U2R1 Media

Loving the feedback!

2008-08-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

Wow I am amazed at how positive the feedback has been so far! We are so excited and thrilled! It was all worth the hours upon hours upon hours of hard work and stress to finally launch this exactly how we wanted it. Thanks to all your comments and positive feedback, keep it coming! :)

We have gone live!!!

2008-08-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

I'll have to make this short and sweet but sweet it is!! We are live and kicking with our new look and getting fantastic feedback so far!

What an exciting time for us! let's cork the bottle of champagne!

Thank you to the entire team who has contributed to the pile of hair on the floor. It was a gut wrenching experience but we made it unscathed... (ok some of us LOL) Leave it to us to create a site with the most complex challenges.

Just so you know the words "can't, impossible, and not going to happen" are not ever a reality in my company ;) and the outcome?

www.u2r1media.com!

Minutes away from launch time!

2008-07-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have to say every few years I get to feel the excitement and thrill that we provide to our clients when a job is almost done...

Knowing that you are about to launch your brand new website and branding campaign is so exciting and really pumps your energy to go out there and increase your success ten fold.

It has been a great month and we are enjoying the summer enthusiasm and drive of companies who see the value in marketing and branding. We have just hired two new developers and are thrilled with their work so far as of course are our clients. We do a very thorough screening with the talent of who we hire and are very specific when it comes to design skills because of course we only offer the best and most unique website and graphic designs.

STAY TUNED!!! as you can see our blog is a sneak peak into what our new site will be looking like... we'll have flash, video, movies and more!!

Sincerely,

Sari Gabbay - President and Creative Consultant

U2R1 Media Inc.

When good things come to an end.

2008-06-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

A lot of people are attached to their business image of the past, letting go of something that has been with you for a very long time is almost like giving up your pet. You have created a bond with your company profile and image, your own internal recognition and branding dedication. Unfortunately however most people don't see it that way... they will look at you and see an outdated company who is afraid to evolve with technology and therefor probably can't provide the latest and greatest in services that they are looking for.

Don't be afraid to move on, let the old live in the past and embrace your company's growth and evolution. It will only show strength, courage and commitment to constantly providing your current and potential clients what they need in today's age.

I honestly get so peeved when I do a search online and I come across these archaic websites. Yes I am in the business, however I am also a young entrepreneur that wants to do business with a hip, cutting edge, current company who knows how to get me what I need and will understand my mentality.

I just finished doing business with a company who had an archaic branding in place. Me as the consumer was buying their product and they had no interest in revamping their existing old and unprofessional website. Well what did I get in return? old and unprofessional attitude. No customer service, old school mentality that its all about the bottom dollar and not about client relationships.

Needless to say lesson learned... when I say a company who invests in themselves is worth investing in, I mean in all ratios. A smart business person knows that money goes around and comes around but relationships are built on trust and first impressions are built on image, be it face to face, online, or a phone call.

That being said, stay tuned for U2R1 Media's newly revamped website coming soon...

Our journey is constantly evolving, can you say the same about yours?

Chosen best design house spotlight company!

2008-04-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that we were chosen as the first design firm to be showcased in Design Hide's website as the spotlight design studio for being the most creative and innovative company out of hundreds of world wide choices.

This just symbolizes that when you create outside of the box ideas then you get noticed and get chosen. We are winners creating winners... and as much as we want to succeed, our clients are a product of our success so their success is imperative in our growth.

To view our online spotlight feel free to check out the link: http://www.designhide.com/designer-spotlight

Join our team and see what it feels like to be in the spotlight!!

March O' Happy Days Ahead

2008-03-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

For many reasons we can all agree that March is a happy month. The main one being that winter and gloom is finally over and spring and bloom are on its way. So what does it mean to us that every year from Jan 2nd we are egging on March to somehow show up faster then the year before?

Spring to me is a time where humans morph into shiny happy people. Most of us are really down in February, (the past 3 Feb of my life have been the most trying times i can remember.) so once March comes and we see a glimmer of warmth and a hint of dirt under the mounds of melting snow it's like heaven is on the horizon.

All you business owners should take advantage of this born again feeling and get out there and promote yourselves for April. Give people a reason to invest in you. Show them you are the experts in your industry and make it known the quality of product or service you have to offer.

Spring is a time to realize that nothing dies and everything comes to life again. So if Feb got you in a rut emotionally, financially, or otherwise use March as the opportunity for rebirth.

Keep in mind, yesterday your old self dies, tomorrow you are born a new and today you can be anyone you want.

Enjoy the day! it is full of Multi-Sensory Experiences!

