Inspirational Entrepreneurs Speak About Most Exciting Startup Moments, Featuring Valerie Jennings
Posted by: Katie Stumpf, Intern at JSMM
Kansas City’s most influential technology professionals and enthusiasts discussed the local entrepreneurial spirit at a launch party for Viral Bolt Media (VBM), a YouTube video production and social sharing company.
Watch video: Inspirational Entrepreneurs Speak About Most Exciting Startup Moments
Valerie Jennings, CEO of VBM and Jennings Social Media Marketing, suggests that more people should know of the exciting opportunities for entrepreneurship in the Kansas City area. “Have you looked into all the startups and the amazing entrepreneurs and all the incredible technology companies that we have in this area known for and as Silicon Prairie?” asks Jennings.
Greg Kratofil, attorney at Polsinelli Shughart PC; Kurt Ruf, principal of Ruf Strategic Solutions, praised Jennings on her accomplishments with not one but two startups. “Valerie is one of the people that can do anything,” says Kratofil.
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.
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.
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.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Celebrates 9 Years in Business in Kansas City
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing
In June 2012, Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM), will be celebrating its nine year anniversary. It’s been a long road, but we are still here and loving the social media marketing industry. When I began in June 2003, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen or that we would manage a team of amazing people from across the country. It is a blessing to look back and see all of the wonderful people we have worked with, recognized, trained and promoted. The knowledge we have acquired during the course of running this company has been phenomenal. Kansas City has been good to me and to the business. I can’t imagine working in any other city. Kansas City is a place where the locals will embrace an up and coming professional from out of town. Thank you, Kansas City.
Regarding our name, we started as Jennings Public Relations and Advertising, and amended the name after working in social media for several years. The evolution of our business drove the transformation of the brand, not the other way around. Now, we can say JSMM has a global portfolio of outstanding clients from tech to entertainment that have made this company unique from the rest in the industry. We were handed opportunities that many would have enjoyed winning, and we embraced them. It’s our blessing to be able write this blog post today. Thank you to everyone who has made an important mark on this company.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM with Micah Pratt, director of JSMM, enjoying another day at the office.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing and Dan Kiser of Google attended the Inside KC Tech event held by FiberKC.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM with Micah Pratt director of JSMM on a trip to Florida to work with longtime client, Wyndham Vacation Ownership. JSMM is proud to have such a strong client portfolio.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM and T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, Presents at KARL Graduate Program Winter Summit 2012: Presentation Available via Download
Posted by: Megan Spreer, social media marketing manager at JSMM
Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing, addressed participants of the Kansas Agriculture and Leadership program this Tuesday during the KARL Graduate Program Winter Summit in Manhattan, Kan. Jennings spoke about the importance of social media, message boards and blogs to the Smartphone society, a society that is quickly including farm and agriculture leaders.
Her presentation covered numerous important key points such as:
- Stats about mobile usage: 91% of mobile Internet usage is to socialize
- Who uses this technology: The average American spends 2.7 hours a day socializes on their mobile device
- How to use it for their best results: The best mobile apps for the Agriculture industry
- Case studies: A farmer tweeted a photo of dying soy beans and soon has a response from a plant pathologist
- Why it’s important to them: Farmers and ranchers can connect to the community
Download a copy of the presentation now.
How to Use QR Codes and SMS with Social Media Marketing Campaigns
Posted by: Micah Pratt, director of social networking R&D
Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) has incorporated QR codes and text messaging into its services. The company’s official announcement was included in a new Web video, featuring Frank Ancona Honda, KickaNotch Mobile and CEO of JSMM Valerie Jennings.
Jennings said that with the increase of smartphone users and the recent estimate on engagement with those who are using social media and scanning QR codes, the company found it imperative to add mobile to its services. “With the success of leveraging monetization with QR codes and text messaging through offers and the promotions through our channels we are hoping for some amazing results and we are looking forward to seeing this new technology as it improves and the usage goes up,” said Jennings.
“Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @valeriejennings to stay updated on what is going on at JSMM!
Jennings Social Media Marketing Launches Facebook Contest In Response to Fan Poll
Posted by: Micah Pratt, director of social networking R&D
Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) announced their most recent Facebook contest, following a small poll the company posted on Facebook over the summer. Enter for a chance to win social media marketing services by JSMM just in time for the holidays by “Liking” us on Facebook and signing up via the sweeps tab.
The winner of the contest will receive a boutique style campaign which may include a social media evaluation, channel branding and designs, channel updates to social media sites and organic search engine optimization analysis.
Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM, said they polled their Facebook fans and asked which grand prize they would most like to receive: an iPad, Mac computer, iPod or two free months of social media services from JSMM. The two free months from JSMM won with an overall majority. “We are excited to reward our fans in time for the holidays and hope the grand prize winner really takes advantage of this opportunity,” said Jennings.
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).
Kansas City Car Dealer Frank Ancona Honda Launches 2nd Facebook Contest via Jennings Social Media Marketing
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Enter Here
Frank Ancona Honda, a Kansas City Honda dealer, which Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) has been working with for more than a year, has launched a second Facebook contest this week. The contest is a chance to win a four-course dinner for two and wine pairing at Trezo Vino and a night at the Aloft Hotel at Park Place in Leawood, Kan.
Jennings Social Media Marketing has been utilizing the NorthSocial Facebook contest application for the past five months and has been impressed by the easy-to-use functionality, results, viral sharing opportunities and ability to load original creative work. Check out the contest on the Frank Ancona Honda Facebook page.
JSMM designed the contest, worked with Frank Ancona Honda on the creative, loaded the application via their Facebook page, developed the email opt-in opportunities and hopes to see 500 or more entries. The contests typically generate hundreds of new “likes” and email addresses for future prospective marketing.
Check out the NorthSocial applications on their website to understand what they are capable of providing, but have a social media professional design the campaign to reach your audience, engage with fans, design the NorthSocial landing pages, set up targeted Facebook ads, distribute viral press releases and send email marketing to prospects and customers to enter the contest.
Valerie Jennings 
Cassie Stubs
Katie Stumpf
