This post is part of Mashable's Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.
Quick Pitch: CloudProfile is the easiest way for SMBs to get online, get found on Google, Facebook, and Twitter and engage customers.
Genius Idea: More and more small businesses are discovering the importance of not just having an online presence -- but of being willing to be part of the conversation with customers and engage in social media. For businesses that don't have a large online focus (like small retailers), getting found and setting up multiple social media profiles can be a challenge.
This is where CloudProfile comes in. CloudProfile makes it easy to businesses to not only offer an easy to update hub that links to various social media accounts, but also cross-syndicate content to those profiles and offer up direct ways for customers to contact them.
CloudProfile offers up businesses or individuals an easy way to create a customizable profile that allows customers to connect via Facebook and Twitter, as well as more traditional methods like e-mail and telephone. Updates published to your CloudProfile page can be syndicated to various social networking accounts (and you can decide where each update is published).
CloudProfile says it optimizes your profile page for SEO and makes it easy for businesses to be found via Google or other business directoires, as well as on Facebook and Twitter. You can monitor and respond to the conversation regarding your business using CloudProfile and view tracking reports and Google Analytics.
CloudProfile is also expanding its ability to connect with online sales. You can show off products and services via galleries now, but PayPal/Amazon Checkout options are coming soon, as well as the ability to make appointments and bookings on the web.
At $49.99 a month (the first 30 days are free), CloudProfile seems mostly aimed at the small business that doesn't have a strong online presence and isn't really sure how to start. If you don't have an in-house IT person or someone that can spend a lot of time aggregating and syndicating content to Twitter and Facebook, this might be something you want to look at.
As consumers become more and more comfortable using the web to directly connect with companies, it is going to become increasingly important for companies to make sure they have a way to connect back.
Spark of Genius Series Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark
