Rock This Rebus Puzzle!

On Wednesday, we are running a deal that is so fabulous, the only way we could contain our excitement was to write it out in rebus code. Your mission, if you choose to accept it: Guess the deal by solving the puzzle above. Whoever guesses the rebus correctly by Tuesday at midnight will be in the running to win $10! Just submit your guesses on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or this blog post to be entered.

One thing's for sure - there are no losers! Even if you guess incorrectly, you still get a chance to score this unique and artsy deal. Okay, I've already said too much. Go forth and rock this rebus!

A Social Media Deal To Get You All Pixel-Eyed!

Are you constantly thumbing through profiles and posts all the live long day? If your life is like a game of social media Monopoly, our national deal running on Tuesday will be sure to get you all pixel-eyed! The deal will enable social-holics to revamp their profile on a certain popular social network. If you can guess which platform we're talking about, we'll throw $15 in HomeRun cash at you! It's getting a little meta over here, because we are posting this blog post on the exact social network that the deal takes place on. Can you guess which one it is?

Bonus entry alert! If you post your answer on the social network in question, you get double the amount of entries! Have we blown your media maven mind yet?

Hint #1: The original logo used to include a cloudy picture of Al Pacino.

Hint #2: If this site were a country, it would be the world's third largest, after China and India!

Hint #3: The average user spends approximately 20 minutes a day on this site.

Hint #4: In Australia, courts can send legally binding summons through this platform.

Do you think social media sites isolate us or are they a crucial way of staying connected in today's world? Put your eggs in our electronic basket and let us know in the comments section below! Just make sure your internet connection has all four bars before answering...

Bringing Relevance to Daily Deals: Expanding The Deem Network

By Brad Brodigan

With my background as the CEO of HomeRun.com, I am passionate about matching merchants with consumers and businesses that are in the market for what they are selling. I have long believed that the “daily deal” has incredible potential as a performance-based marketing innovation, but that in their current incarnation, daily deals remain inefficient to the detriment of both the merchant and consumer. This is why HomeRun joined the Deem ecosystem last fall. Today, it has all come together for us at Deem as we expand the Deem Network, giving merchants of any size the ability to target individual and business buyers with relevant offers that benefit both buyer and seller. We are confident we have the right strategy: Long term success in the “daily deals” model will require frictionless marketing programs that provide real, concrete value for local and national merchants, through capabilities such as audience insights, campaign analytics, and highly refined targeting capabilities. These in turn will help give merchants higher returns, and the deals model more stability.

With the growing wave of deals in the market, consumers are demanding good value on the things they need or want. Merchants want to acquire new customers who will provide value either immediately or in the near future. Our offers capabilities are built on the belief that we can use relevance technology to find the right balance between value to a consumer and value to merchant. There are two connected but distinct keys to success in the offers market: merchant value and relevance. Simply put, offers must generate quality leads for businesses — not just coupon chasers, but people who are likely to return and become loyal customers. And they should provide insight into a merchant’s customer base. In terms of relevance, it’s time the industry moved away from “daily deals” in the strictest sense to thinking more broadly about providing truly relevant offers.

Deem’s broad distribution channels include some of the world’s leading brands such as Google Offers, giving merchants the potential to reach more than 200 million consumers and 10 million businesses. We’re closing in on our goal of perfecting the relationship between buyer and seller, with more progress soon to come. The players have come together: Rearden Commerce, HomeRun and Ketera have united under Deem; and our merchants and consumers are already taking part in smart commerce. Join us!

Learn more about the expansion of the Deem Network here.

Where In The World Is Our Vacay Deal?

Have you been everywhere, man? Crossed the desert's bare, breathed the mountain air? Well, I don't think you've been to this country, Mr. Cash! Buckle your seatbelts, wanderlusters, because on Friday we are taking you to another corner of the world! Our 8-night discounted vacation package includes roundtrip airfare, room and board, plus an English-speaking tour guide, so you won't have to worry about a thing!

Now, you just have to guess which country we'll be visiting for a chance to win $20 in HomeRun cash! Enter before the deal is unveiled on Friday and you will be well on your way! 

Where In The World Is Our Vacay Deal? 

A.) People believe that tea was first discovered in this country in 2737 B.C., when a tea leaf fell into an emperor's cup of boiling water, and he drank it anyway, enjoying the refreshing taste. 

B.) The most popular hobby in this country is stamp collecting.

C.) Pigtails were traditionally worn by unmarried women in this country, which has made Westerners associate the hairstyle with younger girls.

D.) The compass, ice-cream, and printmaking were all invented in this country.

Crank up the volume, and travel every road in this here land with us! Good luck, adventurers!

A Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Photo Contest!

The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are right around the corner, which means you will soon need a method of coolin' and RULIN' over those warm days. Start shivering in your flip-flops over next week's super sweet deal in The Big Peach! Put on your spectacles and take a closer look at what exactly we'll be doling out come Thursday. Plus, if you guess the identity of said object by Wednesday EOD, you will win a very cool $15 in HomeRun moola. As we say around here, "when the temperature goes up, it's time to get down!" Happy Friday, chill people!

Jean Genie, Let Yourself Win!

