Vancouver Internet Marketing | Broadside Media Blog

Community Love: Our Latest Non-Profit Websites

Julie — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:42:36 +0000

It sounds like a tired cliche but it really is exciting for us to partner with local non-profit organizations, to clearly convey the meaningful work and the important services they provide our community. When it comes to web development for these clients, our aim is always to set them up for long-term success in a few ways: by setting them up on a user-friendly content management system (CMS) so that they can update their own websites, by clearly communicating the services they provide so that more people will learn about them and benefit from them, and by making it easier to donate to these worthy causes through a professional, credible interface. If we’re doing our job right, the initial investment they make in the online marketing front should pay for itself and then continue to yield dividends.

A couple of examples of our recent non-profit website launches were for Ishtar Transition Housing Society in Langley, BC, and Kawkawa Camp & Retreat in Hope, BC. In both cases, we provided a logo refresh and a custom web design. In the case of Kawkawa Camp, we also built a custom online camper registration platform that the client can update and manage on their own. Most summer camps tend to use a clunky, third-party registration system that involves a monthly fee where ours does not, so this is another example of how we try to do our part for these clients who devote their time and energy to improving the lives of others. Please check out these stellar organizations and recommend them to anyone who may benefit from them. Cheers!

PressPausePlay (A Documentary)

Julie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:38:03 +0000

Does digital culture facilitate better, more democratized art or is true talent just drowned out in all the noise? Good questions explored by some keen minds in this documentary film:

PressPausePlay from House of Radon on Vimeo.

Why is Wikipedia down, and what is SOPA?

Julie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:20:03 +0000

If you happened to be hunting for a quick-reference answer on Wikipedia yesterday, you witnessed its first ever, widely discussed, black-out state in protest against the U.S. Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). And if this seems like an issue relating only to Americans, check out Open Media’s commentary on how it affects us as Canadians. This brief video provides a pretty good explanation of what this is all about and why we should care:

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

This commercial isn’t real. But it’s more realistic.

Julie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:45:05 +0000

We pretty much insist that you take two minutes to enjoy this genius film project, created by our fellow TWU alum Jesse Rosten, which is currently getting a ton of awesome press coverage. Also you should follow him on Twitter. (And us too!).

“This commercial isn’t real, neither are society’s standards of beauty.”

Fotoshop by Adobé from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

Mac Attack!

Julie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:02:09 +0000

It’s always exciting to see the work you’ve produced for a client, on the web and in their brick and mortar restaurant (signage, printed brochures, etc.). On this drizzly, wintry evening, we popped into the Mac Shack with a couple of friends of ours (who also hopped on the “free meal” Twitter campaign) for a taste test. The Lobster Mac looked like it would be the biggest hit to a couple of us, but in the end, Kyle’s choice – the Bacon Cheeseburger Mac – proved to be the ultimate fave. Want to see a Mac Shack closer to your neighbourhood (presuming you don’t already live in Kerrisdale)? Vote in the poll to pick the next location for this comfort food joint.

Broadside: web strategists and… vintners?

Julie — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:28:53 +0000

Yeah, we do websites. Did we forget to mention we do wine too? OK, actually we were just super stoked to run into this fine brand of wine at the store last night. But no matter how perfect it seemed, we couldn’t very well give them to clients as Christmas gifts without taste testing the product ourselves, now could we? Mmm, the full-bodied taste of “fresh bramble, graphite and berry-leaf aromas” (according to the press, anyway). Our main test is simply: does it taste like you want another glass? Luckily, it was pretty darn good so we raised a toast or two to a fantastic year. Merry Christmas, indeed!

Centre Stage for Customer Service Excellence

Julie — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:09:18 +0000

Here we have a shot of that nerve-wracking moment where you cross the stage to receive a plaque. But Kyle was cool as a cucumber while collecting this award for finalist in Customer Service Excellence from the Chamber of Commerce. We had a great time wining and dining with some fellow local business owners. Cheers to a great night!

Where the Internet Lives

Julie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:38:51 +0000

The web is often spoken of as though it’s a magical, immaterial world but in fact some it lives at 60 Hudson St. in Lower Manhattan, and other places like it. This 10 minute video, “Bundled, Buried and Behind Closed Doors” was part of Ben Mendelsohn’s final project for his graduate degree in media studies at NYC’s New School:

Bundled, Buried & Behind Closed Doors from Ben Mendelsohn on Vimeo.

As we download iOS5…

Kyle — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:55:56 +0000

So last week we were duped into anticipating an exciting iPhone5 announcement but it turned about to be iPhone4.5 instead (OK, iPhone4S to be precise – and it does look pretty darn slick). However, iOS5 was in fact released today, so while we download it and get tinkering, drooling and critiquing, here’s the official marketing video for those wondering more about its features, or those who simply have no idea what the fuss is about:

Work, Play & Accolades

Julie — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:51:00 +0000

All of a sudden, ’tis the season for boots and brollies, sweaters and stews. In other words, it’s officially autumnal out there, and we’re as busy as ever. Here’s some of the latest Broadside bits:

1. We are stoked to be a finalist for both the Better Business Bureau’s Buzz Award for Social Media, as well as the Langley Chamber of Commerce’s Customer Service Award.

2. Tommy boy visits the soon-to-be-opened Mac Shack restaurant in Kerrisdale, sizing up digital menu screens and all sorts of designy details for the big launch. We’ll be having a Mac + Cheese party that y’all are invited to, so stay tuned!

3. Jules (@frizzbarks), Amanda (@thefrontlawn) and Dennis (@dennispang) chillin’ at the BCAMA tweet-up at O Lounge.

4. Kyle (@broadsidemedia) and the Small Business BC team at their annual open house at Waterfront Station. Thanks again for the ‘success story’ love, guys!