If there’s any doubt that social media is just a trend, the startups that are sprouting around the country are quickly squashing that idea. We’ve been writing about a lot of cool social startups over at Tech Cocktail this spring. Here are 8 of my favorites:
1. Trendrr
Whether or not you are in marketing, you know that keeping up with social media in real-time is an extraordinary, time-consuming challenge. NYC-based Trendrr is a business intelligence platform that helps you listen, measure and respond to the conversation about your brand, media property, service or product as it’s happening. Sign up for a free 14-day trial to see how it works, or check out their managed services, which include a social media audit, reporting services, API access, information graphics and data visualization.
2. Hail to the Mayor App
Another NYC-based startup, Ludicast, which develops Web-based tools and apps, recently introduced a Foursquare app called Hail To The Mayor. You can use it to add your “anthem” to the jukebox of a bar when you check in.
3. StagePresence
Nuvixa, a Champaign, Illinois-based startup, has a really cool product called StagePresence that embeds video of you right into an online presentation. The result is a much more engaging visual communication tool that allows your body language and enthusiasm to add dynamism to your on-line presentation. It can be used for sales presentations, lectures, seminars, webinars, webcasts or video conferences. You can download StagePresence to try it out.
4. Weave the People
Weave the People also wants to make online communications more interesting, though their product was designed to increase the productivity of meetings, connect people, and provide an engaging way to view all of the attendees in a conference room. Weaves can also help conference organizers enhance delegates’ experience, increase sales, create a sponsorship opportunity, and provide a better networking experience.
5. Flimp Media
Boston-based Flimp Media has developed technology that allows companies to create interactive video brochures, thus making it possible to take the deep connection and engagement of video and convert it to sales leads. Flimp generates 4-7 times higher response rates compared to email marketing or static brochures, and viewer engagement is 1.3 minutes, 10 times higher than print, web pages, or email marketing.
6. Social Guide
Brooklyn-based SocialGuide wants to do two things: make TV-viewing a more social experience and help you find programs to watch when you are channel surfing and coming up empty. Their first real-time social programming guide tells you what the most popular programs are based on what people are watching and discussing.
7. SweetBaby
New parents, this one’s for you. Turn piles (or files) of photos of your child (or children) into an interactive, portable, and creative baby book with Sweet Baby, an iPad app you can download from the iTunes story today!
8. Addieu
Addieu is a new iPhone app that offers a quick and simple way to connect with everyone you meet on multiple social networks, including Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, as you meet them.
Image by Flickr user Melissa Sanders (Creative Commons)
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