5 Reasons to Give Rignite Another Look

In the growing battle between social media management tools for small to medium size organizations, a few solutions are rising above the noise. These include HootSuite, Sprout Social and newcomer Rignite. Sure, there are other social media engagement platforms, but any solution that doesn’t include one of the top four social networks — Twitter, Facebook, […]

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Sure, there are other social media engagement platforms, but any solution that doesn’t include one of the top four social networks — Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, and LinkedIn — is simply missing too much of the overall picture to be considered a serious contender.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kim Cooper (@FullyMarketed) and Glen Kosaka (@glenkosaka) from Rignite and going through a demo of their software’s latest features. While you can get much of what Rignite offers in the way of basic social interaction from other solutions, this new platform is taking the idea of engagement to a new level. I was especially impressed with new features that I believe are giving Rignite a competitive edge.

1. Campaigns

Social media communicators don’t just want to engage with their audiences. They want their audience members to engage with their brands. Rignite’s Social Media Campaigns feature provides a tool to solicit engagement through Facebook comment contests, Twitter hashtag contests, and coupon campaigns.

For setting up a Twitter hashtag campaign, you draft a call to action such as “Post a photo of yourself with your favorite ice cream, mention @thecompany, and include the hashtag #GimmeIceCream for a chance to win a free ice cream.”

In Rignite’s system, you tell it what hashtag to look for and whether or not to require a photo to qualify for the contest. You also select the number of winners for the contest and your target goal for the number of contest entries. You can check to see if the hashtag is unique in case you want to avoid conflicts with other brands or campaigns, and you can cross promote the campaign on other social networks to help increase participation.

Once you launch the campaign and audience members start participating, the system will display a feed of qualifying entries based on these parameters. You and your team can rate and select winners and the system will publicly notify them on your social media channels.

Rignite’s Social Media Campaigns feature also offers metrics specific to each campaign. Segregating campaign-specific engagement metrics from general metrics is something unique in small to medium sized social media engagement solutions.

2. Shopify Integration

On May 27, Rignite announced that it now integrates with e-commerce solution Shopify. This integration helps Rignite users who sell products via Shopify track the performance of social media campaigns as they relate to the value of purchases and number of coupons used.

I don’t run a Shopify store, so I couldn’t personally demo this feature. However, integrating e-commerce tools and ROI metrics is a step in the right direction for any social media management platform. If I were going to setup an online store, I would seriously consider a Rignite + Shopify combo strategy.

3. Sentiment

Sentiment is not a new feature for Rignite. I saw this feature when I first demoed the solution several months ago. However, the ability to mark elements of online conversations as positive, negative, or neutral can be useful in measuring trends related to brand perception. This is especially important for highly competitive markets or products and services that contain potentially controversial elements.

Rignite’s sentiment analysis is not automatic. You’ll need to scroll through comments and mark each with an appropriate sentiment. This is likely manageable for small or medium size operations. However, if your online engagement volume is too high for manual sentiment analysis, you probably can afford SalesForce.com’s ExactTarget Marketing Cloud (Radian6).

I’m a sucker for useful metrics. The ability to track sentiment trends can tell you if your latest campaign or recent media coverage is helping or hurting your brand and to what degree. HootSuite’s free version and Sprout Social lack this feature, giving Rignite the advantage.

4. Unlimited Social Accounts

This feature is rather simple to explain and compare. HootSuite’s free version allows up-to five social media accounts. Sprout Social’s basic account allows up-to 20 and it’s mid-range level allows up-to 50. Rignite allows unlimited social profiles in all of its account levels, which is a huge plus for medium-sized organizations.

5. Price

Rignite just added a three-tier pricing model for users who want the new Campaign features. The mid-level account fee is $39/month, which is what Sprout Social used to charge for it’s basic level account. Sprout Social recently hiked the price of its basic level account from $39/month to $59/month — a 51.3% increase. If you like the Campaign and Sentiment features, you might get more bang for your buck from Rignite.

Conclusion

I was harsh in my first assessment of Rignite’s solution — and rightfully so. It was a new offering that lacked interesting metrics and competitive features (besides manual sentiment analysis). However, the addition of Campaigns and Shopify ROI integration to its system is giving it a much-needed competitive boost. If you haven’t checked out Rignite lately, I think it’s worth another look.

What I’ve come to realize is that each social media management solution offers unique advantages. Perhaps the perfect solution is to use different applications to accomplish different goals. Until an affordable platform offers everything everyone could possibly want, juggling multiple applications might be the way to go.

