Rock Candy Media

Rock Candy Media
Founded 2009 (2009) in Austin, Texas
Founder Annie Liao Jones
Headquarters 5900 Balcones Drive #205, Austin, Texas, United States
Website rockcandymedia.com

Rock Candy Media (RCM) is a marketing firm based in Austin, Texas, in the United States.

History

Rock Candy Media (RCM) is a full-service digital marketing and interactive advertising agency based in Austin, Texas. The company was founded in 2009 by Annie Liao Jones,[1] who continues to serve as its chief executive officer (CEO).[2] In addition to advertising and marketing consultation, RCM offers full service communications, marketing strategy, press releases, print and web design, print consultation and vendor sourcing.[3]

In 2011, RCM launched an online marketing division to expand its portfolio of services, including custom affiliate marketing, email marketing, online pay per click marketing, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and online mobile app creation.[3]

By 2012, RCM's staff included a creative director, two designers, a social media manager, a copywriter, and a developer.[1] That year, the Austin-based content management consultancy DigitHaus named RCM the design agency for its app division, and Sirena Water Wear named RCM its agency of record to promote a line of tailored shorts geared for fishing.[4][5] In 2013, the company announced an expansion of its strategy department, providing lead generation messaging, media buying, radio advertising, and social media marketing campaigns. RCM confirmed Austin Urology Institute,[6][7] National Instruments (NI),[8] ShoreTel, and Texas Disposal Systems as recent clients.[9] NI Alliance Partner Network endorsed RCM as a "trusted service provider" and invited the company to NI Alliance Day to discuss with network members how marketing techniques can help leaders in the engineering industry.[8]

Likter, an app for Android, iPhone, and desktop that allows users to report news in real time, launched locally in November 2013. RCM was selected to introduce the app to a national audience during South by Southwest in March 2014.[10] In January 2014, RCM debuted a guerrilla marketing campaign for Hastings Humans in which they created a fake customer service center called Bestest Helping in order to position their client as the opposite of poor customer service. RCM confirmed CloudEntr and MX3 Homes as recent clients.[11] Later that year, RCM expanded its operations to two offices, one in the Frost Bank Tower in downtown Austin and a satellite location at Tech Ranch Austin, a startup incubator for which they were named agency-in-residence at.[12] During their search for a second office, RCM staff filmed a video called "Workin' at Ikea", in which they attempt to conduct business at an IKEA store undetected for a week. The video was shot in one day and, according to Austin Business Journal, "lampoons how difficult it is to find office space in Austin".[13]

In 2015, the company moved to a single, 1,000-square-foot office space at Balcones Drive and MoPac Expressway in North Austin to accommodate its video production department and increased staff of nine employees. The company confirmed Austin Area Birthing Center, Dobie Center, Realty Austin, and TekSavers as clients and projected $600,000 in revenue based on its first quarter performance.[14][15] In August, the San Antonio-based video production company Geomedia expanded into Austin, sharing office space with RCM.[16] The companies partnered to acquire more national clients. RCM also launched Diet RCM, a new department offering digital marketing services aimed at qualified startups, ones RCM hope will grow into full retainer clients.[17]

The company's other clients have included Alexander Cole & Associates, ArthroCare, Austin Cancer Centers, Baldirama Restaurant Group, Bennett Flaherty PLLC, ContactWorks, Quantum Knowledge Strategic Solutions,[18] RVRhino, and SugarPaper Press.[1][19]

