JSMM & VBM News Brief!
By Joe Davis, content marketer at JSMM
We have been extremely busy this spring at Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) and Viral Bolt Media (VBM)! Here are some key highlights from the past several months. Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing valerie@jenningssocialmedia.com or calling 816.221.1040.
- JSMM added eight new clients this spring: The addition of eight new clients has diversified our portfolio and led to a lot of amazing opportunities in JSMM, as well as VBM. Industries range from sports to finance and consumer retail products to commercial interior design and planning. We look forward to building relationship with our new accounts and continuing our relationships with our current accounts for years to come!
- Viral Bolt Media (VBM) rolled out new video blog pricing for the summer: Viral Bolt Media, which is a sister company to JSMM and launched last year, has a video blogging package for every business. Whether you’re a one-man operation or a corporation, each video package can boost your online presence! Valerie Jennings decided to add these new summer rates for clients who want to take advantage of YouTube, but need more easily-consumable content like fast-food for YouTube. Additionally, VBM is still offering high-end promotional style videos, too. Check out the video blog packages.
- New JSMM team members: Josh Coleman, Joe Davis, Brandon Foster and Brianna Suffety joined the JSMM team this spring.
- JSMM’s new services: JSMM featured more services in 2013, which led to the development of a diversified team and offerings! Check out the additional services which has opened up enormous opportunities for the company to have a comprehensive digital and social media strategy for its clients. These projects allow for more advanced ROI reporting, which Valerie Jennings and Josh Coleman are leading together.
- Baby on board (almost): We saved the most exciting news for last. Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM and VBM, is expecting a baby girl in August! Alexa Ann will be arriving soon.
If the first five months are any indication of what is to come, 2013 is going to be a very great year. Keep in touch with us! By-the-way, JSMM is celebrating 10 years in business in June. We will have some special promotional content planned throughout the month! Cheers.
JSMM Announces Newest Client: TITLE Boxing Club® – Parkville
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM
JSMM is very excited to be lacing up the gloves with TITLE Boxing Club® - Parkville on developing a knockout social media strategy. Located in Parkville, Mo., TITLE Boxing Club® – Parkville is independently owned and operated by Tracie Burke and is part of the TITLE Boxing Club® franchise!
TITLE Boxing Club® offers explosive total body boxing and kickboxing fitness workouts that help women and men burn up to 1,000 calories an hour in group classes. TITLE Boxing Club® started in Overland Park, Kan., and there are over 50 TITLE Boxing Clubs® open across the United States.
TITLE Boxing Club – Parkville offers classes Monday through Sunday.
JSMM Welcome Newest Client: Creative Candles
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM
JSMM is very excited to announce our newest client, Creative Candles. Creative Candles is a exclusive candle manufacturer headquartered out of Kansas City. Many will find these beautiful candles on the shelves of Pottery Barn, on the pages of Oprah Magazine and in the presence of Martha Stewart.
Creative Candles has a wide selection of candles from their 39-inch tapers, which are among the tallest in the world, to rustic Tuscan Pillars all in over 44 choices of colors. Their tapers have graced the tables at the White House, Lincoln Center, The Waldorf Astoria, the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, countless weddings, galas, dinners for royalty, celebrity parties and numerous special events.
Thank you, Creative Candles, for becoming a JSMM client! We look forward to working with you!
JSMM Welcomes New Clients
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM
We are very excited to announce a few new clients this spring. Welcome Experience Fitness, LLC, Evologic, and Spaces, Inc. Thank you for becoming JSMM’s new clients!
Experience Fitness, LLC is a private fitness studio located in Overland Park, Kan. providing personal training, small group training, youth training and boot camp training. Experience Fitness LLC prides itself on its nationally certified and experienced trainers with the knowledge and attitude to help achieve goals.
Evologic is a complete resource for ever-changing office needs. They specialize in systems furniture installation & re-configuration, space planning & design, relocation services, project management, warehouse & asset management and furniture refurbishment. Their service offering is complemented by office furniture procurement and an architectural product offering for the modular, agile and environmental office of today and tomorrow.
Spaces, Inc. is an interior architectural and space planning firm founded in 1987 in Lenexa, Kan., Spaces specializes in providing solutions for workplace environments. Their philosophy – the cornerstone of our success – remains the same: partnering with their clients to meet the business goals.
