Have you heard of the term low-hanging fruit? It’s one of those common business clichés that people use to describe activities that would yield fast, easy results. In sales, this may include up-selling your current clients. Does such an activity exist in the digital marketing realm? It sure does! It’s called remarketing.

When properly executed, it can deliver 10x greater returns on investment compared to ads served to cold audiences. So, how exactly does it all work?

“Remarketing lets you show ads to people who’ve visited your website. When people leave your website without buying anything, for example, remarketing helps you reconnect with them by showing relevant ads across their different devices.” – Google

If you’ve ever been browsing online and then noticed the product you were shopping for following you around on various platforms, then you’ve seen the effects of remarketing in action.

Benefits of Remarketing

Remarketing is a powerful online marketing technique as it allows you to stay connected with your target audience, even after they leave your website. By presenting your ads to visitors as they browse other parts of the web, you are gaining brand exposure, becoming more recognizable, and making people more likely to purchase.

The main benefits include:

• Large-scale reach of Google
• Access to people who are most likely to buy
• Create marketing lists to achieve a specific goal

Understanding your Goals

There are three kinds of remarketing campaigns that you might want to run.

1. Aimed at people who did not take a certain action on a page
2. Targeting those who made it to the checkout process, but did not complete their purchase
3. For people who have not seen a page that you would like them to view

So, what action do you want your potential customer to take when presented your campaign? It is important to understand what your end goal is prior to setting up your campaign.

Getting Started

Follow the instructions below to successfully set up your own campaign.

1. Create a Google AdWords account
2. Add Remarketing Tags to your website
3. Create a Remarketing list
4. Create or use an existing campaign type that is supported
5. Select your audience

If you want the guidance of an internet marketing expert, set up a FREE 1-Hour Consultation to get started today! Longevity Graphics specializes in search engine marketing. Click here to view our current Internet Marketing Clients. 

Thing to do in Vancouver | July 2017

Summer is here! School’s out and the warm weather is here to stay. Here is our list of 10 Things to do in Vancouver during the month of July 2017!

Stanley Park Summer Cinema

Every Tuesday night from July 4th to August 22nd, enjoy a free movie in the great outdoors of Stanley Park. Movies will start at dusk (meaning it could get pretty late!) and the event is family-friendly (no smoking and no alcohol permitted). For the full list of movies and to see the schedule, check out the website here.

CBC Musical Nooners

Looking for something interesting to do during your lunch break? Between July 7th and August 25th, check out CBC’s Musical Nooners: free live music concerts happening right on the CBC outdoor stage in Downtown Vancouver. For the full line-up and additional information, click here.

Harrison Festival of the Arts

Between July 8th and 16th, head up to Harrison for an amazing festival full of activities! Everything from concerts to workshops, to exhibitions and more. Check out the full schedule and get tickets, here.

Robson Square Salsa

Sunday Afternoon Salsa is back for its 11th year! Every Sunday Afternoon from July 9th to August 13th, enjoy free dancing lessons, social dancing, performances, and an after party! All ages are welcome to attend. Check out the details here.

PoCo Grand Prix

Are athletic events more your speed? Check out the PoCo Grand Prix on July 14th. With several races taking place throughout the day as well as live entertainment and children’s entertainment, it should be an event to remember. Check out event information and the schedule (or register to volunteer!) here.

Rugged Maniac

Tough Mudder may be over for another year, but there’s still time to register for Rugged Maniac! On July 15th, head down to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds for this crazy and fun-filled event. Mechanical bulls and adult bounce houses are just a few of the things one will encounter at this wild event. Check out the details here.

Vancouver Aquarium After Hours

On July 20th, enjoy the rare opportunity to see the aquarium after closing at this adults-only after hours experience. You’ll be able to enjoy a beer or a glass of wine while you access all the galleries. Tickets are only available for purchase online, so get them while they last!

World Naked Bike Ride

Back for another year is Vancouver’s Naked Bike Ride! On July 22nd dress as bare as you dare and ride your bike through the city to promote a greener way to get around! Check out the Facebook Event, here.

Squamish Win Festival

From July 27th to 29th, head up to Squamish for a festival full of art, music, and creativity. Check out the full line-up of artists, here.

