business plans

Can MySpace Re-Invent Itself?

BY David CapeceFri Nov 20, 2009 at 7:38 AM

While MySpace’s rival, Facebook, consistently breaks monthly traffic records, the teen social network is on a steady decline. That is not to say MySpace does’t have a sizable audience. The teen social network has an estimated monthly traffic of 54.3 million, according to Quantcast.com. But 54.3 million is a steep 35% drop from their peak at 83 million in...READ»

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Microsoft Office 2010 Moves to the Cloud

BY David CapeceFri Nov 20, 2009 at 7:31 AM

When Canadian company i4i sued Microsoft this past August, watchdogs in the software community predicted that the move would encourage Microsoft to bring up their plans for a move to cloud computing much earlier than planned – and it looks like they were right. In addition to the announcements of a new and improved version of Internet Explorer and a major update of the Silverlight runtime platform at this week’s Microsoft at the…READ»

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Marketing a Social Cause

BY David CapeceThu Nov 19, 2009 at 7:02 AM

Every year, businesses across the country participate in charity events, sponsorships, community development programs and other social initiatives. There is a trend towards doing more, beyond just writing a check. It’s about putting down the checkbook and rolling up your sleeves that will award you more attention to not only your charity, but to...READ»

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The Impact of the Web on Sustainability

BY David CapeceThu Nov 19, 2009 at 6:58 AM

The web has impacted nearly everything: from the way we do business to the way we keep in touch with our friends. The web has also changed the way we contribute to our communities. It is a tool for organizations to help individuals realize their impact — whether it’s beautifying their community or donating to...READ»

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Connecting to the Creative Geek

BY David CapeceWed Nov 18, 2009 at 6:18 AM

The rise in Twitter users has been nothing short of remarkable. It has captured world-wide media attention and consequently sparked an explosion of users — from approximately 2 million monthly visits a year ago to 27 million today. In our exploration of social media, we have draw several parallels to...READ»

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YouTube Direct Enlists Citizen Journalists

BY David CapeceWed Nov 18, 2009 at 6:03 AM

YouTube announced Tuesday that it will be making it easier for citizen journalists to submit news and events to established news organizations. YouTube Direct bridges the gap between new (YouTube) and traditional media by empowering consumers with an accessible tool to submit video while providing established media a rich resource for breaking news...READ»

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Tumblr, the Next Emerging Platform?

BY David CapeceTue Nov 17, 2009 at 7:15 AM

If Twitter, Flickr and Facebook were to get together, it would look something like Tumblr. The microblogging site has a slick, clean design that allows for customization and sharing. In our analysis on social media, we found Tumblr to be a rising star with a growing artistic community. According to Quantcast, Tumblr is gaining steam in the U.S. by consistently surpassing its traffic records. If it continues its rise, Tumblr could emerge from the underground into the mainstream in a very...READ»

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Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ryan Paugh from Brazen Careerist

BY David CapeceTue Nov 17, 2009 at 6:59 AM

We have explored many facets of Gen Y. We identified key attributes and mindsets, examined Gen Y in the workplace and developed effective marketing strategies. To take a deeper look into the social networks of the up-and-comers, we spoke with Ryan Paugh, the co-founder of Brazen Careerist. Brazen Careerist is a career We have explored many facets of Gen Y. We identified key attributes and mindsets, examined Gen Y in the workplace and developed effective marketing strategies. To take a deeper look into the social networks of the up-and-comers, we spoke with Ryan Paugh, the co-founder of Brazen Careerist. Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for the next generation of professionals. Brazen Careerist allows users to...management tool for the next generation of professionals. Brazen Careerist allows users to...READ»

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Digital Influence in the Network Economy

BY David CapeceMon Nov 16, 2009 at 6:03 AM

Yesterday, I presented “Digital Influence in the Network Economy” at the PodCampAz Conference. The high level principle is that in a network economy, value flows from connectivity. Value is created and shared by all members of a network and economies of scale stem from the size of the network (see full pdf of presentation and outtakes from our podcasting interview). While transactional exchanges of goods and currency have traditionally been the primary economy, the network...READ»

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Top 5: Social Media Lessons from PodcampAZ

BY David CapeceMon Nov 16, 2009 at 5:49 AM

From Wordpress to crowdsourcing to personal branding, fellow digital gurus shared their best tips at PodCampAZ. It started off with tips from a millenial talking about blogging and included the story behind the famed ShalerJump. Here’s the top 5 outtakes from a great PodCampAZ Conference: Wordpress Blog Development. As blogging continues to expand it’s popularity (with over 250,000 bloggers on WordPress today), there are a few tips that can take your game…READ»

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Google Chrome Innovates SPDY from HTTP: 55% Faster

BY David CapeceFri Nov 13, 2009 at 11:07 AM

SPDY aims to revolutionize the web by creating a faster browsing experience. In fact, the Google Chromium blog says the SPDY protocol is 2x as fast as HTTP in its test labs. The load speed results of the top 25 websites were 55% faster on SPDY than HTTP. Interestingly, Google is making the SPDY / HTTP a Chrome-only enhancement and the...READ»