Josh Coleman Joins Jennings Social Media Marketing as Digital & Social Media Strategist
Congratulations to Josh Coleman for joining the JSMM team as digital and social media strategist. Over the past several years, Josh has worked with two of the most recognizable new startups in the tech world: Zaarly and AgLocal. He contributed to the social media and digital development of both startups.
Josh is passionate about community, art, startups and technology. He likes to be in on the key components of what drives cities and communities to come together in these frameworks. JSMM is excited to have him on the team and looks forward to his contributions. Please welcome Josh!
JSMM Reviews Wyndham ® Extra Holidays Social Media
By Micah Pratt, president of JSMM
In lieu of the New Year and all things social, I wanted to spend a moment reviewing our work with Wyndham ® Extra Holidays. The brand’s social media has evolved so much since 2009 when JSMM first began working with the team. We are so grateful and appreciative of the opportunity to launch EH’s social media very early in the social media, travel and e-commerce spaces.
What we learned- a lot. To say the least over time, we have found the need for a more aggressive and geo-targeted strategy with influencers, bloggers and media; more aggressive SEO across channels; and most importantly, the opportunity to fully integrate social with e-commerce. All of these items combined, gives us deeper perspective into the next year. Check out the Facebook page, blog or YouTube.
Thank you for being a great client. Happy 2013.
Congratulations to 1-800-PetMeds for Winning $15,000 in Social Media Services from Jennings Social Media Marketing
Posted by: Katie Stumpf, Intern at JSMM
Jennings Social Media Marketing concluded the Social Media Sweeps Facebook contest held last month and is pleased to announce that the winner is 1-800-PetMeds!
As the grand prize winner, 1-800-PetMeds is the recipient of a $15,000 boutique-style campaign which includes a social media evaluation, channel branding and designs, channel updates to social media sites and organic search engine optimization analysis.
1-800-PetMeds is America’s largest pet pharmacy with over 6 million satisfied customers. They are a licensed pharmacy and have been awarded Vet-VIPPS accreditation by the National Association of Boards Pharmacy. To learn more about 1-800-PetMeds and their services, click here.
Jennings Social Media Marketing is a full service company that utilizes the art of online storytelling with the science of measuring quantifiable results. JSMM creates comprehensive social media marketing, mobile, Web videos and website design and development strategies. The company represents publicly traded to medium-sized businesses across the U.S. and overseas including technology, sports, sustainability, entertainment, travel, financial, health care and real estate (www.jenningssocialmedia.com).
Thank you Media Post for Covering the Jennings Social Media Marketing Holiday Contest!
Posted By: Allison McGown, producer of Viral Bolt Media
Media Post released an article last week, covering the JSMM Holiday Contest.
Here is the article: Jennings Offers $15,000 In Free Social Media Services
“Jennings Social Media Marketing, a Kansas City, Mo. social media agency, is betting marketing pros and digital strategists want $15,000 in social media services. The JSMM Facebook campaign is designed for those “who want to play in social media without making a serious investment right out of the gate.”
Win Social Media
JSMM is Excited to Announce It Will Stream the Viral Bolt Media Launch Party Live on Facebook & Twitter
Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) is thrilled to be streaming the Viral Bolt Media (VBM) Launch Party live on its Facebook page Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 6-7:30 p.m. CST. The event will celebrate Valerie Jennings’ second company, VBM, a YouTube video production and social sharing company.
Jennings said she is so excited to be hosting an event along with Greg Kratofil, Greg Elliott and Kurt Ruf. “We are going to celebrate the new company with so many amazing professionals, friends, family and colleagues on Thursday. I hope everyone comes out to enjoy themselves and the wonderful Venetian theme we are kicking off. I look forward to working with so many talented professionals in the Kansas City area.”
The live video stream will be featured on the JSMM and VBM Facebook pages. The stream will also be featured on Twitter, @ValerieJennings. Speeches will be delivered at 7 p.m.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Reviews Online Shopping for Automotive Dealerships
ensures high reach and a low index against the broader population
JSMM Reviews Record Setting Increase of Social Media Interaction During 2012 Presidential Debate
Posted by: Chelsea Lewis, social media manager at Jennings Social Media Marketing
The use of social networks for political issues was a fairly new concept during the 2008 presidential debate. The first presidential debate of 2012 already set a record on Twitter, but it’s not the only social network with increased activity. The New York Times examined the increase in social media interaction surrounding politics.