Rock Candy Life

In 2010, RCM launched a sister retail company and "lifestyle brand" called Rock Candy Life (RCL). Jones said at the time of the company's launch, "With Rock Candy Life, we literally are showing our clients 'we walk the walk' by implementing marketing strategies that we recommend our clients use: a mix of search engine marketing, social marketing, direct mail, pay-per-click campaigns, e-mail marketing and print ads all on a start-up budget."[2] RCL began selling a line of environmentally-friendly shower curtains made from PVC-free vinyl. The recyclable, biodegradable curtains began retailing for $25 and was intended to be the first product in a line of bathroom accessories.[2][20] In April 2013, Austin Business Journal reported that Jones invested $50,000 to launch RCL, which earned $5,500 in 2010 and $40,000 in 2012 (a 627 percent increase).[21] That same month, Upstart Business Journal named Jones one of its five "Entrepreneurs of the Week" for running RCM and launching RCL.[22] Despite the product's success, RCL was shut down by the end of 2014. Jones said, "It was difficult. When something is paying the rent on two office suites for you, but all of a sudden both the manufacturing costs and shipping costs double and you literally cannot do anything about it, it's a good time to let that one go. I learned more running that business than eight years in school could have ever given me."[23]

KnowBuddy

In 2013, RCM launched KnowBuddy, a "social service app that provides an alternative to traditional focus group research with a dash of fun".[24] The app allows users to take surveys on Facebook as a form of entertainment while simultaneously providing clients with feedback about their products or services. RCM confirmed ShoreTel as the app's first client.[6][24]

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 3 Zaragoza, Sandra (March 20, 2012). "Rock Candy brings Liberstat on board". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rock Candy Media launches retail company". Austin Business Journal. June 9, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Rock Candy Media launches Web division". Austin Business Journal. March 11, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ "DigitHaus Apps Division Names Rock Candy Media Design Agency" (Press release). Yahoo! Finance. Rock Candy Media. April 13, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rock Candy Media named agency of record for clothing retailer". Austin Business Journal. May 18, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Rock Candy Media Gets Critical Acclaim for Long Center Ad Campaign" (Press release). Digital Journal. Rock Candy Media. October 15, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  7. ↑ Austin Urology Institute:
  8. 1 2 "National Instruments Endorses Rock Candy Media" (Press release). Digital Journal. Rock Candy Media. July 23, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Rock Candy Media Continues Record Growth" (Press release). Marketwired. Rock Candy Media. March 19, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Likter App Keeps Austinites in the Know" (Press release). Digital Journal. Rock Candy Media. February 25, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Rock Candy Media's Latest Guerrilla Marketing Campaign Gains Traction" (Press release). Digital Journal. Rock Candy Media. January 29, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Rock Candy Media Finds Co-Working Solution at IKEA" (Press release). Yahoo! Finance. Rock Candy Media. October 18, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  13. ↑ Swiatecki, Chad (October 20, 2015). "Want to office out of Ikea? Austin agency gives it a try with guerrilla video". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  14. ↑ Swiatecki, Chad (May 12, 2015). "Video growth leads to expansion, move for Rock Candy Media". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Rock Candy Media Continues Growth and Adds Video Content Services" (Press release). Yahoo! Finance. Rock Candy Media. May 1, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  16. ↑ Swiatecki, Chad (August 21, 2015). "Gaming, tech work leads San Antonio video studio to expand in Austin". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Faw, Larissa. "Rock Candy Media Teams with Geomedia and Launches New Unit". MediaPost Communications. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Quantum Knowledge Strategic Solutions Launches Advanced Compliance Management Software". Reuters. April 1, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Rock Candy Media New Agency Website" (Press release). Yahoo! Finance. Rock Candy Media. July 22, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Slideshow: Entrepreneurs of the Week". Upstart Business Journal. April 29, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  21. ↑ Jeffrey, James (April 29, 2013). "Rock Candy Media CEO launches eco-shower curtain company". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  22. ↑ Drake, Sarah (April 30, 2013). "Austin CEO an 'entrepreneur of the week'". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  23. ↑ Blake, Dave (December 2, 2014). "CEO Spotlight: Rock Candy Media". The Austin Phoenix. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  24. 1 2 "Rock Candy Media Launches KnowBuddy App" (Press release). Digital Journal. Rock Candy Media. October 2, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.

External links

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