Celebration of Light

Watch July go out with a bang (literally!) at the Honda Celebration of Lights fireworks shows. On July 29th, August 2nd and August 5th, enjoy the music, the lights, and lots of food options. Beat the crowds and save yourself a great spot by purchasing tickets for one of these great viewing locations.

We hope you found something fun to do this month. From everyone here at Longevity Graphics, have a great July 2017!

Canada Day 2017

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation. The Canada Day 2017 celebrations will be bigger and better than ever!

We have compiled a list of Canada Day 2017 events and activities taking place throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

What will the weather be like? The weather on the Canada Day long weekend will be sunny with clear blue skies.

Family Friendly Events

Make lasting memories with your family and friends this Canada Day 2017. Check out these family-friendly events taking place.

Canada Day at Canada Place
999 Canada Place, Vancouver
July 1 & 2

North Vancouver Canada Day Celebrations
Waterfront Park – Block, 200 Esplanade W, North Vancouver
Saturday, July 1

Richmond Canada Day
Steveston Village, Richmond
Saturday, July 1

Canada Day at Swanguard Stadium
3883 Imperial Street, Burnaby
Saturday, July 1

Canada Day at Burnaby Village Museum
6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Saturday, July 1

New Westminster Canada Day
Queen’s Park – 3rd Avenue, New Westminster
Saturday, July 1

Port Moody Canada Day
Rocky Point Park – 2800 Murray Street, Port Moody
Saturday, July 1

Coquitlam Celebrates Canada Day
Town Centre Park – 1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Saturday, July 1

Surrey Canada Day Celebrations
Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre – 17728 64 Ave, Surrey
Saturday, July 1

Fort Langley Canada Day
23433 Mavis Ave, Langley
Saturday, July 1

Maple Ridge Canada Day
Memorial Peace Park – 224 Street & McIntosh Avenue, Maple Ridge
Saturday, July 1

Adult-Oriented Events

Ultimate Canada Day and Night Party
Plaza of Nations – 750 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver
Saturday, July 1

Canada Pool Party
Drai’s Beach Club – 1161 W Georgia Street, Vancouver
Saturday, July 1

Twisted Canada Day 150 Yacht Party
Plaza Of Nations – 750 Pacific Street, Vancouver
Saturday, July 1

Night Markets

The local night markets are open for the summer! Enjoy the good eats, good finds and good times! Be sure to check them out, at least once this summer!

Richmond Night Market
8351 River Road, Richmond
Opens May 12 (Friday, Saturday, Sundays & Holidays)

International Summer Night Market
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond
Opens April 29 (Friday, Saturday, Sundays & Holidays)

Shipyards Night Market
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Opens May 5 (Friday)

Explore the Outdoors

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and explore the great outdoors. Did you know that it’s been 50 years since Metro Vancouver’s regional parks system first got its start? There are 14,500 hectares of forests, fields, rivers, and beaches to explore.

Camping with family and friends is a great way to reconnect with each other and the outdoors. BC Parks offers campsites, day-use areas, and thousands of kilometres of trails as a fun, convenient, low-cost way to explore our beautiful province. Plan your camping trip now!

Parks Canada is celebrating Canada’s 150th by offering a free 2017 Discovery Pass. This pass offers unlimited opportunities to enjoy national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites across the country. Order your Discovery Pass here.

Make the best of this Canada Day 2017. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities or inspiration for a local adventure, the possibilities are endless. From everyone here at Longevity Graphics, we wish you a happy and safe Canada Day 2017. 

Happy 150 Canada!

If your business operates in the construction and trades industries, then you understand that your reputation counts for everything. Traditionally, word of mouth was the best and most direct pipeline to new business. However, these days, that pipeline is likely to come through cyberspace. That means a professional Construction Website Design is essential in order to attract new clients.

No industry has been immune to the technology era. But few industries have seen the huge discrepancy between leaders and laggards as in the construction and trades industry. In other words, many construction companies have been slow to invest in good construction website design.

Fortunately, these same companies, which have relied on word-of-mouth advertising for so long, can still convey that hard-earned reputation and reliability within an online environment, without a major investment.

What are Qualities of Good Construction Website Design?

A Winning Portfolio

A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. In web design, the goal is to tell a compelling story in as few words as possible. You want to provide visitors with enough information to satisfy their curiosity without overwhelming them. A strong portfolio is a great way to showcase your past projects.

Videos for a Dynamic Presentation

A professionally produced video will help introduce your business and the competitive advantage of your services to each viewer who visits your website.