Investing in a website? friend or foa

2008-03-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Now a days there is no such thing as a "simple website" not if you want to do it properly and have it be a driving source of income and brand awareness for your company. When deciding to develop a site most people automatically are concerned with the cost before any other element. This is understandable considering a proper website designed and developed isn't a cheep investment.

Although I strongly believe that in life you get what you pay for. When you invest in a PROPER website and I stress the word proper (we'll get to that in a bit) not only do you have an online presence that you are proud of but you have your potential clients who see you for the first time having a great experience!

First let's discuss what I mean by experience, normally in that sentence the word "impression" would be used, but today impressions go beyond what you can see. The interactive experience you can provide to your clients allows the person to engage with your company before they even decide if they are going to work with you. This interactivity, if done properly will ensure communication between you and the potential client which ultimately allows for a higher closing rate

So what defines a proper website? Well one thing I can't stomach is when I got to a highly recognized business who should have a top of the line website and I see this monstrosity put together by an amateur who probably did it 6 years ago. Do you know what this tells me? this tells me that the company that I am considering investing my hard earned money into does not value it's appearance enough to invest in itself. And what do I do? NEXT on the google list of results.

Now you may all think that I behave this way because I am an expert in the field, perhpas, however I can tell you one thing I definitely am... A CONSUMER! And based on my knowledge I believe that over all a company who takes the time to speak to their potential clients and portrays themselves as an expert in their industry and an added value to whomever they work with is a company that I am willing to take a chance on.

So that being said, if your site is outdated looking (when it was developed bares no significance on how professional it looks) then its time to reconsider your priorities and know that your website in many cases is the FIRST thing that anyone sees about your company. First impressions are the most important impressions, ad an amazing experience to that and you have got a profit generating tool!

Is the world getting smaller or less personal?

2008-02-27T07:26:00.000-08:00

Many people have commented on how the technological age has created a void in human contact and communications. We are relying on computers to do things that once upon a time would be done face to face. I am here to tell you that this is quite the opposite. In fact human relations have never been so close net. Technology has not only allowed for us to communicate freely and easily with our loved ones across boarders, it has also allowed for expansions of businesses and growth where otherwise would have been quite impossible.

The notion of email being impersonal is all how you choose to perceive it. Lets take blogs for instance, the new "it" factor in communication. Blogs allow busy executives to reach out and communicate with their public, their clients. What was once the picture of an anonymous founder/CEO figure behind a desk is transforming into the front face of the company in plain site with a powerful voice!

Social and viral marketing is one of the main sources of connection and communication to date. Facebook, YouTube, My Space, Lava Life, these are all mediums connecting us to our peers, people we don't know... everyone has the opportunity for their 15 min of fame. It's a wonderful world now where the distances between North America and Asia can be the same as your next door neighbour.

So think about how we are all dying to communicate, how each electronic devise is focused around making it easier to speak to someone you know or someone you want to meet! The world is getting smaller and we are all getting closer and closer so the personal face to face may be fading away but it will never be totally gone and the means of getting to that moment are now much more feasible and exciting!

How many company's are standing by their products?

2008-01-28T13:38:00.001-08:00

As a business owner I get quite peeved when I purchase product from companies, fairly large and reputable companies and their product ends up falling apart withing a short period of time. Now aside from the inconvenience of having to contact customer service and complaining and sending images the said company's expect you to argue your case because they won't immediately take accountability for their lack of quality.

In the past year I have had a mattress, washing machine, couch, kitchen table and computer break down. All brand new products all expensively purchased. I am at my whits end here folks!! Where is the customer service? where is the quality?

If we build a website and it doesn't work after a few months we fix it no problem! What happened to the days of the customer is always right? Did everyone forget how they became a multi million dollar corporation?

The consumer is putting trust and faith into your product... stand by it!!

I still strongly believe that customer service is the most important aspect of a business, good quality products and listening to the customer's requests and needs.

I don't care how fast technology is evolving that is something that hopefully will never change.

A new year??

2008-01-15T14:05:00.001-08:00

Don't let your business get shelved in the archives of image branding. If your company is looking old and tired, chances are so are you (to your clients that is). Running a business is a lot of pressure as we all know. The pressure to constantly be on top of our business, our clients and our image. If we allow ourselves to get worn down it effects the the way people react to us. The same goes with your company, a fresh exciting image, an evolving entity, one that continues to entice its clients and keep them happy and informed is a company that will be rewarded by its success and positive reputation.

Dare I believe what my fellow man tells me to be the truth? and at what cost?