Facebook (and Twitter) create “authentic, two-way communication,” according to Adam Fetcher, deputy press secretary for the Obama campaign. Flickr and Instagram are virtual campaign scrapbooks while Tumblr and Pinterest highlight photos and other material from supporters.
Read the article.
In 2012, it is not enough for candidates to shake some hands, kiss a baby or two and run some TV ads. They also need to be posting funny little animations on the blogging site Tumblr.
If the presidential campaigns of 2008 were dipping a toe into social media like Facebook and Twitter, their 2012 versions are well into the deep end. They are taking to fields of online battle that might seem obscure to the non-Internet-obsessed — sharing song playlists on Spotify, adding frosted pumpkin bread recipes to Pinterest and posting the candidates’ moments at home with the children on Instagram.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Examines Impact of Social Media on Presidential Debates 2012
Posted by: Chelsea Lewis, manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Jennings Social Media Marketing, JSMM, understands and embraces the power of social media. This week the political world did the same with the integration of social media during the first presidential debate.
Twitter revealed that the October 3 presidential debate between, former Massachusetts gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama was the “most Tweeted” event in the social media company’s six year history. More than 10.3 million tweets were generated during the 90-minute debate. Twitter tracked the number of tweets referencing the debate, candidates and related terms each minute.
At one minute during the debate, almost 160,000 tweets were sent, breaking the old record of 52,756, which were recorded during Obama’s convention speech.
Read the article.
A chart released by Twitter Thursday morning revealed Wednesday night’s Presidential debate in Denver Colorado was the most Tweeted event in U.S. political history, generating 10.3 million tweets in 90 minutes, making it the latest on the ever-changing list of “most Tweeted” events in the company’s six year history.
And everyone, it seems, is really excited about it.
Viral Bolt Media, a YouTube Video Production & Social-Sharing Company, Announces Launch Party at OfficePort
Posted by: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Viral Bolt Media (VBM), a YouTube video production and social-sharing company, is hosting a launch party at OfficePort on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Valerie Jennings, CEO and founder, is excited to invite many prestigious businesses in the local area to celebrate the new company. ”We are so excited to announce Viral Bolt Media in Kansas City, and want to thank everyone who has already demonstrated their support, enthusiasm and signed contracts with our new business. VBM will be an extremely complementary company to Jennings Social Media Marketing, which I have owned for more than nine years. Please join us in celebrating this next endeavor,” said Jennings.
Hosts include Greg Kratofil, shareholder and attorney at Polsinelli Shughart; Greg Elliott, director of business development at 1102 GRAND; and Kurt Ruf, principal of Ruf Strategic Solutions.
To RSVP, call 816.221.1040 or send an email to info@jenningssocialmedia.com.
LOVEPOST Launches Social Media Strategy with Jennings Social Media Marketing
By: Micah Pratt, president of JSMM
Jennings Social Media Marketing began working with LOVEPOST.com, a new online community for couple’s who want to share their love stories and wedding details, in late February. JSMM was tasked with launching its social networking channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Google+, writing Marketwire press releases and increasing SEO and SMO The main goal of JSMM’s was to drive traffic to LOVEPOST.com and increase the number of profiles created on the wedding planning site.
In early April, JSMM launched LOVEPOST.com’s first Facebook contest. The contest saw immediate success in both Facebook engagement, increasing its fan base from zero to over 5,000 in a three month period, and collected hundreds of emails. JSMM has also used Facebook ads, promoted Facebook posts and Twitter hashtags to track engagement across the channels.
In August, JSMM announced LOVEPOST.com’s new video channel that features original content from relationship and wedding experts including Gabrielle Bernstein, Kimberly Richmond, Antonio Gonzales and Bravo’s ‘Miss Advised’ star, Amy Laurent.
Currently, JSMM is developing a ‘Pin IT to Win It’ contest to take advantage of the newest social networking channel, Pinterest. JSMM believes Pinterest is the most prominent channel in the wedding industry and wants to tap into the bridal community that uses it to gain inspiration and plan wedding details. The contest’s estimated launch date is early October.
