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!
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.
Tech Attorney Praises Valerie Jennings For Being a Cutting Edge Entrepreneur in Kansas City
Posted by: Katie Stumpf, Intern at JSMM
Greg Kratofil, attorney and shareholder at Polsinelli Shughart PC, praised Valerie Jennings, CEO and founder of Viral Bolt Media and Jennings Social Media Marketing. Kratofil is an advocate for tech startups and entrepreneurs in Kansas City. He is involved with numerous tech innovations, acquisitions, patent law and Google Fiber.
Kratofil said he is glad he had the opportunity to work with Valerie and team because they are very easy to work with and very results-oriented.
“Exciting things are going on in the Kansas City area,” said Kratofil. Not only is Kansas City one of the most entrepreneurial cities in America, but Forbes Magazine recently name Kansas City one of the best cities for female entrepreneurs.
“When I think about the future and what things like Google and Google Fiber are bringing to Kansas City, the first thing that comes to mind is that YouTube and videos are going to be such a big part of that,” said Kratofil. He is excited to see what new and cutting edge things Viral Bolt Media will do in the future. “I think VBM is going to be out in the front of what we are doing in Kansas City.”
Valerie Jennings Featured In KCnext’s Fall IT Networking Event Video With Tech Influencers
Posted By: Cassie Stubbs, Intern at JSMM
At their Fall IT Networking event, KCnext filmed some of the 350 professionals to record their thoughts for those who could not attend. KCnext recorded attendees like Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing and Viral Bolt Media, who shared her thoughts about the Kansas City event:
“We just have a huge entrepreneurial spirit here. This is a great place for young professionals and seasoned veterans to get started in technology,” said Jennings.
KCnext also caught up with many professionals like Perry Puccetti, President and CEO of The Triple-I Corporation, who spoke about the opportunities that come from attending events like these and his hopes for the New Year.
“I see 2013 being a great year in Kansas City, and the phrase I like is ‘Hey it’s about time to start doing business together,’” said Puccetti.
During the event, these professionals played interactive basketball games while enjoying Boulevard Beer. They received an update about sponsor 1102 GRAND’s recent acquisition by Amerimar Enterprises.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Social Media Marketing Firm Hosts Training Summit for Team Members
By: Alli Heitzenrater, Intern
Alli Heitzenrater, intern, and Valerie Jennings, CEO.
This past week, Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) hosted its first internal social media summit in Kansas City to study the world of social media. Four participants met together while two were video called in because they couldn’t make it. The summit covered an in-depth look at social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, search engine optimization, social media optimization and blogging. This is the first summit JSMM has hosted because the company is growing at a fast pace and has hired Tumara Rogers, social media marketer, and Alli Heitzenrater and Cassie Stubbs, summer interns.
JSMM Hosts Training Summit for Team in Kansas City
By: Cassie Stubbs, Intern
Alli Heitzenrater, Intern; Tumara Bosnell, Social Media Marketer; Chelsea Lee-Lewis, Social Media Marketing Manager ; Cassie Stubbs, Intern
This week in Kansas City, Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) held a summit for training team members in the ever-changing social media world. As a business that lives and breathes social media, the team needs to stay up-to-date on all things social media. The summit went over Facebook marketing, Twitter features, the professional use of blogging and the importance of SEO. JSMM welcomed three new members to its team this week, eager to learn the trade. To enhance social media standards, JSMM Skype’d with two team members who could not make it to the summit.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Reviews Best Practices for Managing Online Reviews
Written by: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager, of Jennings Social Media Marketing
United Airlines learned a few things when sonsofmaxwell posted a YouTube video about their company. The video was a catchy song that addressed the fact that the airline had broken his guitar. The video now has over 12 million hits. United Airlines learned the hard way how important it is to manage reviews, comments and posts made about your company.
When creating a social media campaign, companies have to think about every single detail. Ranging from what kind of picture to use on a Facebook post to how to manage and review comments made about your company online. If one negative comment is over looked or not addressed it could spell disaster.
Rody Moore recently wrote an article for Mashable, detailing the top four ways to manage online reviews. The simple fact is, consumers read reviews and the more postive reviews the more success a company can reach. The top four strategies included; companies need to pay attention to what customers say, how often reviews are being posted, promote your reputation on the web and respond to every review personally. Companies need to manage and monitor their online reviews before they end up owing someone a whole lot of guitars.
