ChirpUp.com

The Rise of Start-Ups and Freelance Economy

With all the talk of doom returning due to a European debt crisis and an oil spill that is already the Katrina of oil spills, we might need some optimism. Here it is: A study released in May 2010 by the Kauffman Foundation (h/t: Ian Swain) provides additional evidence that our current crisis takes the form of [...]

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A Case Study – AdBean.net is Being Heard Online!

One of my very favorite things about ChirpUp’s interactive marketing services is working with energetic start-ups. There’s nothing more exciting than watching a worthy new business concept start growing. And when our interactive marketing services help contribute to that growth, it’s twice as fun. AdBean is an exciting Chicago start-up.  Their powerful new technology makes effective [...]

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What Are Facebook Community Pages?

The ever-growing, ever-changing Facebook gave us a new kind of page in its most recent reshuffling. Named Community Pages, these pages are “built around topics, causes or experiences” – a description that might produce as much confusion as enlightenment. What’s the Difference Between Community Pages and Facebook’s Existing Official Pages? The major difference is in [...]

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Making “Business” a “Brand” and “Customers” Your “Audience”

It’s time to transform your mid size business into a brand with interactive marketing. How? Isn’t brand building incredibly expensive?  Isn’t it reserved for big companies with big budgets? Not necessarily true anymore. Modern businesses can use social networks and new technology to build an audience and their brand. In his latest book Rework Jason [...]

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New Media, New Marketing, New Currency!

Have you taken advantage of the new currency? Of course PayPal has been around for some time, but how soon before we can conduct transactions on our iPhone? The day has arrived. Now, thanks to Square (co-founded by Jim McKlevey and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey), we can process credit card payments with iPhones and computer scanners. [...]

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How To Connect LinkedIn with Your WordPress Blog

Connecting LinkedIn with your WordPress blog is highly recommended for most B2B marketers.  Many mid-size businesses forget to harness LinkedIn‘s tremendous reach even though it’s super easy set-up so that your blog posts automatically appear in you individual profile. Steps for Feeding LinkedIn with WordPress After logging in, find and click on the “Applications” button [...]

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Google Domination is Good for Your Business

As the world’s single most powerful media and technology force, Google is doing more than just changing the interactive marketing machine for small and mid size business. They’re biting, chewing and spitting out old notions of interactive marketing. Google is making “small” and “fearless” a competitive advantage. They are reconstituting and democratizing the very notion [...]

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Google Buzz, What Is It?

Heard about Google Buzz? Are you having trouble understanding it? Here is one way to explain it: Your Email Has Problems I don’t mean your email is broken; it probably works fine. Messages go out, messages come in – it works. I don’t mean that it’s a mistake to use email, either. So What’s the [...]

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Social Network Gaming and Marketing

There’s more to social networks than Facebook messages, random coupons and aimless Twitter comments. Sure, nearly every company has a Facebook profile these days. They’re free and easy to manage. But how do you create something engaging, interesting and relevant? How About Games? Gaming is no longer just an escapist outlet for Mountain Dew-guzzling teens [...]

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Happy First Birthday ChirpUp!

On February 12, 2009, we launched our business and ChirpUp.com. We kicked off an intense year filled with hard work and hustle. We met an incredible collection of new and established businesses. Rob and I pledged to be our own case study.  We committed ourselves to a spirit of openness and education and a little [...]

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