2007-11-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

Recently I had an experience I felt i needed to share with you all, about an email I received telling me to boycott a retail company outlet because there was a swastika embroidered on one of the bags. This retail company is fairly large with stores all over the world. My first impression was " do we know this to be a fact? where does the source of this email come from? what is the real truth to this story?"Immediately the email said to Boycott this retail store and I was shocked at how one person was able to make a statement "on behalf of all the jews in the world." when she didn't even know 1 tenth of the jews in the world!! So I took it upon myself to do a little digging which thanks to our trusty Google search in about 2.5 seconds I found the article which clearly stated that the store outsourced this designer, the approved design didn't have the swastika on it and it immediately removed the bags once they realized the situation.

On a small scale this was an incident that infuriated me because the immediate belief response we have as a society is in my eyes the cause of many harmful things in the world. Propaganda is very, very powerful and if we aren't careful in finding out the truth behind individual situations then we may start believing things that aren't true and end up reacting to situations that never occurred and in term cause a greater disservice to society.

On a large scale we have terrorist practicing this method of "brainwash" by just believing what they are taught about American society without questioning the source! Back to the Swastika, initially the symbol in Asian cultures symbolized peace, harmony, strength, now we have a hate mongrel using that symbol in the 20th century to display hate and murder. The SS officers of Nazi germany never questioned Hitler's message, they stood there and believed without thinking twice about what he was saying b/c he was society's leader and therefor it must have been the truth...I can go on... but my point is we receive an abundance of information on a daily basis what are we going to decipher as truth? who's reputation are we going to allow to be tarnished b/c of bad media? if you own a company you could be next on the chopping block. I mean come on our own pop culture annihilates stars on a daily basis, we are all familiar with our favourite media focus Brittany Spears... how much of what we are hearing is true?Who's job is it to find the truth out? And ultimately what are we going to choose to care about?

I strongly believe the way we make a difference in life is by forming our own educated opinions and making sure that the only word we spread is coming from a source of truth and ultimately if it aint good why say it??? We are responsible for the outcomes of society... let us not be the robots of the world wars and actually question our leaders, question the media, question.... ultimately and unfortunately if someone is feeding you information it is most likely in order to feed their own agenda.

Is what i am saying true? i don't know, if it matters to you then go out and question!!

Would all the computer challenged people please stand up!

2007-10-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

After 5 years of being in the multi media industry I have encountered many people who claim to be computer illiterate and technically challenged. In my experience most of the time these people actually really do comprehend the basics of the internet and are just hiding behind the fear of coming across as uneducated or behind in the times.

I'm here to tell all you doubtful people to stand up and take charge of your knowledge. Erase the phrase "This my be a stupid question" from your vocabulary, there are no stupid questions! We welcome your questions and are here to educate you and make you more comfortable with the process because it is just going to get more and more advanced as the years progress.

The best way to figure out how the internet works is to try to break it. Yes that is correct I'm telling you to try to break your computer!! ;) Now I don't mean smash it on the ground or open the thing up and take it apart, but go online and press all the buttons you can see, if you want to make sure you can backtrack in case you do something that you may want to change back write down your process. Click on all the header menus in internet explorer (that's usually a safe area to start) and see exactly what they do, usually there will be an explanation.

The most effective way is to read through a manual but even better, if you've heard a computer phrase used and you don't know what it means...GOOGLE IT! That's double the learning experience for you!

Ok so everyone here is a question: What does it mean when a website is in your cache? Let's see who can come up with the answer first! (those of you who already know please refrain from responding it doesn't count if you are a web guru!) Also don't forget to include your source of information so we can validate it and other people can use the same source for their own guidance.

Any other questions? please feel free to ask us we are your multi media experts at your service!

Is your true worth defined by strangers?

2007-10-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Lately I've been thinking about the concept of fame, and famous people and how one day their whole lives change because the media decided they were...??? special? newsworthy? hot? talented? I write about this because in many ways it pertains to aspects in our non famous lives. I mean today being famous or "recognized" in your industry or in the media defines the validity of your company or in many cases self worth. We try so hard everyday to capture the attention of perfect strangers in hopes that they will see us as valuable to them and thus a business exchange happens.

If you think about it, we are all somebody's looking for other somebody's validation and we intern validate the other somebody's and it is a constant cycle. There are those who fight hard to get into the limelight and those who stay encompassed in the circle they have created. So we brand and we market and we market and we brand and we hire P.R. agents and we try to get published and we become brainwashed by societies definition of important.

