According to the Huffington Post, amongst the amazing things the internet has given us are funny cat videos, Facebook stalking and dubious hashtags. It’s taken control of dating, shopping, TV and banking amongst other aspects of everyday life that previously required pieces of paper or even going outside. Coming from a somewhat more serious standpoint,… Read more.
It’s hardly surprising that smartphones have become a major part of our lives given the plethora of things they allow us to do quickly and conveniently: pay for coffee, make bank transfers, shop online etc. Perhaps this year will bring your first experience of paying for your groceries via your phone? Perhaps it’s the headache… Read more.
Number 4 of our top 5 web trends is innovative scrolling. With the multitude of screen sizes out there, websites need to adapt and make the most of the opportunities that scrolling holds. Scrolling through a mixture of video, static and animated content can keep the user engaged as they move through their journey. It makes… Read more.
We’re delighted to share a few of the many websites we’ve had the pleasure of working on this year. And there’s lots more where they came from!
We are delighted to welcome a new member of our team. His role is well defined, but he still has no name! We’d love to hear your suggestions…
Last week, our team was up in sunny(?) Glasgow for the launch of a new vending card system – Abercromby On the Go. The system was developed in partnership with Abercromby Vending in order to offer convenient cashless vending to NHS staff, and those from other organisations in Glasgow. Staff will be issued with contactless Abercromby On… Read more.
Are you running a campaign at the same time as the Olympics? With fewer than 100 days to go, it’s time to be on your marks, get set and GO with your promotion. Despite the need to be mindful of legislation that stops non-official partners from using official wording and logos, there are numerous creative… Read more.
Vanilla Active are pleased to announce the appointment of Graham Temple, Chairman of the IPM, as our new non executive director. “I am delighted to welcome Graham as a non-executive director and we are looking forward to working with him closely over this exciting period of development.” – Neil Mandel, Managing Director of Vanilla Graham brings… Read more.
It amazes me how many digital freelancers who work for agencies to deliver the digital aspect of an on-pack promotion, simply disappear. The agency builds a relationship with that person, only to start again from square one when a new project with a new developer comes along. I have even seen occasions where the freelance technical… Read more.
We can now reveal that there are 48 jelly beans in the pictured pack! Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to all our winners! You will be notified shortly, to organise delivery of your prize.
Thank you to everybody who took part. Our competition is now closed… stay tuned for the winners!
We love receiving positive feedback from our clients! “Russell Black’s website was very basic and in need of updating. Neil came up with some superb ideas and transformed our website. Vanilla Active has created an attractive site generating a positive impression and driving more visitors to our site. An excellent service and I would have… Read more.
Fancy getting your hands on some Vanilla flavoured jelly beans? We’ve got 10 packs to give away – and entering couldn’t be easier. 1) Comment with your guess of how many beans are in this pack 3) Share the post with your friends via social media to be in with a chance of winning. GOOD… Read more.
Vanilla has a new look! If you do one more thing this working week, give us a glance at www.vanillaactive.com
Dear Neil I am writing on behalf of myself and my partners to thank you very much for the design and implementation of our new specialist website for solicitors. You incorporated the branding of our main website seamlessly and the results are greatly appreciated by myself and my partners, plus extensively praised by many solicitors…. Read more.
As 2015 draws to an end and I start to wonder how I am going to get through TWO Christmas meals next Friday, I wonder yet again where the time has gone. It seems only yesterday that I cleaned up my desk, removed the last set of Christmas cards and the left over mince pie… Read more.
We’d like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and New Year from all our team at Vanilla Active. We are back in the office on January 4th and looking forward to an exciting New Year!
As the days get shorter and the nights colder, the time is drawing near for the Christmas promotions to start in earnest. And whilst you may be ready for an onslaught of red and gold, have you thought about what comes next? January and February, typically slow months for marketers, could be the optimum time… Read more.
Vanilla Active are now proud members of the IPM – the leading professional body for the promotional marketing industry. Having attended the COGS awards last month, we are excited about what else our membership will bring!
Following the TalkTalk data hack, companies are wise to pay more attention than ever to security of consumer data. At Vanilla Active, our servers are housed in a data centre accredited to British and International standards. They are protected by firewalls and accessed only through a private secure network. Unlike TalkTalk, who allegedly did not… Read more.
