– Tell us about yourself (background, diplomas, programme, specialisations, etc.).
My name is Adrien, I’m a graduate of the 2011 EDHEC BBA programme, specialised in marketing and entrepreneurship.
Having completed my final-year internship in the marketing unit of Paris Saint-Germain, I was recruited by the club as Community Manager. After a little over a year, I joined the social media agency we worked with: PlayApp. There I held a position as a consultant for a few months, before taking up a post as digital manager with R & G Productions, which produces TV shows.
Together with an associate, I have since set up JIM Social Networker, a social media agency which I have been running full-time since September 2016.
– How did your entrepreneurial project come about?
The project came about based on two observations.
1. There is real demand among micro-businesses and SMEs for social media support: there is a market out there to be conquered.
2. Being a social media manager requires creativity and experience with a certain amount of diversity: working for the advertiser did not bring me much fulfilment, as the problems I faced were often monotonous.
– Tell us about your company (product, market, target, staff, originality, etc.).
JIM Social Networker is a social media agency. We support companies on social networks so they can establish word-of-mouth in relation to their brands and products. We operate in 5 areas:
– strategic recommendations
– community management
– media purchasing and targeted advertising
– support and training
– promotional competitions and viral marketing initiatives
We target the hotel industry, institutions (town halls, tourist offices, museums, etc.) and the world of start-ups, to which we feel very close since we are located at Le Cargo in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, the biggest incubator in Europe.
Our market positioning is simple: we are a small-scale agency with a focus on customer proximity. Our clients decided not to set up an in-house position, so it is our job to meet their expectations as if we were part of their company.
– What are your prospects for growth?
The plan is to take it step by step. There are currently 2 co-founders, and a third person will join us in January with responsibility for overseeing community development. Our objective is to be profitable by June 2017 with a portfolio of around 20 clients.
– Have you ever benefited from the network of EDHEC graduates?
Of course! We currently share our premises with AdinTime, with whom we work in collaboration. I have kept a lot of my contacts within the BBA network, which I try to maintain as much as
possible, in particular by participating in the get-togethers set up by the school.
– What are your expectations from the network?
Contacts and authenticity: I’m not interested in meeting people just for the sake of it.
What is your initial assessment of this entrepreneurial adventure?
So far so good, it’s given me the chance to discover and learn a lot about myself. Setting up your own company means taking a risk and developing your skill set to be able to act successfully in all areas, from drafting your articles of association to accounting and management. It’s a steep learning curve!
Have you ever benefited from the EDHEC BBA Alumni network?
Yes, as I said earlier, I have established a solid partnership with AdinTime, a superb online media purchasing platform. We also intend to make the most of the school’s wonderful database to boost our business.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?
Pursuing an entrepreneurial project is a fantastic experience, no matter what happens it will help you grow.
What’s next for your company?
Gain some momentum, start recruiting, develop and expand!
What are your expectations from the community of graduates on the EDHEC BBA programme?
Let’s continue to develop this network which has so much to offer!
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