Don't be a dud - get some duds! We all know jeans are practical, classically stylish, and as American as apple pie, but do you know about the real JEAN-iuses who invented this essential article of clothing? In honor of our Seattle deal launching on Tuesday, we decided to get all jeantastical and test you with some denim trivia! The deal is for a hip clothing store that offers jeans by the poundful, so you should know a thing or two before snagging another pair for your collection. Unzip these facts before Tuesday when the deal goes live on our site! 

Trivia Questions:

A.) The majority of jean zippers have the word ‘YKK’ written on them. What does this stand for?

B.) In the 1950's, James Dean popularized jeans and turned them into a symbol of youth rebellion when he wore them in this hit movie.

C.) Denim originated in which Italian town? Hint: It sounds like "jeans!"

D.) In the 1850's, which businessman started selling jeans to gold miners in California?

Answer the trivia questions above to be entered to win $10 in HomeRun money! Enter on any of our social media profiles by Monday EOD and we'll weave you a winner! Nonchalant, practical, and so comfy - what more do you ever need to wear? 

Fill Your Belly & Heart By Guessing Thursday's Deal!

Miss the taste of grandma’s fudge brownies, made from too many pounds of chocolate, butter, and love? You're not alone, dear child. Our national deal launching on Thursday will invoke memories of licking batters, sneaking tastes, and scents of cooking casseroles wafting through the air. Whip out that apron and start getting nostalgic for food with history, story, and a heart!

Can you guess what our deal is for? All guesses, regardless if they are correct or not, entitle you to one entry in our drawing for $15 in HomeRun money! Comment on this blog post, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest before the deal goes live on Thursday morning.  

As a special bonus, gain an extra entry by telling us about your favorite family cooking memory! Was grandma’s food totally yum, or kind of ho-hum? Either way, we want to hear from you!

____ Food, I Heart Thee!

We heart this hearty European comfort food just as much as we love savoring it on the cheap! Start adding a dollop of sour cream to your meals in preparation for this decadent and rich type of European cooking. Our restaurant deal goes live in San Francisco; a city that loves this type of cuisine so much it even has a hill named after it (hint, hint)! Simply guess the food in question to be entered to win $10 in HomeRun money. Submit your answers before Thursday EOD and you will be golden!

Hint #1: Since this country has very long winters, its cuisine is designed to be high in calories and easily preserved; essential for providing energy & warmth during the cold winter months.

Hint #2: The main components of a traditional meal revolve around meat, potatoes, cabbage, eggs, butter, and bread.

Hint #3: A traditional custom is for the host to put much more food on the table than normal guests can eat. It's a way to show that there is a lot of food available and that guests should feel comfortable taking whatever they want.

Hint #4: A popular snack is a piroshki, which is a pastry stuffed with meat, potatoes, cabbage, cheese, and just a little bit of magic.

Get out of hibernation with _____ food that is a true European masterpiece! Eat up to keep both your taste buds and spirits warm and oh so satisfied! 

Show Us Your Sushipedia, Fish Heads!

There's nothing fishy about our amazing New York deal for a $69 sushi dinner for 4 people (or a $39 dinner for 2 people) at Zendo Sushi Bar and Lounge! You'll be able to choose from over fifteen unique rolls, including the "Mama Roll," prepared with eel, salmon, avocado, and white seaweed, to a "Black Dragon Roll," made with spicy crab and barbecue eel! You better start cleansing your palate with some ginger, because there will be intense flavors swimming in your mouth very soon!

To get you in the sushi-eating mood, we are slicing up some trivia for you! Answer the following questions before the deal ends on Monday night for a chance to win ten bucks in HomeRun money! Enter by commenting on this blog post, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest before Monday at midnight PST! Happy fishing!

1.) What word refers to rice that has been seasoned with sugar, salt, and vinegar?

2.) This year, what was the highest price sushi-grade bluefin tuna sold for?

3.)  In Japan, how many years does a sushi chef typically train for?

4.) Sushi knives come from what kind of ancient swords?

5.) When are you traditionally supposed to eat Miso soup?

While you're thinking about your sushipedia of knowledge, take a look at this drool-worthy trailer for Jiro Dreams Of Sushi, a documentary about 85-year old sushi chef, Jiro Ono, who runs what is believed to be the best sushi restaurant in Japan. His sushi is so divine, diners need to wait at least a year to get reservations! Pretty wild, huh?

Grab your spoonfuls of wasabi and get raw with us, sushi-lovers! 

Pack Your Bags! One Lucky HomeRunner Is Heading To Napa!

We love our members to the moon and back, so what better time to thank you for your awesome support? Starting today, we are giving away a 2-night spa getaway to the breathtakingly beautiful Napa Valley! You and a friend will stay at a world-class resort nestled in the rolling hills of Napa, with access to the resort's private vineyard. During your weekend getaway, you will be able to indulge in a massage, facial, grape seed scrub, and other luxurious spa treatments, along with gorging on delicious meals in the resort’s gourmet restaurant. Explore the little slice of heaven called Napa, where the hills stretch for miles, and the wine never stops flowing! 

 
Simply fill out the entry form and like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter to be entered to win! Plus, snag an extra entry for every person you refer who enters! Just use the “Invite Friends” link and your referral will be automatically tracked. The sweepstakes ends on July 10th, 2012, so make sure you enter before that date so you can win the whole shebang! Our members are the heart of HomeRun, so we are thrilled to be able to give away a prize with this level of awesomeness!

Good luck, you amazing members, you!