We truly believe that strategy and customizing an experience is what drives success

Shannon Smith is President and Managing Partner of Blueye Creative, a graphic, development, and online marketing company. She founded Blueye Creative in 2005. Under Shannon’s leadership, Blueye was named a top 10 design company by Forbes in 2009 and a top 10 web development company by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2008. Shannon is also the founder and CEO of Blueye’s social media arm, Always Be Social, which executes social media marketing, viral and gaming strategy for corporate clients.

MO.com

You’re the president and founder of Blueye Creative, an online marketing company based in Chicago. Did you always know you wanted to start your own company?

Shannon

I knew that I wanted to at some point, but wanting and actually doing are two totally different things. I had the help and support of loved ones who pushed me to go out on my own. It came down to really being a matter of just going for it and doing it. I have never been into conventional jobs or the rules that go along with them, so starting my own business was really the best thing I could have done.

MO.com

What was the most difficult part of starting a marketing company?

Shannon

The most difficult part was convincing myself that there was nothing to be afraid of. I had to learn that it’s okay to ask questions of those who have been there, done that. You would think sales would have been the most difficult, but really, it’s the failing part that’s the hardest – teaching yourself that you need to put yourself out there. If you succeed, fantastic, and if you don’t, it’s okay. What did you learn from it?

MO.com

You’re also the founder and CEO of Always Be Social. Why did you feel that Blueye needed a special focus on social media?

Shannon

Blueye is the overarching parent company, the service side of things. When we became a Facebook preferred developer, we were on a list of stellar companies that attracted brands and agencies submitting RFPs for Facebook app development, social marketing, etc. Always be Social was soon born as our product platform, but in a way that is efficient and actually proves ROI for our customers. There was a need based on all of the RFPs that we were receiving, but we also saw a need to take social marketing to a deeper level.

MO.com

Your companies design custom apps for clients to use as marketing tools. Why do you think apps are so popular in marketing?

Shannon

For us, apps are a way for a brand to create utility and, at the end of the day, engagement.  If they are done right, they are vehicles for collecting data on what your user wants to do next, purchase next, etc. It’s all about relevance.

MO.com

Do you have a favorite app you either use or designed?

Shannon

We developed the Boeing Milestones iPad app that I think is so cool; it goes through the 100 years of Boeing’s history – I have been learning a lot. I’m not going to lie, though – you can sometimes catch me playing Angry Birds when I am passing the time and not in front of my computer!

MO.com

Blueye Creative provides marketing services for both product- and service-based companies. Could you briefly explain how you approach these differently? Do you have a favorite type of company to market?

Shannon

Retail, travel, and CPG are fantastic verticals for us. Because we started off as a service-based company, creating websites, custom social apps, and mobile apps, it’s where our roots lie. Our product is an easy way for brands to launch an app, learn about users, and remarket, all from the same platform. We didn’t create a set-it-and forget-it type of product; we truly believe that strategy and customizing an experience is what helps drive success.

MO.com

Blueye was recently named one of Facebook’s preferred developers. Congratulations! What’s your next professional goal, or what’s on the horizon?

Shannon

Thanks! Right now, we are focused on getting adoption of our platform. Our next iteration will consist of mobile, but that’s about all of the detail I can give right now.  You’ll have to stay tuned!