Don’t let your website SCARE people away! Everyone has stumbled across a scary website in their time – one that blasts music the moment you open it, one that is glaringly orange or transports you to the 1990s. Let’s take a look at three of the most terrifying, and the reasons why they’ve become (scarily)… Read more.
We are excited to announce the launch of the Laurel Leaf Networking website, complete with business directory, events calendar, special offers, advertising and more! Branding and website by Vanilla Active.
Everybody knows that one person who refuses to buy a new pair of shoes until their current ones are in pieces. That’s all very well – admirable in fact, except when the day they fall to pieces is the day of a job interview. Whilst the ‘If it aint broke, don’t fix it’ method might… Read more.
We at Vanilla Active are excited to announce our short-listing for the IPM COGS awards online category. The awards celebrate well thought out and well executed projects in the world of promotional marketing, and we are thrilled to be taking part this year with our entry – the Avery 2014 Reward Scheme. For four years,… Read more.
Running a digital promotion without a supporting marketing strategy is like hosting a party without sending invitations. There are a number of ways to attract attention to your promotion, and they needn’t in themselves be digital. Perhaps you are running a radio or TV ad, printing billboards or hosting a publicity event that people will… Read more.
Not many of you will be surprised to hear that there are subliminal messages in advertising. Every day on television we see adverts that feature smiling families and attractive couples – implying that buying a particular product will inspire the desirable lifestyle we associate with that brand. The case with graphic design is no different…. Read more.
Our MD, Neil Mandel, speaking about websites and branding at an event put on by Laurel Leaf Networking.
Has anybody heard of the Pantone system? For those who haven’t, it’s a designer’s way of identifying colours – a Colour Bible, if you will. Designers have relied on Pantone for years and years, to ensure consistent colour. If you have a big branding project, the colour on the logo must be the same as… Read more.
Does your packaging stand out? Anything to shout about? We can set sales in motion With a digital promotion Purchases begin to rise By offering a perk or prize Buyers start to tweet and mention ‘This brand’s worthy of attention!’ Could we lend a helping hand Making you a stand-out brand? Start today… Read more.
Vanilla Active are hiring! We are looking for a mid weight web developer to join our team. Are you passionate about what you do with an ‘anything is possible’ attitude? Essential skills required are: HTML/HTML5, Javascript, jQuery, CSS / CSS3, Responsive web design, Bootstrap framework? Experience with WordPress, JSON, ASP DOT NET, SASS-LESS would be… Read more.
We all understand the premise of a digital promotion. The promoter offers an incentive to the consumer to select a particular brand, purchase a product, visit the promotional website, and give personal details in exchange for the chance of winning a prize. But what will grab the attention of the consumer, and make them want… Read more.
Your website is NOT a business card. It is not a bland reminder of your business name and phone number to be filed away and forgotten. Your website should prompt visitors to act. What do you want visitors to your website to do? Is it to visit your shop? To phone you? To sign up… Read more.
Is your website dull or slow? Was it built ten years ago? Doesn’t work on your device? We can offer some advice Muti-national? One man-band? We can help promote your brand Designing, building, tweaks, assessment See return on your investment Start today and be proactive Mail or call Vanilla Active. www.vanillaactive.com
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Business Networking is a great way to make connections, generate leads and pass referrals. But only if you keep track of the people that you meet and the businesses they run! If you are new to a group and want to build up your network, or you are a seasoned networker with a bulging… Read more.
Based in the USA and UK, Joli Caméléon designs, manufactures and markets effective, premium, natural products for those who are losing or have lost their hair, and may also have sensitive skin. The company is newly launched, and required a complete branding solution including a logo, stationery, packaging, exhibition stand and website (images of which… Read more.
We are excited to announce the launch of our latest website, barrym.com for Barry M Cosmetics. Barry M is the leading British colour cosmetics company – famous for offering a wide range of colourful, cruelty free products at affordable prices. The prestige of the brand will now be reflected in a new website with… Read more.
