Should you invest in Google AdWords?
I used to think that Google AdWords, or any advertising on the Internet, was a waste of money - a fast way to fill Google's pockets while emptying your own. Now I know otherwise.
Categories: Marketing
Saint Patrick's Day celebrations
With the St. Patrick's Day celebrations getting closer, John Janisse is practicing and preparing for performances at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and The Winchester Arms in Dundas.
Big Ideas for Small Business
Helping small business to grow in this economic climate is obviously an important pre-occupation for many of us.
Categories: Events
Winning Awards
February 16 2012 | Chris Grabiec
Marita Zaffiro deserves an award because of who she is and how she lives!
Categories: Events
Websites that really produce!
February 01 2012 | Chris Grabiec
The constant question for a firm like the Dunham Group is what makes a website work and what makes it not work?
Categories: Web Design
The photo shoot
December 14 2011 | John Janisse
We had a photo shoot for a client at our house recently. What could have been a very stressful event was made a happy adventure by a few simple things.
Categories: General
A Successful Wine Tasting in support of the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice
December 09 2011 | Chris Grabiec
Thanks to everyone who made this evening possible and successful!
Categories: Events
A wine tasting evening, supporting the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice
October 25 2011 | Chris Grabiec
Along with other charities in the area, The Dunham Group is committed to supporting The Dr. Bob Kemp Centre and would like to invite you to a wonderful evening of "Tasting Fine Wines" in support of the Hospice.
Smartphone and foolish people
October 05 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
With the pending release of the iPhone 4s/5 which has set the technology world into a frenzy I figured a smartphone posting was appropriate. As I look at my life (or at least my professional life) there is nothing and I mean nothing that has been at my side as much as a smartphone.
Categories: IT Support, News
Six Months Later...
September 19 2011 | Chris Grabiec
So, we think these are exciting times for the Dunham Group Inc; new building, new offices, new technology, new staff, and the ongoing development of our skills to both meet and lead the demands of an ever-changing market.
Categories: News
Network Security: Outside looking in
August 17 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
The fundamentals of network security remain the same. Firewalls, antivirus, backups, policies and procedures all play an important role in securing your digital assets.
Categories: IT Support
Michael's Graduation
Why I'm glad I spent 3 long hours at a High School graduation ceremony.
Categories: General
Malware: Coming to a Mac near you!
June 22 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
For all of the Mac users out there that thought they were immune to viruses and malware it has been a really tough month.
Categories: IT Support, News
Going Mobile
It's time to consider building a mobile website to compliment the web presence you already have!
Categories: Web Design
The Cloud: A scary place sometimes
June 06 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
For some organizations moving resources into the 'cloud' is a way to improve scalability, mobility, availability without large capital investments in equipment and software. Although this sounds like a great scenario, is it possible you are paining a nice big red target on your back?
Categories: IT Support
The Shoemaker's Children
New neighbourhood. New potential clients. No marketing material! We felt just like the shoemaker's children. As we become our own client, here's what we're learning...
Categories: Marketing
When the lights go out
April 29 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
Over the past week I have been dealing with a great number of calls related to power outages and equipment failures due to lightning strikes. For many businesses the rash of thunder storms and high winds has had no impact on revenue or productivity while others are left to calculate the losses while their employees stand idle as equipment is replaced or repaired. So what can you do to avoid such a disaster in the future? Be prepared!
Categories: IT Support, News
Getting on top
What are the 5 most important things you can do to get your website to the top of search engine rankings?
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
What's old is new again
Remember the good ol' days of the monthly newsletter? Well, those days are back - in a new and better way!
Categories: Marketing
Spring is in the air
I don't like feeling stuck, not having options, trapped, not in control. Like I'm caught in a big snow drift.
Categories: General
Is your website accessible?
February 08 2011 | John Janisse
Beginning in 2012, public sector and large organizations in Ontario will need to make many aspects of their business accessible. This includes online communications like websites. Is this a good thing?
Categories: Web Design
The power of IP
January 27 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
Business is in the process of really challenging the old conventions of employment. It used to be you were hired by a company, required to come into the office on a daily basis, complete your work and go home. For an increasing number of companies that is no longer a requirement. More and more firms are discovering the advantage to having a mobile workforce.
Categories: IT Support
Is the Cloud really the way to go?
January 05 2011 | Jeremy McMaster
Has your company been thinking about moving some or all of your business processes into the Internet cloud?