Here are the key findings from the article:
When Carmen Popa opened her acne treatment center, Luminosity Acne Skincare in North Carolina, she quickly realized how valuable online reviews were to attracting new customers. “Clients often mentioned that it was the positive reviews that encouraged them to try out my business,” she says.
Research shows that online reviews strongly influence buying behavior, with nearly half of American consumers stating that they are more likely to visit a business after reading a positive online review. That makes review websites such as Yelp, Google Places, and Citysearch online archives of consumer opinions on how a business compares to similar shops.
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.
Facebook Monetizes Pages With Check-In Coupons
By: Chelsea Lewis, social media marketing manager of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Marketers have constantly tried to figure out what is the best way to reach consumers on Facebook. There has never been a clear answer to the Facebook consumer engagement problem, but recently a new solution may have come to light: coupons.
Wildfire Interactive recently performed a study that focused on randomly sampled Facebook campaigns to see which got the highest response rates and earned media.
The report speculated about why such campaigns tend to be more shareable. One possibility is that questions let the user discover an aspect of one’s personality they may have been unaware of. Another is the show-off factor: Quizzes let users display their knowledge of trivia and “pick your favorites” challenges let users express their good taste.
The benefits to creating such widely shared campaigns are that they draw new users into the fold. The chance of a pick your favorites query being clicked by a friend is 27%, while quizzes and trivia contests rate 15% and 13%, respectively. From there, the data is encouraging as well: 82% of friends who click on a News Feed post for a quiz will take the quiz. Some 74% of those who click on a coupon offer in their News Feeds will download the coupon. Overall, the study found that earned media could account for up to a 12% boost in engagement rates.
Though the study highlights broad categories that do well with users, it also advocates adding personality to the offers, getting into the consumers’ heads to see if such an offer might be appealing and working in a gamification element that rewards users for sharing.
To read the entire article click here:
KCnext Event at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park Draws Over 400 Attendees
By: Micah Pratt, director, and Valerie Jennings, CEO
KCnext has been attracting crowds across the metro, specializing in mobile apps, software development, IT and investors. Silicon Prairie has grown up! We had the privilege of attending the event last night with our clients and friends Steve Roatch, CEO of Twentyseven Global; Mark Dryer, president of MDL Technology; T.J. Bloom, COO of MDL Technology; Greg Elliott, business development director at 1102 GRAND; and Todd Applegate, general manager at 1102 GRAND. We also had the honor of meeting with the editor and news editor at The Pitch, speaking with some of the area’s most influential technology pro¹s including Ryan Weber, who was recently named KCnext president.
Anytime you bring together like-minded individuals, you can expect great things to happen. It was great to see how strong the technology community in Kansas City has become and it’s always amazing to see people come together to share ideas on how to transform Kansas City into a technology hotspot. Events like these reinforce why Kansas City is in the running to be named the most entrepreneurial city in America.
I can’t wait until the next KCnext event, and I urge everyone to join! Check out their calendar, follow them on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook.
About KCnext:
KCnext – The Technology Council of Greater Kansas City is the recognized regional technology effort for the Kansas City area. The Technology Council is promoting the region’s tech sector, supporting its members and galvanizing the tech industry.
Jennings Social Media Marketing Thanks Client Wyndham Vacation Ownership for 3 Amazing Years & Looks Forward To Future
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM
Wyndham Vacation Ownership and JSMM have been working together since 2009. We started on a small test project with Extra Holidays by Wyndham which grew into an amazing business relationship over the years. To date, Extra Holidays by Wyndham has increased its Facebook page “likes” from 0 to approximately 11,000 in a few months; grown the Twitter following to 842; and monetized all of the social media channels, contributing to revenue.
I think the new challenges with Facebook Timeline and the lack of attention to new monetization strategies by larger brands have held a lot of companies back, but Wyndham Vacation Ownership is going to excel in this space with its new pages coming soon. Thank you, WVO and Extra Holidays by Wyndham, for working with JSMM!
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).
Social Media Marketing Can Be Measured
By Valerie Jennings, CEO of Jennings Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is something we have been doing for more than six years at JSMM. Although, I started the company more than eight years ago in June 2003, we have been analyzing data across marketing channels during that time and into social media for roughly six years. We have valued strong organic search engine optimization (SEO) as part of our social media marketing strategy since we first began this system, but I know we have also reviewed other types of metrics such as engagement, brand awareness, monetization and other forms of successes such as cross-promoting our social media with e-newsletters, Marketwire press releases, media outreach, print pieces and websites.