What do you think?

Do you think that social media communicators should stick with one platform or attempt to juggle multiple applications to achieve different objectives? Have you used or demoed Rignite, Sprout Social, or other solutions and what is your opinion of them?

Note: Rignite did not pay me to write this or offer to compensate me in any way for the review. Rignite did provide me with an extended trial to allow me to evaluate its new features. The images are from the demo and are used with permission.

The post 5 Reasons to Give Rignite Another Look appeared first on John Janney.

Why MMA Fans Should Care About Metamoris 4

MMA and Metamoris are once again blurring the lines between them, as Metamoris 4 continues to take shape.
The next edition in the grappling-centric competition features a number of stars who will be familiar to fans of mixed martial arts. Josh Ba…

MMA and Metamoris are once again blurring the lines between them, as Metamoris 4 continues to take shape.

The next edition in the grappling-centric competition features a number of stars who will be familiar to fans of mixed martial arts. Josh Barnett and Chael Sonnen are two of the newest names to move from the Octagon to the mat to take part in the submission-only competition.

While it is vastly different than the action that occurs inside the cage, MMA fans should still care about the competition.

It was announced this past week that Sonnen and Barnett will be competing at the event. Metamoris 4 is set for August 9 in Los Angeles.

Sonnen will face off against two-time jiu-jitsu world champion Andre Galvao. Barnett will face Dean Lister, whom many will recognize from his time as a mixed martial artist. Barnett has more of a grappling background than Sonnen; however, both are expected to be underdogs coming into this contest. Still, fans should show some level of interest in the action.

Barnett and Sonnen join a list of names that includes Roger Gracie, Brendan Schaub, Shinya Aoki and Kevin Casey as athletes who have competed in Metamoris and at the highest levels of mixed martial arts. Schaub, Aoki and Casey were all defeated, while Gracie grappled to a draw. It will be hard to see either Sonnen or Barnett changing the trend, but this event still deserves attention from the hardcore mixed martial arts fan.

Mainstream MMA tends to focus more on the stand-up action, which creates highlight-reel knockouts and exchanges. Fighters who use a grappling first-style are usually characterized as boring; early critics of Metamoris have said the same thing.

The event is submission-based and uses a judging system if the fight goes the allotted time. This may create the exact type of setting in which many MMA fans might boo, but it can be attractive at the same time.

Metamoris allows a look at technical grappling that isn’t seen in MMA. Barnett, Sonnen and others will be able to show a new wrinkle to their game. These two individuals are big names whom many fans will recognize. It’s expected that they will bring a new group of viewers with them to the event. Both UFC fighters have a way with words that many in the sport do not, which makes them even more valuable to Metamoris.

Metamoris 3 featured a main event of Eddie Bravo vs. Royler Gracie, which brought a lot of attention to the card. If the fourth edition of the showcase can continue this trend, MMA as a whole would benefit. Luke Rockhold has already shown an interest in competing in the event. Fighters such as Jake Shields and Demian Maia have well-chronicled backgrounds in grappling.

Benson Henderson and Georges St-Pierre have both competed in ADCC; would they be worth watching in Metamoris? What about Ronda Rousey competing in a gi jiu-jitsu match? Nick Diaz is known for his aggressive grappling in the cage; would that work in Metamoris?

The crossover appeal is certainly available within these two sports.

Metamoris also offers an opportunity for fighters to remain relevant once their MMA careers are over. Sonnen, who recently retired amid controversy of another failed drug test, is just one example of a former fighter who has some value as a Metamoris participant. Kenny Florian, Martin Kampmann and others stand out as potential names who could eventually compete on the white mats.

Sport jiu-jitsu has struggled to garner attention in a growing world of combat sports. Metamoris is moving in the right direction by inviting the more accomplished mixed martial artists to compete in the competition.

Metamoris 4 features a former UFC champion and a three-time title challenger. MMA fans should be interested in seeing how well their favorite fighters compete against some of the best grapplers in the world.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Dana White Thinks Wanderlei Silva Is “Very Wrong” About NSAC Troubles

After being summoned to a Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing to provide his side of the story for skipping out on a random drug test, Wanderlei Silva feels that he has shed light on things and solved his problem with the NSAC.
Silva released a v…

Silva released a video on his YouTube page, featuring a few minutes of the NSAC meeting and gave his thoughts on how his appearance went.

“I am very happy to solve this situation,” Silva said in the video. “I was happy to clarify things and say the truth.”