Categories: IT Support
Websites need to reflect your business personality!
January 05 2011 | Chris Grabiec
It is crucial for the web design firm to fully understand the company, its direction, its owners, and its philosophy.
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
The call to action
December 17 2010 | John Janisse
Two business lessons I've learned from my friend Phil McColeman are: always put your best foot forward, and don't forget to ask for the business. These can be the makings of a New Year's resolution you won't regret!
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
Do I need a Facebook page?
November 10 2010 | John Janisse
Online social networking is important for business. It's a new form of relationship-building that can have great rewards, whether your audience is around the corner or around the world. And like all relationships, it takes work.
Categories: Marketing
Preparing for a bad... or good economy
November 02 2010 | Chris Grabiec
It would seem that the best wisdom is that no matter what our economy, we should be prepared with an ongoing marketing strategy, materials and web presence that will carry us through anything good or bad!
Categories: Marketing
Combating and managing spam
October 14 2010 | Jeremy McMaster
Spam is one of the largest problems facing organizations which use the email as a primary communications tool.
Categories: IT Support
Marketing your business
September 27 2010 | Chris Grabiec
Your web developer needs to be considered a member of your team, rather than some adjunct supplier.
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
Security, security, security
September 22 2010 | Jeremy McMaster
As a society we have come a long way when it comes to understanding the importance of computer security. Most of us have the standard antivirus software installed and for the most part have figured out how to secure our wireless networks.
Categories: IT Support
Too good to be true?
September 14 2010 | John Janisse
There's a special pleasure that we take from helping not-for-profit organizations and charities serve their members and communicate their unique messages to the world. Michael Jahn and The Charity Post is one that will renew your faith in the basic goodness of humankind.
Categories: General
Working your website
September 09 2010 | Chris Grabiec
Frequent changes to the site are paramount. The search engines need to know you are alive and that you are working the site. Change the text, add news, have a blog on the site, put new photos up, add new stock, give new information as it comes out.
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
iPhone or Blackberry: Which smartphone is right for you?
August 26 2010 | Jeremy McMaster
The answer is... It depends! To compare the iPhone 3, 3GS or 4 to all of the different versions of the Blackberry would be near impossible. So I will be comparing the iPhone to the Blackberry in general not one specific model. Hopefully this information will help you decide which device is right for you!
Categories: General
How much does a website cost?
It's the number one question I get asked. The answer may surprise you!
Categories: Web Design
Wedding websites
A wedding company (All Seasons Weddings) offering a terrific national service gets all of their bookings online through fabulous websites and very functional database.
Categories: Web Design
Website ROI
Today businesses and not-for-profit organizations alike are looking for ways to measure their website's return on investment. Good web designers appreciate this and have numerous tools at their disposal. Measuring the effectiveness of your website is a good thing, whether the language you use is 'good business' or 'good stewardship of resources'.
Categories: Web Design
Weak passwords and policies
April 06 2010 | Jeremy McMaster
Passwords are often your first line of defence, and in many instances, the only defence against hackers gaining access to your information. Passwords are like the keys to your car. Without them you are going nowhere and in the wrong hands your car and its contents are likely on the way down the road to a local chop-shop.
Categories: IT Support
Where is your data?
November 23 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
Disaster recovery is often the last thing a company thinks about or plans for and in reality it should be one of the first things.
Categories: IT Support
What's in a name anyway?
October 30 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
When deciding to put your business online the first and often most critical decision you will have to make is your domain name (sometimes called a URL). The wrong name can frustrate or confuse a user which at the end of the day may cost you a client.
Categories: IT Support, Web Design
Security made simple
October 30 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
A big deal is made of computer and network security however there are a few things that you can do to avoid being the next victim of the latest virus, spyware or hacker.
Categories: IT Support
A Server? We are too small for a server!
October 05 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
There are many misconceptions in the world of business and technology however few things are more feared then moving to a server/client environment. Servers are not something to be feared; in fact they are something that should be embraced by almost any sized company.
Categories: IT Support
What has your website done for you lately?
October 05 2009 | John Janisse
How is your website today? Many people can't answer that question because they haven't visited their website today. Some haven't been there for a week; others longer. It's not that they don't care about their business, but they just don't expect much from their website. Sure, it has to be there, but beyond that, the language around the website's purpose gets really fuzzy. Is that you?
