Share

ShortStack is an easy-to-use “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) visual editor for creating custom Facebook applications or sometimes referred to as custom Facebook “tabs”. It’s a great way for your company to build dynamic Facebook pages with contests, sweepstakes, videos, and custom forms without learning tricky codes or complicated computer languages.

After you log in, ShortStack syncs your Facebook user information with their own magic formulas and – presto! – you can post directly to your company’s Facebook page through the application itself. The navigation and toolbars allow the user to drag and drop content with an almost unnatural ease, like a six-year-old dropping in a massive 12′ half pipe skateboard ramp.

You’ll be able to build custom Facebook tabs and drop them into your company’s page with an insane quickness. From there, you can curate content to direct the social conversation, or let it take a path all its own. Here is what the back-end navigation looks like:

My Ratings

Greg’s Official Rating System (1 to 5 coffee mugs, with 5 being the best)

Ease of Use: ShortStack is insanely easy to use. It only takes a few simple steps to set up a custom page with dynamic, interactive content that would normally take days to write in code.
Greg’s Rating (1 to 5 coffee mugs): 5 mugs

Content Management: Your company can create powerful forms able to engage your customers on many levels, from collecting a simple email address to giving precise feedback their favorite item on the menu of restaurant.
Greg’s Rating: 4 mugs

Functionality: ShortStack is a “widget,” other wise known as “an application using click-and-drag technology invented by a crew of Einsteins.” Use your mouse to drag where you want a photo/video/contest/form/whatever to go on your new Facebook page and interactive content is born!
Greg’s Rating: 4 mugs

Cost: ShortStack charges a nominal monthly fee for a tool that will make you look like a code wizard. For marketing agencies, it's very cost-effective because it doesn't require your full-time web developer to break from writing website codes and drinking Mountain Dew to make your Facebook look nice. They have free plans for single Facebook pages with a small amount of fans to our favorite plan at $30/month where you can manage unlimited pages up to 25,000 fans.
Greg's Rating: 5 mugs

Overall Impression

This tool is a great way to engage your customers and remind them that you're always there to listen to their deepest, darkest confessions of brand loyalty! Do you want to learn more? ShortStack has a great YouTube page with instructional videos about their tool. Ask us how we use ShortStack in our agency to help service our clients. Check out some examples:

• London Bridge Resort Contest
• Crowne Plaza Seattle Welcome Tab
• Holiday Inn Inner Harbor Welcome Tab

About the Author

Erik Folgate

Erik is passionate about creating strategies for written and visual content. When he’s not working, he’s playing basketball, helping out at his church, or playing with his wife and son. Erik can also be found singing along with Mike in the hallways and he’s sometimes referred to as the “Resident IT Guy”. Erik likes being a part of a growing organization and the freedom to be as creative as possible.