Optimizing Images for Web

When publishing images to the web, it is important to ensure that they have been properly sized and optimized. Large image sizes can often lead to website performance issues and slow page load times. If you are looking to improve the performance of your website, the following guidelines and tips could significantly improve load times. When…

Mad Blogs

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Community Engagement Christmas Campaigns

With all of the noise in the digital space, marketers are continuously challenged to engage viewers online who have become inundated with advertisements. Last week we discussed our Top 3 Emotional Christmas Videos, and how marketers are using sadvertisements to successfully target audiences, break through the noise and generate media coverage.…

Chatter Community
Let's Make Marillac Merry

It's a Mad Hatter tradition to donate to the Marillac Place for the holidays. We are extending the invite to contribute along with us this year. Donations can be in the form of canned goods, gently used (or even new) women's and children's clothing - up to 24 months preferred.

The Wek Effect

There are a few words I would use to describe Michael Wekerle - hyper, funny, and highly intelligent.   Despite the seemingly casual conversation over dinner, his mind is constantly spinning, evaluating every phrase, and while you may think he’s not taking much in, he is carefully filing every comment.  He formulates his opinions of…

Wearable Tech Check

Due to the explosion and expansion of IoT (internet of things), wearable technology (aka wearables) has greatly inclined throughout 2015 and includes a variety of wearable items (mostly in the form of accessories and apparel). Wearable tech is best described as a connected device (that uses sensors, web connection, Bluetooth and/or wireless) and…

Top Three Emotional Christmas Videos

The Christmas season is not all glitter and gold. It is also a prime opportunity for advertisers to tug at our emotional heartstrings and have us trading tinsel for tissue, as we watch emotional Christmas ads.   Christmas is a favourite holiday to many, bringing happiness and joy, however, it is can also be a sad season for those who will…

Building buzz with relevant content

In social media, content creation seems to be a common challenge. We often hear that creating content is time consuming and difficult. One option I always encourage my clients to consider in their social media strategy is posting about relevant events such as holidays, theme days and anniversaries that tie into the company's values. Posting…

10 ways tech has changed Thanksgiving

The American Thanksgiving holidays are just a few days away. It is time to gather with loved ones and be reminded of our blessings. The Mad Hatter’s are very grateful for technology, as Mad Hatter Technology would not be able to offer our clients services such as website design, content management systems, mass email campaigns, responsive websites…

Get a Google Gig

Waterloo Region now has the largest development office for Google in Canada.  Steven Gregory Woods is responsible for leading engineering activities at Google’s swanky new Waterloo office.  A Canadian entrepreneur, Steven joined Google in 2008, and after leaving the region after graduating from the University of Waterloo,, and spending…

Youtube Kids

Many studies suggest that television watching has declined, while internet video watching and streaming has inclined greatly. With more mobile options and accessibility, we live in a world where any and everything is at our fingertips - literally - reach into your pocket to phone a friend, order food, send a pic or…

Social Stories in the SoLoMo Mix

SoLoMo (social, local and mobile) was the hot topic at our recent Social Summit, and for good reason, as it offers combined opportunities on mobile devices, social networks, and local commerce.   During the event, there was a lot of chatter about location-based marketing, or what our agency director likes to call “ping and bring,” as well…

Well Hello Neighbour! Google Moves into the Breithaupt Block

Google is expanding in Kitchener-Waterloo and the move of the company’s office location from the Tannery building into the Breithaupt Block is officially well under way.  On Monday November 16th, 2015, Google employees began making their way into the historic building, and are now the new ‘kids’ on the Breithaupt Block.  Chefs arrived…

Interactive Digital DisPLAY

Interactive digital displays can be as small as mobile tablets, or as big as the largest screens. Individuals interact with technology across a variety of means on a daily basis, but as the world becomes more digitized, interactive digital displays are changing the way we engage.     "Share a coke" proves even…

Does your brand Ping and Bring?

  You’re in the biggest rush since gold was discovered in the Yukon and you are walking through the mall when you receive a text message.  You only have a half an hour to get home, and you need to pick up soccer socks for your daughter, before driving over to another plaza to pick up new winter car mats.  You reluctantly pull…

The Incredible Rise of the Instagram Youth

Launched in October 2010, Instagram has an incredible 400 million active monthly users.  If you compare this to LinkedIn, which now has 380 million users, but launched almost a decade earlier, the rise of Instagram has been astonishing.  Instagram now reigns as one of the fastest growing outlets ever launched, and is one of the largest…

Awards Gala for the Canadian Association of Marketing Professionals

The Liberty Grand in Toronto set a wonderful stage for the first grand affair for CAMP - the Canadian Association of Marketing Professionals - the Canadian Association of Marketing Professionals.  The organization includes a variety of marketers from different backgrounds, interests and professions who come together in order to connect and…

Mad Hatter's Fave Apps

  We thought it would be neat to create a blog of our teams fave mobile apps. Enjoy and try a few faves out.  Keep yourself organized with the built in reminders that can be created based on time, date or location. Can create lists or schedule specific dates and times in order to stay on top of all your events.…

President of FedEx Canada Lisa Lisson Leads with Authenticity

I met the President of FedEx Canada, in an unlikely place - in front of the bathroom mirrors at a conference. The conversation was reminiscent of many chats I’ve had with friends in front of such mirrors over the years.  I was struck by her charismatic charm, humble grace and alluring leadership qualities.  I understood immediately, why…

Inspiring Women of Kitchener Waterloo, 2015

Melanie and I attended the ninth annual Inspiring Women Event at Bingemans Conference Centre located in Kitchener on September 24, 2015. The event was hosted in recognition of and support for women in business, entrepreneurial and corporate leadership roles. The words learn, grow and flourish, were mentioned many times during the day,…