Powerful Testimonials

Talk is cheap. A section for testimonials or customer reviews will further solidify your credibility in the mind of a potential client. Your testimonials will not only communicate your expertise but also educate visitors on the value you provide to your clients.

A Proud Company History

It’s a great idea to include a detailed company history to highlight your reliability and credibility.

Clear Calls to Action

Your contact information should be clearly displayed throughout your website in the header, footer and on the Contact page. Include clear calls to action to motivate viewers to inquire.

About Longevity Graphics

The Longevity Graphics team has been working with various types of construction and trades businesses for over 16 years. We’re passionate about helping your business and we understand the intricacies of the industry you operate in. We are real people, with a real passion for what we do. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with Construction Website Design!

We are very excited to be welcoming our newest member of the Longevity Graphics Team.

Jason Stone is joining our team as a Web Developer. He has worked professionally as a Web Developer for over 3 years.

Who wants to get to know Jason? We asked him a few questions to get to know him a little better.

1. What are your hobbies and interests?

I think of myself as a ‘West Coast’ person. I enjoy visiting our local ski mountains in the winter for some downhill fun. In the summer time, I enjoy going on day hikes and cycling local trails.

2. What do you bring to Longevity Graphics?

With a strong technical skill-set, attention to detail, and over 3 years of front end development experience, I’m a passionate web developer that takes design to pixel-perfect layout. I’ve worked collaboratively with UX Designers getting challenging responsive layouts to completion. As well, I can work independently with clients to meet their evolving business needs.

3. Why did you get into the industry?

I love to solve problems and I am fascinated by how things work. I was first introduced to coding back in the late 90’s with applescript. Since then, I have been completely hooked.

4. What is your favorite part of the work you do?

I enjoy being able to create custom WordPress themes from start to finish. With each project, I like to solve unique client requests with solutions that’ll help take their business to the next level.

Any words of wisdom that you would like to share with our readers?

“Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think” – Steve Jobs.

If you’d like to get in touch with Jason, you can shoot him an e-mail at [email protected].

The Longevity Graphics team is made up of local industry experts that help clients get results. We specialize in online marketing services and website design and development. If you are looking to increase revenue from online leads, get in touch with us now. Set up a meeting today! We provide a FREE 1-Hour consultation on all of the services we offer.

We understand the importance of making a good first impression – especially as a real estate agent. But, you won’t get the chance to make a good first impression in person unless potential clients first discover you.

In the past, this may have been through an advertisement you placed in the local newspaper or through a Canada Post mailout.

The Importance of Having a Real Estate Website

Now more than ever before, home buyers are looking at houses for sale online. A study by Google and the National Association of Realtors found that over 90% of home buyers search for properties online. That translates to a huge potential for online leads. If you don’t have a personal real estate website, then you’re missing out.

We recommend hiring a professional website designer who has previous experience building real estate websites.

Qualities of a Good Real Estate Website 

• Modern
• Professional
• Visually Appealing
• Easy to Navigate

Generating Leads Online

When it comes to lead generation, it is important to begin with the end in mind. What exactly does a “lead” mean to you? Defining this from the start will make your testing and analytics goals even clearer throughout the process. It will help you determine exactly what actions you want the user to take as they progress through each stage of your sales funnel. Your first step to generate leads from your real estate website is to get traffic.

Traffic Sources that Generate Leads 

• SEO
• Google Ads
• Social Media Marketing
• Facebook Ads

The next step is to ask for the leads. Our realtor lead-generation forms are the best in the business at turning your website visitors into leads. How do they work? Fairly-simple, they ask people to input their contact information, based on a tempting call-to-action strategy.

While technology is effective at capturing leads, the human touch turns them into clients.

Longevity Graphics designs and builds the best real estate websites for realtors, agents, and brokers. We have launched hundreds of websites for top producing companies and we’re proud of our long list of loyal clients. Check out some of the real estate websites we have designed.

For more information, please contact us today! We offer a FREE 1-Hour Consultation.

10 Things to do in Vancouver | June 2017

Summer has finally arrived in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. With the school year, coming to a close, we thought we would compile a list of 10 of the best things to do in Vancouver during the month of June 2017. We have a little something for everyone!

