By Andy Hirst, Special Correspondent
A Huddersfield company that developed an app to make it exceptionally easy for businesses to use social media is now developing another one … but needs help to fund it.
Justo Software from Emley has launched a crowdfunding campaign via Go Fund Me to develop its second app which will make using social media even easier for busy business owners and those who could otherwise struggle to use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
People who help out with the crowdfunding will be able to use the company’s app when it’s ready. Justo needs to raise £25,000.
The company is run by Michelle Cowan and Bren Adams who have already been successful with their first app called socialsendr, the only web-based app on the market that can create, schedule and post content on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. The app is ideal for sole traders, freelancers and small businesses with the aim to make social media really manageable from just one app. It costs £9.99 a month or £99 a year.
Michelle said: “For people starting out in business or individuals juggling the challenges of running their own company, creating a social media presence can be costly and ineffective.
“Social media marketing is incredibly beneficial to start ups, freelancers and sole traders, building a brand and creating sales, but for many hopeful business owners starting out on their own journey, social media often gets left behind. Businesses need to be posting daily to connect with customers, but many only average one post per week which can mean the connection is lost with the audience.”
The app gives people using it instant ideas for the kind of messages they can send out – all they have to do is then personalise those messages.
Michelle added: “We have searched high and low for every national event, topical themes and content that is relevant to a wide range of audiences, creating posts and images that are ready to be personalised to any business and posted directly to social media channels.”
Sarah Hunter from Honley-based Inspire Pilates said: “Before we got the socialsendr app it was a struggle to come up with interesting and relevant posts on a regular basis.”
The success of socialsendr led Michelle and Bren into thinking there was a need for a similar app, but one that could instantly share content as opposed to scheduling it, making social media even easier for the least tech savvy.
They are now developing socialpostr which will allow people to simply login, create a post and share instantly within less than a minute. This app will cost just £4.99 a month.
Michelle said: “Over the last few months we’ve received an incredible amount of interest within our platform and some insightful feedback which has led us to think about how we can develop our product to make it even more beneficial to individuals running their own business. It’s this demand that has propelled our product development plans forward, but now we need external investment to bring it to market.
“These platforms are a labour of love for Bren and I, with both of us personally financing the projects so far, but to grow and develop the product to a commercial level, investment will be key.
“We hope through crowdfunding people will join us on our mission of making social media accessible for all business, not just those who can afford or understand it.
“Social media can deliver sales and brand awareness, so let’s make it easy for everyone to use, not just those who are confident in the tech space.”
People donating £100 will receive a lifetime subscription to socialpostr, a £50 donation will receive a one year membership to socialpostr with £25 getting six months.
For more information on how you can support socialpostr go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/socialsendr-development-crowdfund
- Written by former Huddersfield Examiner Head of Content Andy Hirst who now runs his own Huddersfield-based agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting for business in Yorkshire and across the UK.
