SNW INTERVIEW -- May 23 -- appssavvy connects many of the most popular social media applications found on Facebook, MySpace, iPhone, among other social platforms with leading brands and agencies. appssavvy has recently announced six exclusive partnerships with top social media application companies, whose popular apps include Circle of Moms, Pick Your Five, Texas Hold’em Poker, Friends for Sale and Dogbook. Here is the interview with Chris Cunningham, appssavvy’s founder and CEO.
Tell us about what appssavvy does.
appssavvy is not a destination website. We are a direct sales team, a rep firm that exclusively sells best-in-breed social media applications on Facebook, MySpace, iPhone and any other platform. Today we represent 10 of the top 20 fastest growing social media applications.
We’re a sales engine that helps developers make premium revenue, CPMs and allows brands to buy relevant placements on those applications.
We’re the only company in this space that is actually generating real revenue for developers at this time. Facebook is an incredible platform with 200 million people and continues to grow, and brands need to figure out a way to leverage this audience, so we provide alternative solutions for brands to buy.
What is your background?
I’ve been in sales for 10 years. Michael Burke, appssavvy co-founder, and I were at a company called Freewebs so we already had some education and experience in social media. When Facebook opened up its platform, it made sense for us to connect both brand and developers and create this bridge.
So let’s say for example Purina comes to you. How do you introduce them to pet communities?
Part of it could be a standard IAB media unit. Part of it can be an integration or more of a sponsorship type but typically what we do is find communities that are talking about, say, Purina Dog Food and there is an audience already talking about the health of their pets or what are the best supplements. Then there is a perfect opportunity for Purina to come in and potentially provide tips for users or content for users.
So it’s not per se advertising in a traditional method with placing a banner, for example. It’s more contextual based where you are actually one-on-one involved with people in a conversation.
How long has the company been around?
We started the company officially in January 1, 2008.
How many groups you have an access to right now?
We have an access to hundreds but there are about 10 to 12 that are very significant and have great reach and provide great utility for users.
Apart from Facebook and mySpace, do other social networks approach you as well?
There are other companies that will allow platforms for developers to grow viral apps, but the truth is that right now Facebook is really the main leader. So we’re very focused on Facebook at this time.
Give me an example of some of these applications that you found success with.
There are quite a few of them. I can name “Where I’ve Been” and “SocialCalendar” for example.
With regard to the future, where do you see your business going?
We believe the app space will only continue to grow and get better, especially apps that are focused on providing value, such as utility, community and more. We’d love to see other companies like Google, LinkedIn and Yahoo have success. We’re pulling for those guys.
Right now, as I mentioned earlier, I think Facebook is the underlying winner here. But I think users will continue to want to get content where and when they want it, how they want it. It’s going to be less about searching the Internet and more about bringing content that is relevant to them in their environment. So that is kind of what we see in the crystal ball.