This is funny, I own a media company isn't this blog a bit of an oxy moron? The truth is the choices we have in business are pretty simple. We can see that the above is a little distorted and fight against the grain to do something different to be successful without buying into the propaganda, media buys, brainwashing etc. Or we can be a team player and be an individual one at that. They are both difficult areas to master because we are all the same... and even though you will argue to the death that you are not like your annoying neighbour it is irrelevant because we are all the same individuals trying (or not trying) to make our mark in a unique way.

I guess the saying "first impressions count" runs a lot deeper then one may think... the integral part of a business meeting, first consultation, first date, etc. Whether you like it or not, it matters a whole lot! What you wear, how your business looks visually, your personality they all play an integral role in your success. We try to help you define yourself first, you may or may not become famous but the important thing is that you look like a star to all of your potential and existing clients.

Signing out for the weekend.

Sari

There is a race to the top of Google and someone Rich is WINNING!!

2007-10-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone is talking about the importance of search engine optimization. There is this exclusive club out there that we all want to be a part of and that is the top ten list on the first page of Google. It is quite obvious why we all want to be members of this VIP society... it means big profits and brand recognition! So how do we compete with the millions of others like us trying to climb that Google ladder? There are so many tricks to getting your site in Google's good books and the honest truth is NO ONE has control over where you get ranked EXCEPT Google, Yahoo, MSN and all the other wonderful engines out there who control our cyber ranked destinies.

There are experts out there (like us ;o) who know what it takes to get your site crawled and approved by our beloved search engines. Does SEO work? I mean think about how many people spend a lot of money to have top rankings whether it be organic or sponsored listings (to find out more about the difference feel free to contact us) the results usually surpass the expenses ten fold. It is the best way to have the right clients find you and your company. They know what they want and if they are calling you then they are close to closing the deal.

Now you have a whole other topic of discussion... What does your website look like? and is it attractive enough to stand out from your competitors and create that conversion from search to find! That my friends is reserved for future posts so you will have to come back to learn more about that... how to maintain a knockout website and still have it search engine friendly... a task only the talented possess.

If you want more clients this is the best way to achieve that, no cold calling, networking etc. those are all good and well but they take so much time and effort... wouldn't you rather just sit back and let the business come to you?

It works for us!! We love it!! search "Toronto Web Design" and see our sponsored listing as well as "Custom web design Toronto" for our top organic listing...

till next time... happy Googling!

Multiple browsers a developer's NIGHTMARE!

2007-09-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

Why in G-d's name do these browser developers have to make our lives as web site designers a living nightmare! For those of you who aren't familiar with the difference of these sites just know that it takes us developers hours upon needless hours to make a web site look the same or somewhat the same on each and every browser MAC AND PC!

Don't under estimate the time and effort we put in so that each and every person browsing the net sees your website just perfectly developed. And if you are a perfectionist as I am it can drive someone nuts when a column or line is unaligned and you can't figure out why because it's lined up perfectly in the code... but alas those browsers, they don't care, they will portray the site however "they" see fit. Now of course there isn't a little man behind your screen moving things around but there may just as well be, taunting and laughing as I pull out my hair!

Before Firefox came to town it was mainly just Internet Explorer and yes we all have our personal views about Microsoft products (I can neither claim being a Mac or PC girl as they are much like my left and right brain for me) but we were developing for one major source so it was much easier only testing on one computer with one browser because we knew 85% of the population would view it that way.

Now MAC exploded in the mass media and Firefox came to the rescue saving everyone from popups and bugs galore! So we developers double our developing time testing and testing until we get it right!

Firefox, Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari... it is time to all get on the same team and play fair! The sanity of the web development industry depends on it!! ;)

Welcome to U2R1 Media's official first blog entry!

2007-09-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

My first blog entry how exciting! My mission here is to educate and inform and discuss.... much like the typical blog does! I feel it is important to reach out to people who want to learn more about multi media, web 2.0, running a business and anything else I can provide insight into. In some cases since I believe to be a multi dimensional person I will throw in some insight about health and wellness and different unrelated topics that don't quite pertain to our company specifically but still share a profound meaning in my life.

Please feel free to ask any questions you have or topics you would like to see raised and discussed. You can email me @ sari (at) u2r1media.com. And in case you are wondering why I write (at) instead of the full email with the "@" symbol is to prevent spammers from ripping my email off my site and adding me to their targeted list. (just a little tip among many to come)

As well you can visit our group on facebook "U2R1 Media"

I hope to inspire and educate and help out in any way I can... many of my clients deem themselves and technically illiterate but sometimes it just takes patience and the right explanation to create an understanding and comprehension of things they never thought they would get.

Until the next entry!

Wishing you a day full of Multi-Sensory Experiences!

Warmest Regards,

Sari Gabbay ~ President
U2R1 Media Inc.