JSMM Launches Social Media Strategy, Content Development and SEO for Las Vegas Automotive Parts and Car Wrap Company
By: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager at JSMM
Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) has been managing the Motostew Plus social media strategy for several months including Twitter, Facebook, Marketwire press releases, SEO, social network ads and contests. To date, its Facebook page has grown exponentially, from zero to nearly 5,000 fans and has increased customer engagement on both Twitter and Facebook.
The biggest success was the launch of Motostew Plus’ first Facebook contest that ran from May through June. During that time, Motostew Plus’ Facebook page tripled its fan growth and the company acquired nearly 1,000 email addresses. The announcement of the press release was also picked up by a variety of major news outlets including Yahoo!Finance.com and MarketWatch.com
JSMM recently created and launched a new Facebook tab for Motostew Plus’ online storefront using Shopify. JSMM anticipates that customers will take advantage of the ability to purchase jeep accessories, off-roading and 4×4. JSMM also expects to use Viral Bolt Media to produce and viralize a number of “Do It Yourself” videos to show off Motostew Plus’ expertise.
JSMM wanted to provide Motostew Plus with a comprehensive marketing strategy that would increase SEO and SMO, boost customer engagement across social networks, drive traffic to its website and company events including Cars and Coffee and most importantly increase its overall sales growth.
Motostew Plus is located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Follow us on Twitter at @motostewplus and “Like” us on Facebook.
By: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager at JSMM
Courtney Iovanovich is the social media marketing intern for Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of JSMM. Iovanovich recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Wayne State University.
She earned multiple national championship titles while on the women’s swim team at WSU. Iovanovich is also the public relations intern at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit, a free cancer support community for anyone affected by cancer. She enjoys the fast-paced, social media industry and is always ready to learn. Iovanovich is happily married and the mother of a beautiful baby girl.
Welcome Allison McGown to the JSMM Team!
By Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Allison McGown was hired as an executive administrative assistant to Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM. McGown attends the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is working to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communications and her minor in Business Administration.
She is the co-chair of the UMKC College Republicans and enjoys volunteering with conservative political events. Fashion and social media take high priority in McGown’s day-to-day life. McGown has a passion for advertising, journalism and fashion.
Micah Pratt Promoted to President of Jennings Social Media Marketing
By Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Congratulations to Micah Pratt! Pratt has been promoted from director to president of Jennings Social Media Marketing.
Pratt is excited about the new opportunities this promotion will bring. “I am very honored to be given this opportunity to further do what I love. Working at JSMM has been such a blessing and I look forward to advancing my role in the company in this new position,” said Pratt.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Attends KCnext Summer Networking Event 2012
By Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
The technology industry in Kansas City has significantly evolved since its inception. Jennings Social Media Marketing is proud to be a part of the Kansas City community and is honored to see how far Silicon Prairie has come!
There was a lot to celebrate and discuss at this year’s KCnext summer networking event, ranging from Google Fiber, arriving in Kansas City, to what is next for the technology community.
Each year we look forward to attending this networking event. It gives us the chance to see old friends while making new ones. We would like to extend a big thank you to KCnext for hosting this event and we are already looking forward to next year!
Pictured above, Micah Pratt, director of Jennings Social Media Marketing, Steve Roatch, CEO of Twentyseven Global and Allison McGown, executive administrative assistant at Jennings Social Media Marketing
Viral Bolt Media, a YouTube Video Production & Social-Sharing Company, Launches in July
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM
I’m excited to announce my second company, Viral Bolt Media. We have been producing YouTube videos for years, but we needed a separate company to push new YouTube services. This company will drive YouTube videos for various channels, contests, SEO/SMO and even PR campaigns. We are thrilled to be able to launch another amazing brand before the end of the year.