UFC President Dana White told UFC.com that he does not think Silva is in the clear yet, and that Silva will still be punished for running from the test, saying:

I’m not the athletic commission, but I think he’s very wrong. I think he’s in big trouble. You cannot run away from a test. You can’t do it, and it sets a very bad precedent. He would have been better off taking the test and testing positive than running from the test. But I’m not a commission member. Maybe I’m wrong and he’s right. We’ll see what happens.

The UFC is leaving all discipline for the test-dodging up to the NSAC, and White said the promotion will be fine with whatever the commission does, saying:

Basically the Nevada State Athletic Commission is the judge and the jury, and they’re going to handle it. Whatever happens, he will have his sentence and do whatever the commission says. Once he’s through that, he and I will be cool.

Ross Goodman, Silva’s lawyer, spoke for the Pride legend at the meeting, and he explained to the commission that after fracturing his wrist during a scuffle with Chael Sonnen on the set of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, Silva “regretfully” began taking diuretics to reduce the swelling.

Goodman also mentioned that this was in fact the first time Silva had ever been asked for a random drug test at his gym, and that he avoided the test because he thought the diuretics would show up on the test results.

Of course we will never truly know what substances were in Silva’s system on that day, and lab results would be much more convincing than the explanations put forth by Silva and his legal counsel.

Also on the agenda of the NSAC was Chael Sonnen, who did not skip his random test for the proposed fight with Silva, and tested positive for two banned substances.

The commission issued Sonnen a temporary suspension and will decide the length of it at the next meeting, where they will presumably also make a final decision on Silva.

It will be interesting to see how the commission deals out punishments for the two men, as the length of any suspensions, or lack thereof, will send a clear message about the commission’s feelings on skipping a random drug test as opposed to taking it.

Here’s the entire portion of the NSAC meeting involving Silva:

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ben Henderson vs. Rafael dos Anjos: Why It Makes Sense

It was recently announced that Benson Henderson and Rafael dos Anjos will go head-to-head at a UFC Fight Night event in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 23.
At first glance, it seems like an odd matchup to make.
Henderson asserted himself as the best lightw…

It was recently announced that Benson Henderson and Rafael dos Anjos will go head-to-head at a UFC Fight Night event in Tulsa, Oklahoma on August 23.

At first glance, it seems like an odd matchup to make.

Henderson asserted himself as the best lightweight in the UFC not named Anthony Pettis when he submitted Rustam Khabilov earlier this month. Dos Anjos, on the other hand, beat Jason High (who was making his lightweight debut) at the same event and was convincingly beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov in his last fight before the High bout.

It raises the question: Why didn’t the UFC brass book a Henderson vs. Nurmagomedov bout instead?

One reason is that the undefeated Russian is a devout Muslim who will fast during the month of Ramadan, which takes place between late June and late July.

Nurmagomedov has said that he wants a fight in early September, five weeks after the holy month. However, if he does fight at that time it will likely not be against the No. 1 contender.

With that out of the way, a fight between Bendo and Dos Anjos is the best non-title matchup that can be made at 155 pounds when taking rankings and resumes into account.

Putting the loss to Nurmagomedov aside, Dos Anjos has proven himself to be one of the top lightweights in the UFC. The Brazilian has won six of his last seven fights in the Octagon, with Donald Cerrone, Evan Dunham and Mark Bocek among his victims.

That has put Dos Anjos at fifth spot on the UFC’s official lightweight rankings. Nurmagomedov is one place ahead of him in fourth spot, while Josh Thomson—who is scheduled to fight Michael Johnson—is in third. Pettis’s next challenger, Gilbert Melendez is No. 2 on the list, with Bendo at No. 1.

A main event fight against a top contender like Henderson may also be a reward from the UFC for being the only fighter to step up against Nurmagomedov.

UFC President Dana White said in January that he had struggled to find fighters willing to fight the 22-0 lightweight after some fighters, including Nate Diaz, were said to have declined offers to face him.

Dos Anjos stepped up to the plate, however.

He was set to fight Rustam Khabilov at UFC 170, but the bout was ultimately scrapped in order for Dos Anjos to fight Nurmagomedov at UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne.

That fight may not have gone Dos Anjos’ way, but he now has a chance to redeem himself against another, more established, top lightweight in Benson Henderson.

It’s not a lose-lose situation for Henderson, though. Unlike Khabilov, Dos Anjos is a proven top-five fighter in the UFC, and a Henderson victory would mean that he will have wins over five of the other six fighters in the top seven.