Our successes at JSMM include tripling targeted website traffic, growing Facebook fans by the thousands, generating hundreds of new emails for prospecting via Facebook contests, downloading whitepapers and converting website traffic into revenue. I have a case studies page on the website which is broken down by industry that may be helpful to review specific information.
This article, written by Ron Joes at Clickz, does an outstanding job breaking down the different ways to measure social media:
5 Ways to Measure Social Media
As you know, the ability to measure the effectiveness of marketing activities is imperative to any company’s marketing strategy. Measuring social media marketing isn’t as easy as other marketing channels, but it can be done with the right tools and mindset.
As you consider your social media monitoring strategy, it will help to group your efforts into a progression where awareness and exposure lead to desired action from your target audience. As you do so, it will help to place each type of measurement into the proper context and will help you visualize how each one leads you closer to desired results.
InformationWeek.com Reviews Tips for Business Facebook Pages During the Holidays: 51% of Consumers Are More Likely to Buy From a Company After Becoming Their Fan on Facebook
Posted by: Micah Pratt, director of social networking R&D
The holidays are just around the corner, and businesses are finalizing their marketing campaigns to optimize the shopping rush. Here is an article from InformationWeek.com, written by Kevin Casey, about how companies can prepare their social networking sites in time for the holidays.
4 Tips: Prep Your Facebook Page For Holidays
Will your company’s Facebook page help you take advantage of the holiday shopping rush? Consider these tips for SMBs and fine-tune your strategy.
Small and midsize businesses (SMBs), like Santa Claus, should be making a list and checking it twice. But rather than sorting out who’s naughty or nice, consumer-focused concerns should fine-tune their Facebook presence in advance of the holiday shopping rush.
Among the reasons: The bevy of market research showing shoppers increasingly turning to social sites before they make purchase decisions. Consider this recent study, which found 51% of consumers are more likely to buy something from a company after becoming their fan on Facebook. With the annual flurry of capitalism known as holiday shopping looming large, it’s time for retailers and other consumer-focused SMBs to make sure they’re ready to reap the rewards.
That means doing a bit more than putting up a page and hoping it connects with customers, according to Laura O’Shaughnessy, CEO of SocialCode, a social agency that emphasizes a quantitative approach to performance advertising, with a particular focus on Facebook. The firm recently added LinkedIn to its mix, and is considering the likes of Twitter and Google+.
Socialcode itself has an interesting SMB story. The 50-person agency was born as an internal department of The Washington Post Company, which owns–in addition to the flagship newspaper of the same name–a number of media, education, and other businesses. O’Shaughnessy said that the results of Facebook programs for the company’s various brands were so strong that it began shifting money away from its Google adverting and spending more on social. Later, Socialcode was spun out as an independent subsidiary and began signing on external customers.
In an interview, O’Shaughnessy shared these four tips for optimizing your Facebook activities in the coming weeks.
1. Set goals. The businesses that get the most out of their Facebook presence are the ones that have goals behind it. “Step one is deciding: Is my goal to drive people into my restaurant, is it to drive people into my store, is it to introduce a new product, is it to get people to buy my product?” O’Shaughnessy said. Without a clear sense of what they want to accomplish, SMBs, can’t make efficient use of their resources.
2. Design a campaign with a “viral accelerant.” O’Shaughnessy said the most powerful, effective Facebook campaigns place heavy emphasis on sharing. That often means developing an application, game, or a related microsite to encourage people to spread the word–no matter what the word is. “You want to make sure you’re taking advantage of the sharing activities that are going on,” O’Shaughnessy said.
While a development-intensive application might require a bigger budget, O’Shaughnessy noted that there are sharing-oriented things marketers can do on a smaller scale. She gave as an example a nonprofit client that found strong results simply using a light application aimed at sharing badges on Facebook walls.
“The most important thing about Facebook is really perpetuating that social sharing–getting one friend to spread, in this case, a badge to another friend,” O’Shaughnessy said. “Then all of that person’s friends see that action, so you get this immediate lift.”
Valerie Jennings 
Cassie Stubs
Katie Stumpf