Viral Bolt Media (VBM) is a YouTube video production and social-sharing company. The business serves as a catalyst for brands that want to intrigue customers with new and exciting products via videos. Services include video production, editing, contests, SEO, SMO, channel strategies and even robust public relations campaigns for YouTube. For additional details, please contact info@jenningssocialmedia.com or 816.221.1040.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, Presenting Today for PRNewswire’s Webinar: Agile Engagement Unlocked: Building Communications Dexterity in 6 Steps
Posted by: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, will be presenting today, during PRNewswire’s webinar: Agile Engagement Unlocked: Building Communications Dexterity in 6 Steps. The free webinar will provide a six-step framework for success. The webinar will detail, the changing media landscape that calls for agile engagement, as well as, the six steps of the agile engagement process and the business rewards of agile engagement.
The agile engagement webinar will take place at 12PM CST. Register for the event here. There is still room to register for this unique event.
For more information, check out the PRNewswire website.
Thank You to The Kansas City Star for Featuring Jennings Social Media Marketing: Today’s youths aren’t buying into gloomy forecasts
Posted by: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Thank you to the Kansas City Star for interviewing Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, and Alli Heitzenrater, intern at Jennings Social Media Marketing, about how new graduates are entering into the work force in a unique way.
Alli Heitzenrater and Valerie Jennings
The traditional 9-to-5 workplace is yesterday’s route to fulfillment, said Valerie Jennings, 33, who launched Leawood-based Jennings Social Media Marketing nine years ago this month. “It’s a completely different culture, a completely different mindset,” said Jennings, whose company encourages its young staff to broaden their skills by working for a variety of part-time employers. “We don’t want to own them, and they don’t want to be owned. We want them to be entrepreneurial and multidimensional, to lead healthy lifestyles. That’s more important to us than telling them how to live,” because, she said, a happy and unencumbered worker performs better (even when lacking benefits). Recently, she flew in a 2012 graduate of Penn State, Ali Heitzenrater, for internship training. Heitzenrater’s previous internship was for a magazine aimed at college-age women. All 35 or 40 interns worked from their homes, unpaid but earning course credits so long as they hadn’t already graduated. “I like working from home a lot,” said Heitzenrater, who is schooled in creative writing. “It feels pretty independent … but in 10 years I hope I have only one place of work.” Their knack for new technologies will help them seize the future, many millennials believe. Facebook this summer is paying some engineering interns $6,000 a month, fostering the impression that the digital age is poised to create lucrative jobs, not kill them.
Read the entire article here.
Thank you Marketwire & IABC for the Amazing Social Media Session in Chicago
By Cassie Stubbs, intern at JSMM
Moderator Mark Evans with Panelists Murray Izenwasser, Valerie Jennings and Sean Chinski
Valerie Jennings, CEO and founder of Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM), participated as a panelist Monday, June 25, 2012 in Chicago along with panelists Murray Izenwasser and Sean Chinski. Mark Evans, Principal of ME Consulting, moderated as the presenting speaker.
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) World Conference, hosted by Marketwire, explained how even a small business can establish a brand presence. The main idea of the discussion was self-generated content: establishing credibility, empowering brands and creating lasting relationships with customers.
This discussion focused on five key themes: content marketing, digital marketing, the rules of engagement (authenticity, quality, sociability), the five things every growing business needs (Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog) and tracking the success of marketing efforts.
Social media graphic, documented live by Lindsey
The IABC World Conference brought together “1,400 communication professionals from around the globe at this annual event that brought together fresh ideas, winning case studies and best practices in communication.” (Taken from IABC website)
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, To Participate As IABC World Conference Panelist in Chicago
Written by: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Valerie Jennings, CEO and founder of Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM), is scheduled to participate as a panelist during the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) World Conference in Chicago during a sponsored session by Marketwire.
Jennings is looking forward to bringing her experience and expertise to the international conference. “I am honored to be participating during the social media sessions sponsored by Marketwire. We have worked hard internally to educate ourselves about the latest trends, insights and tactics. Our case studies illustrate quantifiable metrics for the travel, technology, health care, entertainment, real estate and automotive industries across the U.S. and overseas. I want to thank Marketwire for this amazing opportunity,” said Jennings.
The IABC conference will be divided into sessions that feature seven professional development tracks which will offer state-of-the art research and thought-provoking workshops. In addition, the conference will provide learning opportunities on how to approach the plentiful possibilities in the new business environment during the next three years and beyond, while featuring speakers from around the globe.
Valerie Jennings 
Cassie Stubs
Katie Stumpf