While it would still be hard to sell a third fight against Pettis (who beat Henderson in both of their previous bouts), the UFC brass may have no other choice if both fighters win their next contests.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Bjorn Rebney Out, Scott Coker In: Major Changes Made in Bellator MMA

The rumors of Bjorn Rebney’s departure from Bellator MMA came true on Wednesday, June 18. Spike TV announced that Rebney would be removed as the CEO and chairman of the MMA promotion that he created. President and COO Tim Danaher was also removed from …

The rumors of Bjorn Rebney‘s departure from Bellator MMA came true on Wednesday, June 18. Spike TV announced that Rebney would be removed as the CEO and chairman of the MMA promotion that he created. President and COO Tim Danaher was also removed from his role. Before the news could settle, former Strikefoce CEO Scott Coker was installed as the new president of Bellator MMA. In one fell swoop Viacom made some interesting moves that will shake up the mixed martial arts industry.

Stories were swirling that the relationship between Rebney and the powers that be at Viacom were becoming strained. While he refuted the rumors that he would be fired from the position, Rebney could not save himself from the eventual dropping of the ax. Bellator MMA, widely considered to be the No. 2 promotion in MMA, was reaching a stalling point that began to hinder the promotion’s growth. Still, Rebney left the organization in positive spirits.

“It is with bittersweet emotions that I announce that I am leaving the company I founded,” Rebney stated through a press release. “Viacom and Tim and I differed in our views of the right strategic direction for Bellator, but Tim and I both wish them well.”

Under Rebney‘s close eye, the organization made a lot of growth in the sport of MMA but still struggled in particular areas. Viewership was often erratic and the promotion was unable to build a strong base of homegrown stars. To help change that issue it was announced that Scott Coker would be installed as the new leader of the promotion.

“We are excited to have Scott Coker lead us in a new direction as we evolve the league format from a tournament-based organization to a more traditional model with big fights,” said Spike TV President Kevin Kay via a press release.

Coker has long been a part of combat sports. He launched Strikeforce back in 1985 which would become a major name in mixed martial arts before being purchased by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2011. He played a part in the development of some big-name stars such as Gilbert Melendez, Ronda Rousey and Luke Rockhold. He was even able to bring Fedor Emelianenko and Alistair Overeem stateside.

“It feels good to be back. I’m excited to team up with Spike and Viacom, who played a very integral role in the success of mixed martial arts over the last decade.” Coker said as reported by Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog. “I see a lot of potential in Bellator. I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to build a brand and take it to the level I think me and my team can.”

With that it seems that big changes are coming. First on the docket is the removal of the tournament system which is a long standing part of Bellator MMA. The tournament has helped create promotional stars such as Michael Chandler, Ben Askren and Pat Curran. At the same time it’s created matchup problems that haven’t allowed for the creation of bigger name fights.

“As we move forward, my plan is to evolve the league from the tournament format that we’ve all known to a more traditional format where the fans get to see the fights that they want – more of a super fight format,” Coker commented during a conference call.

The reaction across the sport has been interesting to watch. Current Bellator lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, wished his former employer well even though they’ve had a long public feud. Ben Saunders, who was recently released from the promotion, expressed joy in the move while Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is tweeting about retiring from the sport entirely.

This is an important move for Bellator to further establish itself as a brand. Their format of weekly cards kept a constant stream of MMA action but never featured a big enough helping of stars to draw attention to the events. Coker has found a way to build interest in fighters outside of the Octagon in the past so expect the same to occur here. With a roster full of potential, this new shakeup gives Bellator MMA a wealth of momentum to finish out 2014.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Ranking the Remaining 2014 UFC Title Fights

Even without pay-per-view penchants Anderson Silva or Georges St-Pierre, the greatest MMA promotion on the face of the planet found a way to give its fans several memorable title bouts through the first half of 2014.
Whether it was TJ Dillashaw’s…

Whether it was TJ Dillashaw’s dismantling of reigning bantamweight champion Renan Barao at UFC 173, the back and forth battle between Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler for the vacant welterweight strap at UFC 171, or Demetrious Johnson’s dominant, but routinely underappreciated, performance against Ali Bagautinov at UFC 174, the UFC has put on its fair share of jaw-dropping moments.

With six months left in the calendar year, Dana White and friends are looking to expand upon their already relatively successful year without either of the promotion’s biggest pay-per-view draws.

All of these fights garner the world’s attention, but only some of them will likely quench the thirst they’ve created within the MMA community.

Read on to see how the remaining 2014 UFC title fights stack up against each other.

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