Every business needs a website – that much is undisputed. But for a small business or recent startup, an all-singing all-dancing site might not be viable straight away. For businesses with limited time and budget, a simple portfolio site will do the job if it has these three important features. 1) Responsive Design* … Read more.
Proactive brands ask questions: What makes customers buy our products? How can we ensure that they continue? These answers are vital to the success of future marketing campaigns. After all, how can you engage with customers and potential customers if you don’t know who they are and what makes them tick? This is where a… Read more.
It’s not news that many of us prefer to browse the internet on our smartphones. But it is news that from April 21st, Google will down-rank your website if it’s not mobile friendly. Why is this happening, and how can you stop your site from slipping down in search results? Let’s have a… Read more.
It is a fact that there are potential customers waiting to be pitched the perfect deal online. A digital promotion lets you turn this scenario into sales. Before running a promotion, make sure your business is ready for some attention online. Now is the time to Google yourself – and examine everything from your company… Read more.
A state of the art website will keep you ahead of your competitors, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With our special offer template site, we do all the work for you – designing and building your personalised website from concept to completion. After all, how would you feel if, having paid an… Read more.
Websites have long been seen as vital to any marketing plan, rather than a luxury. With the evolution of smartphone and tablet, people want information immediately, and your website has to deliver. Whether your site has five pages or one hundred, it’s your ultimate ‘shop window’ and, given that you only have about 10 seconds… Read more.
Are you reading this on a desktop while glancing at your smartphone or watching TV? If so, you’re not alone, with nearly 80% of us dividing our attention between more than one screen. The most prevalent example of this is people using social media while watching television or looking at websites, which can only be… Read more.
Whether you have a website up and running and are looking for a redesign or you need a new site built from scratch, the first step is to have a clear idea of what you want it to achieve. Below are some guidelines for you to think about before approaching a design agency to help… Read more.
Are you among the few of us who’ve kept that January resolution? Most of us saw the new year as a fresh start – a chance to ditch old habits and present to the world a brand new you. That may sound fair enough, but when it comes to your brand, first impressions can… Read more.
Christmas is a wonderful time for us all escape from the daily madness of a 9-5 or 8-6 business. Many businesses close for 2 weeks allowing bosses and staff members a chance to recharge the batteries. The increase in remote working encourages workers to ‘do’ a few hours at home just to catch… Read more.
For any brand it is vital to understand everything about your customers – the ones you have and the ones you want to have. Once you understand who they are, you can engage with them, which is necessary to keep your brand at the forefront of their minds. Running a web based promotion is one… Read more.
Why run a digital survey? Digital surveys are a great way to extend client engagement and brand memory. Once a promotion has finished and you have collected hundreds/thousands of user details (many of whom will have opted in to receive further information), a digital survey can be sent out to gain further knowledge about your… Read more.
Loyalty or reward schemes are becoming more popular each year. Participation in loyalty programs is up 19% since 2007 and a recent survey claimed that 96% of UK consumers are currently a member of a scheme. Key factors that put consumers off joining a reward scheme include: – improbable rewards (28%) – unrealistic points… Read more.
The presence of video content in our lives is increasing, as most of us have instant access to create and share videos from out phones. The cost in time and money of making videos, even professional ones, is minimal compared to what it has been in the past. Short sharp videos are now dominating… Read more.
Who remembers the Hoover Fiasco a few years back? In brief, Hoover ran a promotion offering customers the chance to claim two tickets to Europe and the US with any product worth over £100. Great idea… the problem was that although nobody particularly wanted the Hoover product , lots of people did want two flights… Read more.
So the headline is misleading somewhat but I’m running out of time before we close our office to come up with a clever Christmas analogy relating to twitter. Answers on a postcard. ‘Tis not only this season that you will be tweeted, it is every season and tweets are increasing year on year. Twitter is… Read more.
So FIFA 14 came out in September as well as many other games for 2014. But it was only September I hear you say!!! Why do they and all other companies do this? Basically it makes the product and service fit for the future and not out of date within a couple of months. So… Read more.
WordPress hit the online streets in 2003. It was primarily used by individuals in order to blog without having to write code from scratch. 12 years on and blogging is just one off the many benefits of WordPress. Now WordPress is used to build some of the most dynamic and complex sites on the… Read more.