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Case Study: Kiva

BY David CapeceFri Nov 13, 2009 at 7:18 AM

Kiva launched the first person-to-person microfinancing website in 2005 with the mission of alleviating poverty through lending. Since its inception, Kiva has made significant strides in actualizing their goal. As of October 2009, Kiva has distributed $100 million in loans from over 249,000 lenders in...READ»

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Google Latitude Tracks Your Location History

BY David CapeceFri Nov 13, 2009 at 7:12 AM

While most people use Google maps to get directions or look up an address, few realize the many other options available using the Maps feature. One such application is Google Latitude, a more social feature which enables users to track location history and discover the world around them. On Wednesday, Google announced added features to the Latitude location application that will make the tool more powerful than ever. Now, users can…READ»

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How Charity Newcomers are Revolutionizing the Non-Profit Sector

BY David CapeceThu Nov 12, 2009 at 6:47 AM

Social cause is not just about writing a check and mailing it to your favorite charity every year. No, not for the newest wave of non-profits. This up-and-coming generation of charities is developing innovative financial structures, embracing the power new social technologies to engage audiences, taking big risks and changing the face of...READ»

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Pushing the Limits: A Look at ACLU and PETA

BY David CapeceThu Nov 12, 2009 at 6:44 AM

It was during this event that the world first heard of the organization behind the controversy, PETA. Since then, PETA has graced the headlines on many occasions: "Nude PETA Women Shower at 7th and Penn." and "PETA profits from animal suffering..."READ»

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Best Digital Practices in the Health Industry

BY David CapeceWed Nov 11, 2009 at 6:41 AM

Healthcare insurance, reform, H1N1, food contamination and countless stories that pull on our heartstrings are daily discussion topics in newsrooms, blogs and dining room tables across the nation. It should come as no surprise that many of the top 50 digital social-cause influencers are related to health. Health is clearly on the American mind. Now the question is why have...READ»

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Environment and Animals Intersect as Nature’s Cause

BY David CapeceWed Nov 11, 2009 at 6:36 AM

More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of the natural world and the human impact on our planet. This discussion is growing politically, economically and culturally. The emergence of planetary cause, inclusive of animals and the environment, is being fueled online. While United Way and the Salvation Army may lead the way in total dollars...READ»

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Introduction to the Digital Influence in Social Cause Report

BY David CapeceTue Nov 10, 2009 at 7:41 AM

Charitable giving has been on the decline since the onset of the recession. Total US gifts and pledges decreased 5.7% on an inflation-adjusted basis to $308 billion in 2008 according to Giving USA Foundation. More than half of charities are experiencing a downturn in contributions so far this year compared to the same time in 2008, according to an informal poll by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In the face of...READ»

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Examining the Digital Influence in Social Cause Report

BY David CapeceMon Nov 9, 2009 at 9:15 AM

As the audience and user-base of social media networks continues to expand in both number and age, industry sectors that previously had no presence online and now learning how to leverage these tools to extend their impact. In particular, the non-profit sector is one of these sectors to watch. It seems as if social media was made...READ»

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Top 5: Green Gadgets

BY David CapeceMon Nov 9, 2009 at 6:44 AM

How is fashion infused with history and updated with green tech? Or, how can a watch save you from air pollution? We have scoured the web to find where tech and sustainability meet to make fun, interesting and sustainable gadgets. Gadgets, in and of themselves, are an eco-hazard with dangerous chemical compounds, but Sprint has thought about a solution to that too. Here are the...READ»

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REPORT: Digital Influence in Social Cause

BY David CapeceMon Nov 9, 2009 at 6:41 AM

Established charities, such as the American Red Cross (#1), PETA (#2) and Greenpeace (#4), dominate the top 50 digital influencers in social cause, according to the The Digital Influence in Social Cause Report. The new report was released today by digital agency, Sparxoo, to explore how non-profits are utilizing the web to increase brand visibility, engage new audiences and spark social cause discussions. New entrants, such as Kiva…READ»

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Trust Agents: The Essential Startup Social Media Guide

BY David CapeceThu Nov 5, 2009 at 8:29 AM

This month, the Sparxoo team read Chris Brogan and Julien Smith’s Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust. As top social media specialists themselves, Brogan and Smith have a lot of knowledge to share, and did not hold anything back. We want to share some key points and takeaways, and encourage you to read it...READ»

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Are Brands Dead for Good?

BY David CapeceThu Nov 5, 2009 at 8:22 AM

“Brands are dead!” says marketing guru, Faith Popcorn. Consumers are asking themselves, “Why would I buy a 50 oz Tide for $20 when I could buy a house brand for $3.99?” But she is not the only one declaring a fateful decline of brands. Brand values are down across the board, according to a new study by Interbrand. When budgets are tight, are consumers thinking about brands or…READ»

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Web Design and Advertising

BY David CapeceWed Nov 4, 2009 at 7:31 AM

In the first part of our interview with Deirdre Zahl, Sparxoo’s Senior Designer, we outlined the basics of web design. We discussed the functionality of a web site, while touching upon the importance of aesthetic appeal. We also discussed the role of web designers in meeting the digital needs of customers and businesses. In this second part of the interview, we will do a deep dive on splash pages, the future of...READ»

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