Bard on the Beach

Running this year from June 1st until September 23rd, Bard on the Beach puts a new take on beloved Shakespeare plays. The features this year are Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale, The Merchant of Venice and The Two Gentleman of Verona. Tickets can be purchased online, here. Be sure to get your tickets early as they will sell out quickly.

Vancouver International Children’s Festival

The Vancouver International Children’s Festival takes place from May 29th – June 4th. It hosts many performances and activities for children. Check out the schedule and order your tickets, here.

Night Markets

There are several night markets open in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland this summer.

• The Richmond Night Market runs from May 12th to October 9th
• The Illumination Summer Night Market runs from May 5th to September 10th
• The Shipyards Night Market runs from May 5th to September 29th

Vancouver Craft Beer & Wine Festival

The Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival is back! Come enjoy over 300 beers and ciders from over 100 Craft Breweries and Cideries on June 3rd and 4th at the PNE Fairgrounds. There will be live music, a games area, several food trucks, and it’s sure to be a good time! For more information and tickets, click here.

MEC Trail Race Three

Like running? MEC is sponsoring two races on June 4th – one 15 km and one 55 km. If you think you can handle it, check out all the details and sign up, here.

Surrey Greek Food Festival

On June 9th to June 18th, join the celebration at the 26th annual Surrey Greek Food Festival. With live entertainment and amazing food, this smaller festival is perfect for someone who prefers smaller crowds. For more information, click here.

BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival

On June 17th, come out to the Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam for a raucous good time watching the traditional Highland Games competition. With tons of activities for all ages, this will be an event to remember. Check out all the details and get tickets, here.

Tough Mudder Whistler

Do you thrive on physical exertion and competition? Tough Mudder Whistler is back with some old favorite obstacles and some completely new ones. Come take part on June 17th and 18th. Visit the event website, here.

TD International Jazz Festival

This year the International Jazz Festival is running from June 22nd until July 2nd. Come enjoy numerous events and jazz performances. For more information about the event schedule and tickets, visit the Coact Jazz website, here.

Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival

The Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival is taking place from June 23rd to June 25ht. With lots of partners, vendors, and of course, the races, there will be plenty to enjoy. Best of all – free admission! Check out the details, here.

From everyone here at Longevity Graphics, we hope you’ll be able to get out and enjoy some of these amazing events taking place in June 2017! 

Longevity Graphics is partnering with Value Village and Access Youth to host a FUNDrive!

We will be collecting gently used clothing and housewares. In exchange, Value Village will compensate us for every pound of product we donate, so every little bit counts!

The proceeds of this FUNDraiser will be going to Access Youth, a wonderful non-profit organization in the Tri-Cities. Access Youth develops and delivers innovative programs and services for youth who may be disadvantaged, marginalized, or at-risk. Their goal is to establish a meaningful and reliable relationship with alienated and excluded at-risk youth. Click here to learn more about Access Youth.

Please help us support this amazing cause, to ensure that they can continue to help create immediate and lasting change in the lives of children and youth in our local community.

Where is the FUNDrive?

Longevity Graphics – #105 – 7 Burbidge Street, Coquitlam, BC V3K 7B2

Click here to get directions to Longevity Graphics. 

The Access Youth bus will be parked outside our office for the duration of the FUNDrive. Our goal is to fill the bus with all of the donations.

When is the FUNDrive?

June 19^th and 20^th between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

If you’re not available to drop off your items on those dates, don’t worry! We will be accepting donations every weekday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm until the event. Let’s see how much we can collect before the big event!

What is Our Goal for the FUNDrive?

Our goal is to raise $500.00 for Access Youth. This means we will need as many bags of donations as we can get!

We are very excited to host such an event. We hope to see you there!

For more information about the event, check out the Access Youth FUNDrive Facebook Event or Follow Us on our social media channels to receive regular updates.

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)took effect on July 1, 2014. Under this law, individuals and businesses are required to gain Express or Implied consent from recipients prior to sending email, text, or social media messages, and keep proof of this consent.

Express Consent – A clear and voluntary indication of preference that is given specifically, either verbally or in writing.

Implied Consent – An assumption of permission which is not expressly granted, but rather inferred by actions.

When CASL was first implemented, the legislation provided Canadian’s with a transition period of July 1, 2014 – July 1, 2017. During the transition period, you were permitted to send messages to recipients who had “implied consent”, unless they unsubscribe. This is about to change. As we enter the final month of this transition period, what changes will take effect and what will this mean for your business?

