Smart Social Media Platform Launched

A new US-based company, Crowdbooster, is offering 'intelligent' social media optimization (SMO) via a platform combining analytics and web monitoring tools with customised guidance.

Crowdbooster, founded in 2010 by Stanford friends Mark Linsey, David Tran and Ricky Yean and backed by digital entrepreneur investor Y Combinator among others, says the coaching provided by the system 'gets smarter over time', claimed as a 'first' for marketers looking to make the most of their social media presence.

The firm's technology analyses users' activity on Facebook and Twitter, and makes recommendations about what to share, when, and with whom - these actions can be scheduled within the software. It then uses a full suite of analytics to assess the effectiveness of strategies used and presents in-depth information on engagement, audience and reach via a simple interface.

Among the specific functions available, users can respond to missed Tweets, thank their most engaged followers, and receive alerts when they are followed by 'influential people' via Klout (www.klout.com ).

'Social media managers frequently suffer from information overload' says Ricky Yean, co-founder and CEO of Crowdbooster, 'preventing them from effectively engaging with priority customers. Analytics provide significant insight, but they are simply not enough.'

The service is initially available for free, with upgrade options. Crowdbooster says it has also attracted investment from a number of other groups and individuals including WPP board member Esther Dyson, former Facebook execs Brian Shire and Jonathan Pines, and firms Charles River Ventures and Quest Venture Partners.

Web site: www.crowdbooster.com .