Startup Spotlight: Commun.it
Twitter is supposed to be a simple platform, right? Wrong. The way we use Twitter today has become a complex task, specifically for marketers.
Companies and individual marketers typically use Twitter to develop stronger relationships with their customers and/or to raise brand awareness. In doing so, marketers face many questions concerning how to effectively use Twitter to strengthen their company’s online presence: What type of content should we share? Which of our followers are influential? Which of our followers are not influential? How do we respond to customer complaints? How many users should we follow?
Figuring out how to create shareable content, maintain customer service, and develop lead generation is just about as simple as chopping an onion without tearing up. In fact, you may even tear up while trying to successfully manage your company’s Twitter feed.
That’s where Commun.it comes into play. Currently run by three hard-working individuals located in different regions of Israel, this new service strives to take the pain out of engaging users on Twitter. Commun.it allows you to track who your biggest influencers and supporters are, suggests who to follow and unfollow, and helps you better manage your Twitter relationships.
I recently spoke with one of the co-founders of Commun.it, Mike Polischuk.
Mike shared with me how the idea for Commun.it was born and how it can help marketers or everyday Tweeters maximize their ROI.
1. In one sentence, what is Commun.it?
Commun.it analyzes your community, and helps you focus on relationships that matter to you and your business.
2. How did the idea for Commun.it come about?
Mike and his fellow Commun.it co-founders, Sharel Omer and Ran Margaliot, have always been passionate about entrepreneurship and startups. They began noticing that major tech influencers like Mark Suster and Robert Scoble are sparking up a discussion about the difficulties marketers face in trying to engage and build relationships with their online communities. If hotshots like Suster and Scoble are saying there is a problem, then there is a problem.
Mike, Sharel, and Ran scratched their heads looking for a solution to help marketers better cultivate relationships with their communities. “After some time we realized that the issue is much wider,” Mike explained. “Every business has an online community which it needs to engage. Commun.it is built to allow businesses to do just that. It helps people make — and most importantly, maintain — relationships on social media.”
3. How do you hope Commun.it will improve social media for individuals as well as for brands?
Mike believes social media is a great way for people to connect with other people, and that Twitter in particular provides a quick and timely way to communicate with others. However, he feels that Twitter falls short of helping you develop meaningful relationships with people that may have a high impact on your business. Commun.it addresses this issue, which many marketers struggle with today. “And that's how Commun.it aims to complete social media. We aim to be the MailChimp of social media,” explained Mike.
4. What is Commun.it’s monetization method?
Commun.it is a freemium service with three pricing packages for professionals, businesses, and corporations.
5. Who influences you the most in your own career?
Seth Godin, 37signals, Stephen Covey
6. Any exciting plans for Commun.it in the future?
Commun.it recently launched a widget that enables bloggers to showcase their top Twitter community members on their blogs. “We believe it will be the next step in our growth,” Mike said. Additionally, Commun.it recently integrated Buffer in order to enhance the service by allowing users to easily share pictures, links, or videos on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Now you can wipe those tears away. Commun.it is here to take the legwork out of finding the right people to engage with via Twitter. Try it for yourself and tell us what you think by contacting us on Twitter @Conduit.