New CASL Rules 2017

After July 1, 2017, you can only contact someone if they have:

• Provided you with express consent
• Made a purchase from you within the last 2 years
• Made an inquiry to you within the last 6 months

Prior to July, you will need to ensure your company has a process in place to evaluate your implied consent subscribers and remove them prior to the deadline.

How to Evaluate Subscribers

It is crucial to understand the difference between implied consent and express consent. Follow these steps to ensure your marketing campaigns comply with CASL.

1. Access your list and determine who has given implied consent. This is a great opportunity to clean out your list, and assess who is active and who is inactive.
2. Request express consent from your implied consent contacts. We recommend sending a CASL opt-in email.
3. You must remove implied consent contacts who do not respond to your express consent request by July 1, 2017.
4. Keep and maintain all records of express consent.
5. Regularly audit your subscription list to ensure you are compliant with CASL.

Update

While the transition period for the CASL deadline has now passed, one key thing did not happen on
July 1, 2017. The Private Right of Action provisions under CASL have been delayed indefinitely by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

“Canadians deserve to be protected from spam and other electronic threats so that they can have confidence in digital technology. At the same time, businesses, charities, and other non-profit groups should have reasonable ways to communicate electronically with Canadians. We have listened to the concerns of stakeholders and are committed to striking the right balance.”

– Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

What does this mean for your business? Essentially, you should only be contacting those who you have Express Consent from. But, if you continue to contact your Implied Consent contacts, no legal action can be taken against your company.

Click here if you have any questions or concerns about the new CASL Rules 2017. 

May Long Weekend 2017

Victoria Day Long Weekend takes place from May 20 – May 22 this year. Victoria Day commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria, the British Queen who was born on May 24, 1819.

We have compiled a list of May Long Weekend 2017 events and activities taking place throughout Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Throughout 2017, Canada 150 celebrations are taking place. Some of the events we have included in this blog post include complimentary admission for Canada’s 150.

Now, what will the weather be like this May Long Weekend 2017? We are forecasted to have sunshine.

Family-Friendly Events

Make lasting memories with your family and friends this May Long Weekend 2017. Check out these family-friendly events taking place.

Playland at the PNE
2901 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Opens May 6 (Saturday, Sundays & Holidays)

Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Sporting Kansas City
BC Place – 777 Pacific Boulevard, Vancouver
Saturday, May 20

Vancouver All British Field Meet
VanDusen Botanical Garden – 5251 Oak St, Vancouver
Saturday, May 20

Victoria Day at Burnaby Village Museum
Burnaby Village Museum – 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Monday, May 22

Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair
6050 176 Street, Surrey
May 19 – May 22

Fort Langley’s 95th Annual May Day Parade
Church Street, Fort Langley
Monday, May 22

Whistler GO Festival
Various locations in Whistler
May 19 – May 22

Farmers Markets

There are many great farmers markets around Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley that are now open for the season. Visit the BC Association of Farmers Markets to discover the best markets in your area.

Night Markets

The local night markets are open for the summer! Enjoy the good eats, good finds and good times! Be sure to check them out!

Richmond Night Market
8351 River Road, Richmond
Opens May 12 (Friday, Saturday, Sundays & Holidays)

International Summer Night Market
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond
Opens April 29 (Friday, Saturday, Sundays & Holidays)

Shipyards Night Market
138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver
Opens May 5 (Friday)

Beer & Wine Festivals

Canadian Crafts Vancouver Wine Tour – Fraser Valley
Pick up outside Canada Place – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Recurring weekly (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Wednesday)

Vancouver Craft Brewery Experience
Pick up outside Canada Place – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Recurring Daily

Fort Langley Beer & Food Festival 
Fort Langley National Historic Site – 23433 Mavis Avenue, Langley
Friday, May 20

Explore the Outdoors

A little rain never hurt anyone, so get out of the city and explore the great outdoors. The Greater Vancouver area has much to offer.  Visit Vancouver Trails and see which local trails and hikes are open for the season.

Admission to Canada’s National Parks, Historic Sites and Marine Conversation Areas is free during 2017. Order your Discovery Pass here.

Make the best of this May Long Weekend 2017. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities or ideas for an adventure, the possibilities are endless! From everyone here at Longevity Graphics, we wish you a happy and safe May Long Weekend 2017.