Startups emerge to help firms craft engaging content
Several local startups have popped up to capitalize on the growing interest in content marketing, defined in part by enterprise-generated blog posts, infographics, how-to videos and more.
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Angie’s List hires ad firm that created Progressive’s Flo
Angie’s List Inc. is rejiggering its marketing strategy, a move that includes hiring a new branding agency to help get the home-services giant growing rapidly again.
Colts seek teens where they talk, with Kik messsaging app
The Colts have launched a marketing campaign on the social media messaging site Kik, an initiative team officials think could reach hundreds of thousands of teenagers—a notoriously difficult group to target through traditional channels or even other digital platforms.
SmarterHQ gobbles up venture funds
SmarterHQ, an Indianapolis software firm, is quietly becoming one of the area’s top destinations for venture capital, fueled by surging sales for its personalized marketing software.
As Angie’s List hits crossroads, shareholders get antsy
For years, the reviews company has sold memberships to consumers and advertising to service providers, but recently it’s been trying to become a marketplace that brokers transactions and gets a cut.
Not-for-profits learn to tap into Twitter, rivals
A growing number of savvy charities are tapping into the viral power of social media, using popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter to connect with supporters and build awareness along with their spheres of influence.
Up-and-coming app elbows way into noisy music field
West Lafayette-based Caktus Music Inc. has developed a smartphone application that allows access to music content from multiple sources, including streaming services and personal music libraries, all integrated into one place.
Indiana golf executive ousted as PGA boss
Ted Bishop, president at The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, has been ousted as president of the PGA of America over a controversial tweet and Facebook post directed at golfer Ian Poulter.
Small biz program to tackle lack of Web savvy
The program Fight for Small will teach Indiana business owners how to wield social networks, customer review websites and the rest of the Internet to their advantage.
Twitter sued over James Dean-linked accounts
James Dean Inc., represented by Indianapolis-based CMG Worldwide, wants Twitter to shut down an unofficial account with more than 8,000 followers.
Investment firm ties crowd-funding to traditional fundraising
The online investing marketplace Localstake brokered a little more than $1 million in private investments for an Indiana distillery and a solar-heating startup in 2013, through crowd-funding. Instead of receiving a T-shirt or other novelty for their money, as with typical crowd funding, contributors received an actual stake in the business.
IU’s Twitter account No. 1 among Big Ten schools
More than 81,000 followers subscribe to @IUBloomington to keep track of a mix of news and entertainment.
Yelp making grass-roots push to boost inroads in Indy
Internet reviewers aren’t always the kindest people when it comes to their opinions, which is a bit intimidating for a mom-and-pop shop. But not embracing Yelp can be outright foolish as the San Francisco-based customer-review website expands its reach in Indianapolis, business owners say.
ExactTarget lauded for Facebook software
The Indianapolis-based digital marketer developed a program called Active Audiences, which lets companies better tailor advertisements to individual customers as they scroll around the social network.
Smartphone videos rewrite rules of customer research
Carmel-based Strategic Marketing & Research Inc. is among firms tapping the capabilities of video-enabled smartphones to gain insights into consumers’ thoughts and emotions. They’re doing this by having consumers use their phones to shoot a video diary of their product experiences.
Local survey offers peek at social media strategy
Preliminary survey results of Carmel marketing firm Roundpeg’s annual survey show more than 30 percent of small businesses devote at least an hour to social media each day. Is the impact worth the effort?
New ChaCha unit to pair celebrities, advertisers
The ever-evolving information/answers service ChaCha Search has launched a startup within the 7-year-old company. Social Reactor will match advertisers with participating celebrities and other “social influencers,” who will use social media tools such as Twitter to drive fans to advertisers. Verge founder Matt Hunckler was tapped to get it rolling.
Eli Lilly aims to ramp up social media presence
The drugmaker recently drafted social media guidelines it hopes can help it expand its use of social media to more of its employees—without running afoul of regulators.
Small firms using social media to tighten ties to customers
More small businesses are turning to technology to connect with clients. Nationwide, over half of firms with fewer than 100 employees use social media, according to a 2012 survey from research firm SMB Group Inc.
Slingshot SEO branches out after Google throws it for a loop
Search-engine optimization remains part of Slingshot SEO’s name. But one of the region’s fastest-growing tech companies is abruptly shifting strategy—in part because changes by Google have undercut its core business.