tank for vehicles not bein ... Read More »