Inside these posts: Social media

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Feb. 28 at 5:54 a.m.
2 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, China, International

Groupon partnering with Tencent in China

By Dow Jones Newswires

U.S. deals Web site Groupon Inc. said Monday it is teaming up with Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. to launch a group-buying services Web site in China, placing it ahead of other major U.S. social Internet companies in building a China presence.

For Chicago-based Groupon, the deal represents an ambitious attempt to expand overseas while for Shenzhen-based Tencent, it is an attempt to tap further into growth beyond the company’s core business areas of online gaming and messaging. Get the full story »

Feb. 23 at 2:26 p.m.
1 comment
Filed under: Internet

Sprout Social gets $10M in venture funding

By Wailin Wong

Sprout Social, a Chicago-based startup that helps businesses manage their social media presence across different platforms, has raised $10 million in venture funding. Get the full story »

Feb. 21 at 5:41 a.m.
4 comments
Filed under: China, International, Internet

Groupon prepares to go into China

By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal

Deals Web site Groupon Inc. appears to be making preparations to start operations in China, a move that could shake up the market for group buying, even though challenges lie ahead for the young U.S. company.

Chicago-based Groupon, which opened in 2008 selling discounted products and services from local merchants such as restaurants and nail salons, faces a huge Internet market that has confounded some of the world’s biggest players. Get the full story »

Feb. 17 at 7:48 a.m.
2 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Internet

LivingSocial expands in northern suburbs

By Wailin Wong

Daily deal provider LivingSocial said Thursday it has expanded into Chicago’s north suburbs, adding to its roster of more specialized offers for the area.

LivingSocial already offers deals for Chicago, the western suburbs and the northwest suburbs. The Washington, D.C.-based startup also has a “family edition” for Chicago that provides discounts on activities and services for parents and children. Get the full story »

Feb. 11 at 8:33 a.m.
34 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Internet, Updated

Groupon pulls controversial Tibet ad

By Wailin Wong

Groupon Inc. Chief Executive Andrew Mason said the Chicago-based daily deals provider is pulling all of the Super Bowl ads that had provoked a negative reaction online earlier this week.

“We hate that we offended people, and we’re very sorry that we did – it’s the last thing we wanted,” Mason wrote in a blog post on Thursday, adding: “We will run something less polarizing instead. We thought we were poking fun at ourselves, but clearly the execution was off and the joke didn’t come through. I personally take responsibility; although we worked with a professional ad agency, in the end, it was my decision to run the ads.” Get the full story »

Feb. 10 at 7:16 a.m.
2 comments
Filed under: M&A

Facebook, Google start wooing Twitter

By Dow Jones Newswires-Wall Street Journal

As Internet valuations climb and bankers and would-be buyers circle Silicon Valley in an increasingly frothy tech market, many eyes are on one particularly desirable, if still enigmatic, target: Twitter.

Executives at both Facebook Inc. and Google Inc., among other companies, have held low-level talks with those at Twitter Inc. in recent months to explore the prospect of an acquisition of the Web-based messaging service, according to people familiar with the matter. The talks have so far gone nowhere, these people say. Get the full story »

Feb. 9 at 9:44 a.m.
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Filed under: Autos

Ford marketing chief outlines social media strategy

By Mary Jane Grandinetti

Touting the auto as the ultimate mobile device, Ford marketing chief Jim Farley outlined the automaker’s social media strategy to open the media preview of the 2011 Chicago auto show Wednesday.

“Social media events such as the Explorer’s Go Do Adventure will let millions of people spend time with our cars,” he said.

“With 500 million people on Facebook, we can reach more potential customers in a more personal way,” Farley said of the company’s move to new media. Its latest efforts are centered on the Ford Focus and the Chicago-built Ford Explorer that arrive at dealerships next month. Get the full story »

Feb. 8 at 11:48 a.m.
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Filed under: Internet, Jobs/employment, Litigation

Conn. company settles Facebook firing case

By CNN

A Connecticut ambulance service that fired an employee for posting negative Facebook comments about her boss has settled with the former worker, resolving a case that was poised to test new legal ground in labor law.

In October, National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint against American Medical Response of Connecticut over the firing of Dawnmarie Souza. A hearing had been scheduled for this week. Get the full story »

Feb. 7 at 9:54 a.m.
1 comment
Filed under: Technology

Deal site Bling Nation launches in Chicago

By Wailin Wong

A Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup called Bling Nation has launched a new “social rewards” program in Chicago as part of a national rollout, using Facebook as a way for consumers to share deals at local businesses with their friends.

In Chicago, Bling Nation has deals with merchants such as Deleece Restaurant, Noble Tree Café and White Glove Car Wash. The company said any local business can participate in its FanConnect program. The program uses a dedicated Facebook application that keeps users updated on local deals. A person that redeems a deal receives rewards that he or she can use for future purchases, and earning these rewards automatically shares special offers with the person’s friends via his or her Facebook wall. Get the full story »

Feb. 4 at 5:55 p.m.
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Filed under: Internet, M&A, Media

Potential suitors lining up for MySpace

By Reuters

News Corp. has tapped Allen & Co. to field buyout interest for MySpace and has heard from about 50 parties, people familiar with the process told Reuters Friday.

The global media conglomerate is considering a handful of options for MySpace, the once-hot Internet social network that has fallen far behind faster moving rival Facebook. Get the full story »

Feb. 3 at 5:51 a.m.
1 comment
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Internet, Sports

Groupon gets Super Bowl ad spot

From Crain’s Chicago Business | Groupon has secured a spot during the Super Bowl to air a commercial being created by Christopher Guest. Earlier, the company thought it would only have access to pre-game and post-game commercials. Get the full story>>

Jan. 31 at 3:11 p.m.
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Filed under: Technology

Facebook expands its Groupon-like service

From The New York Times DealBook | Facebook is introducing its discount shopping service to five European countries and Canada as part of its push to help brands communicate with its users.

Jan. 27 at 1:11 p.m.
3 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, International

Groupon hires Christopher Guest to direct ad

By Melissa Harris

Christopher Guest.

Christopher Guest — the mockumentary director behind “Waiting for Guffman” and “Best in Show” — will direct Groupon’s spots for the Feb. 6 Super Bowl broadcast, a rep for Guest has confirmed.

It’s not clear what will be in the ads or how long they will run, but Groupon employees will be “eating mini-quiches” and not taking bathroom breaks about 30 minutes before the game and during the “Glee” episode airing later, a source close to the company joked. Get the full story »

Jan. 27 at 7:56 a.m.
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Filed under: Cell phones

No Facebook phone on the way, company says

By Reuters

Facebook has no plans to launch Facebook-branded phones with Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC, it said on Thursday, following reports that it planned to launch an official tie-up next month. Get the full story »

Jan. 26 at 1:04 p.m.
2 comments
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Sports

Old Spice man ready for new adventure

By Associated Press

Isaiah Mustafa in and Old Spice You Tube ad. (Old Spice)

Old Spice’s suave, shirtless advertising star is taking a ride around the world in new commercials for the Procter & Gamble Co. brand.

In an indicator of the campaign’s popularity, there first is a 30-second “coming attractions”-type trailer going online Wednesday which takes you beyond former football player Isaiah Mustafa’s muscular torso — to his “striking brown eyes,” if he does say so himself.

In another effort to keep the buzz going for the YouTube hit, a yet-to-be-named “superfan” will get to debut the commercial on his or her own social network page or feed, sometime before Super Bowl Sunday. Get the full story>>

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