Cutting corners with DIY marketing may seem like a good idea but it can be the most expensive decision you could ever make. Especially in a major market like Chicago. Developing your own marketing strategy and approach can be exciting and fun. Companies have access to a wealth of inexpensive technologies and techniques to experiment [...]

Did you know that almost half of Americans own a smartphone? According to Nielsen, 44% of Americans had a smartphone as of December 2011, a significant increase from 2009 when less than 20% had a smartphone. In certain demographics, smartphone usage is even higher -  64% of those aged 24 to 34 own a smart [...]

Oscar Meyer is an example of a social media pioneer. I saw the Oscar Meyer weinermobile on the street today and had to stop, get a picture, a whistle and of course a hot dog. This is the second time in my life we crossed paths. I couldn’t help but morph into that seven year [...]

Michael was wondering about his web tracking codes and how to better understand them … Michael, Your question revolves on how to track page views and whether this book is right for a novice. It depends on your interest and desire to manage your own business. The book, Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics  allows [...]

This Indiana airport is keeping our Chicago-based marketing agency on our toes. This is the third website we’ve created for them in the last six months and it makes navigating  around Griffith airport easier than ever. Based on strategies from Google’s wdyl beta site, everything you need to find is at your fingertips. Get directions [...]

Will you go to the prom with me? Do you remember when you were in high school and people would ask you to vote for them for this or that? Or would you “like” me or “follow” me? Social media marketing often includes a mixture of democratic content and manufactured popularity. How can you provide [...]

Take a look at www.zuzupedals.com. ZuZu Pedals is  a great website for a great new company in Port Washington. Ride along the lake front on a cool rented cruiser or stop in for a yoga class or a cool t-shirt. But make sure to stop in for sure! This small business web site features eCommerce, [...]

Chicago Marketing Agency looks to improve good Google Rankings while retaining great Yahoo & Bing rankings Topics trending on the Internet include: making websites more engaging for the user. Relevant and interactive homepages improve conversion and we’re all for it. As part of Big Black pencil’s recent experiment is to make our home page more [...]

Beyond Big Marketing is going to take 30 days to make our site more interesting to the viewer and hopefully to Google. The wave of Search Engine Marketing is changing. Grab your Big Black Surf Board. We are going for a ride! Here is a benchmark of where we stand traffic with Google Analytics. Current [...]

U.S. Cellular introduced the belief program recently. I needed a little more than just a battery recharge today.  I own a Chicago Marketing Company and I needed some VIP service. I had to fax something in a hurry and had nowhere to turn. I went into U.S. Cellular on 800 West Washington in Chicago. I [...]