Roost is a tool intended to assist businesses and professionals with their social marketing campaigns. The application addresses the most common issues many companies discover when attempting to utilize social networking, including a lack of time and knowledge to effectively execute their campaigns. Roost is designed to significantly cut down on the amount of time needed to maintain a social networking campaign. The application provides a one-stop dashboard for Twitter and Facebook. The Roost Campaign Creator provides content that is sourced on behalf of the user. The application locates content that the user’s audience will find relevant based on their product, service or industry. Roost also encourages users to build social circles with employees and professionals that are related to their industry (such as appraisers connecting with real estate agents).

Visit www.roost.com

Roost was founded in May of 2007 by Alex Chang. The application was intended to provide a social marketing platform for companies and individual professionals. The company is currently based out of San Francisco, California and consists of fewer than 20 individuals, including CEO Chang, Vice President of Marketing Chris Brubaker, Vice President of Engineering Chris Henley, board members Greg Slyngstad and Thomas Gottlieb, Director of Product Brad Selby and Senior Director of Community Development Derek Overbey. In December 2011, Roost was acquired by VerticalResponse.

Roost claims to provide user with tools they need to manage their social marketing campaigns in about 20 minutes each week. The application automates some of the management process by supplying content that the user’s audiences will find relevant. The application can also assist those who are not familiar with social networks and online marketing who wish to tap into online social circles.

The Roost website users a very pleasant green color scheme offset by hints of dark brown. The site manages to combine a modern, technical design with Earthy tones. The logo features the site name in brown with a green bird silhouette perched on the “t.” The user interface is clean and clutter free so even inexperienced internet users can quickly learn how to use it.

New users can sign up for a Roost account by clicking the blue and white “Sign Up” button found along the left hand side of the homepage. The form asks the user for a name, business name, primary email address, password, time zone, industry and job title. A check box at the bottom of the form is automatically selected to sign the user up for Roost email updates. The user must manually uncheck the box to opt out of updates. A small note in the lower, right hand corner of the form (under the blue arrow button) advises the user that by submitting their information, they are automatically agreeing to the Roost terms of service and privacy policy.

New users can access the Roost Campaign Creator for free. A premium paid membership and free membership is available for access to Roost for real estate. The lite (or free) version includes up to four listings, one city or zip code and all the benefits of regular Roost. The premium paid membership costs just under $25 per month and upgrades to include MLS search features, lead capture features, unlimited listings and up to six cities or zip codes.

Roost.com is aimed at professionals and companies who would like to begin marketing through social networks. The application could help users build an effective campaign without spending a great deal of time updating their profiles each week. There are better online campaign tools available.

• Add your Twitter and Facebook profiles into one dashboard
• Allow Roost to automatically add relevant updates to your social networks
• Expand exposure for better campaign results
• Schedule regular updates to your social networking profiles
• Access real estate specific features

Visit www.roost.com