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
Sometimes we like to learn the hard way
September 11 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
For many, technology can represent a scary unknown. Some of us have been online for years while others are just getting online for the first time. Whether you are new to the Internet or have been online for years make sure you understand the dangers lurking in the shadows. In many cases, ignorance can be bliss. For an increasing many however, that bliss can turn into a nightmare when the unthinkable happens: "I got a virus!"
Categories: IT Support
Are you getting the most out of your website?
September 11 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
Many companies have a webpage developed, place it online and expect people will just show up to start purchasing goods and services. The reality is that getting a quality design is only the beginning. The website is only one part of an overall strategy and should be closely linked to your in-store/company systems, print catalogs, and other sales channels to ensure success. Promotion, search engine ranking and cross-linking all play an important role in delivering traffic to your website.
Categories: Marketing, Web Design
Spam... Why Me?
August 20 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
One of the most common questions I receive is 'Why do I receive so much spam and how can I prevent it?'
Categories: IT Support
Accessibility 3.0
We're experiencing a backlash to the 'wall of information' that most websites have presented us for the last few years. It's like we've all got headaches from the 'visual noise' and are now looking for space, clarity, and room to think. The main challenge in web design today is to make it easy for all visitors to easily get the information they need, without a lot of distracting stuff. Let's call it Accessibility 3.0.
Categories: Graphic Design, Marketing
Ethics in a dog-eat-dog world
There are two ways to conduct business, and I know which side I sit on...
The technology lifecycle... When will the next landslide begin?
June 08 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
The technology lifecycle... When will the next landslide being? Often market trends, emerging products, and business requirements dictate the technology lifecycle for a firm.
Categories: IT Support, Marketing
Thinking about brand?
This is the right time in our economy to ramp up for growth. However, we need to remember that times have seriously changed.
Categories: Marketing
Layoffs: Is it really over?
March 04 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
Employee turnover has always been a concern for both HR and IT. With the economy continuing to falter and employee layoffs ramping up, many firms have not considered the IT security repercussions of disgruntled ex-employees.
Categories: IT Support
Email archiving and compliance
January 28 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
There is a big trend in the world of IT focussing on the importance of email archiving to protect both you and your company from costly legal disputs over alleged communication. There are many solutions in the market space offering the one-stop solution to archiving email, however, these products/services can be fairly costly.
Categories: IT Support
New Year Resolutions
January 06 2009 | Jeremy McMaster
With a new year comes the opportunity for all of us to make resolutions to improve things that we have been putting off in the previous year. Many companies consider both power and data backups secondary systems and although there may be some underlying concern often we sweep those concerns away and hope for the best.
Categories: IT Support
What can we learn from the CBC?
November 03 2008 | John Janisse
This past June the CBC didn't renew the rights to the much loved 'Hockey Night in Canada' theme music, and most people at the time thought they'd made a huge mistake. Well, it doesn't look like a mistake now...
Categories: Marketing
Protecting your email address
October 17 2008 | Chris Grabiec
Spam is a growing problem. There are spam solutions, and we have them at The Dunham Group Inc, but there are also ways that you can protect yourself.
Categories: IT Support
The Dunham Group Inc opens new division
September 15 2008 | Chris Grabiec
Jeremy McMaster has joined the team at the Dunham Group, bringing in a new division which will provide networking and IT services.
Categories: IT Support, News
Will the real user please stand up?
Say goodbye to spam and junk messages by using a dynamically generated CAPTCHA. CAPTCHAs are used to varify that a user is genuine before they submit a form on your website.
Categories: IT Support, Web Design
Drawing the boundaries
The internet has introduced a whole new level of communication into our society and our lives but it brings with it a significant danger.
Categories: General
Who's in control?
Active Access Management (A2M) and Paired-Key authorization is our leading security infrastructure for our clients. By providing a rock-solid security system with an intuitive and easy to use management system, we help our clients bring their work to the web (even if they may be working from home).
Categories: Web Design
New year, new web site
January 02 2008 | John Janisse
I love the beginning of a new year. It's a special, almost magical, time of new beginnings. As the old year comes to an end I always take some time to think about life and what I want it to look like at this time a year in the future. I don't consider it 'making resolutions', I think of it rather as setting a course, or fixing a vision for my life one year from now, and then beginning to 'be the change I want to see'.
Categories: News
