Blog Feed: PR 2.0 - Silicon Valley

Small Business Survey: Technology a Challenge and Opportunity, Steve Jobs Recognized as Idol

Published on 2013-06-18 15:32:21

Did you know that the 23 million small businesses in America account for 54% of all U.S. sales? Did you know that small businesses provide 55% of all jobs and 66% of all net new jobs since the 1970s? While big business has eliminated four million job

Disruptive Selection: Nature’s Way of Weeding Out the Average Business

Published on 2013-06-13 11:38:52

Disruption! It’s everywhere. I live in Silicon Valley where many say that the terms disrupt and disruption have become buzzwords. Pundits believe that the word is losing its promise and impact through the acts and examples of entrepreneurs and

Plugging into the Future of Humanity: Exploring the Human API

Published on 2013-06-04 13:02:32

I had the opportunity to present at LeWeb in Paris, arguably Europe’s largest conference dedicated to the future of technology. The theme of the conference explored the Internet of Things, where devices and things connect to one another to perform

Content is King! Amazon Invests Millions In Original TV Shows…But Why?

Published on 2013-05-31 11:26:03

My friend Tim Stenovec (@TimSteno) just published a great story on Amazon’s move to create original programming a la Netflix for The Huffington Post. He was kind enough to include me in his article (thank you Tim). He sent along a few questions

Tune in with Twitter TV

Published on 2013-05-30 06:34:20

Have you ever watched TV while using a laptop, smart phone, or tablet? Wait, why am I asking. Of course you have. That’s what we all do now right? So I guess the real question to ask is how often do you use Twitter vs. Facebook while watching TV? I

Be a Tool: Properly Resource Your Enterprise for Social Media

Published on 2013-05-24 10:25:38

Guest post by Danna Vetter, VP, Consumer Strategies, ARAMARK You’ve heard it all before. You do your research. You write the strategy. You set the goals and objectives. You train your community managers. You go live in two weeks. Facebook announces

Getting Back to Basics: Why Brands are Getting it Wrong in Social Media

Published on 2013-05-21 10:29:48

Question: What is your #1 advice for social media strategists and managers? Answer: Stop talking about social media Type “social media” into a Google search bar and you’ll find roughly about 4.7 billion results in .30 seconds. Next, try “soci

Internal social networks improve communication + collaboration when empowered to do so

Published on 2013-05-17 06:49:16

I received an email from my friend at CIO Journal just as I boarded a United flight from Mexico City to San Francisco. He was on deadline and the topic was too good to miss. I’ve spent more than a fair amount of time studying and reporting on t

New Digital Influencers: The Coming Youthquake

Published on 2013-05-14 09:32:34

Elements of inspiration that went on to become my new book, What’s the Future of Business, Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences Blame it on the youth they say. Indeed, there’s a great assumption that the future of technology falls in th

Part 2: The Broken Link of Social Customer Service

Published on 2013-05-09 10:05:53

Part Two. An edited excerpt of What’s the Future of Business, Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences In Part 1 of this series, The First Mile: The Broken Link of Social Media Customer Service, we reviewed the opportunities and challenge

The First Mile: The Broken Link of Social Media Customer Service

Published on 2013-05-07 09:03:16

The Imminent Shift from Social to Digital Engagement

Published on 2013-04-29 08:53:54

How do you define engagement? No matter how you define it, engagement is something that we most likely underestimate. Engagement symbolizes the touches that occur in various moments of truth and this should completely change not only how you engage s

Without Analytics, Big Data is Just Noise

Published on 2013-04-24 16:47:12

Guest post by Eric Schwartzman, founder and CEO of Comply Socially, which helps employers manage the risk and capitalize on the opportunities of social media in the workplace. Follow him on Twitter @EricSchwartzman The online Boston Marathon bombing

TNN (Twitter News Network) Trumps CNN….Again

Published on 2013-04-21 17:50:38

Like many, I found myself gripped by the real-time reports that poured in on the evening of April 19th…Boston Police were in close pursuit of the second Boston Marathon bombing suspect. Up to this point, I mostly followed the story via @CNN and

It’s The End of Business as Usual in Japan

Published on 2013-04-20 10:34:42

I’m so excited. As I type, I’m moments away from heading to SFO to visit Tokyo for the first time in years… Shortly before the official launch of What’s the Future of Business, I spent several weeks writing new chapters for Th

The Dim Light at the End of the Funnel

Published on 2013-04-16 09:49:44

Over the years, businesses have developed sales, marketing and service strategies around the funnel. Awareness, interest, desire, action, to this day, describes the likely steps a customer may take in making a decision. Over the years, it was assumed

Be on your best behavior! Behavioral expert Kare Anderson on how to design idyllic experiences

Published on 2013-04-11 09:27:14

“If we feel instinctively liked by someone else then we tend to tend to project unto them the qualities we like in other people…and that’s priceless.” Those are the wise words of Kare Anderson, expert on the art and science of und

The 9 Laws of Affinity in an Era of Digital Darwinism

Published on 2013-04-09 09:19:37

We are indeed witnessing what can be best described as the end of business as usual. With the closure or dwindling performance of businesses once regarded as too big to fail or with the rise of every new Occupy-like movement around the world, we are

Dr. Shaquille O’Neal Dunks on Investing, Geekery, and Social Media

Published on 2013-04-04 13:02:41

One of the highlights of SXSW Interactive this year was Dr. Shaquille O’Neal (did you know he had a doctorate degree?). He joined me on stage at the Long Center for Performing Arts to a theater packed with adoring fans. Before we took the stage

Q&A: Why the Future of Business is Shared Experiences

Published on 2013-04-01 09:35:15

Jeff Ashcroft (@JeffAshcroft) along with @TheSocialCMO host the popular #MMchat (Marketer Monday) every week at 8 p.m. eastern on Twitter. It’s a rapid fire exchange not only between the organizer and the guest but also everyone following along

Angel Investor and Entourage Actor Adrian Grenier Starts Music Incubator

Published on 2013-03-28 06:13:20

When he’s not starring in movies and television, Adrian Genier is a serial entrepreneur. Most recognized for his role as Vincent Chase in HBO’s Entourage, and also the upcoming movie, Grenier has co-founded or invested in several companies includ

Think Like a Startup: Growth Hacking Introduces New Marketing Hacks to Businesses

Published on 2013-03-26 05:42:52

Do more with less! Sound familiar? This is a statement I hear in almost every strategy and planning meeting I attend on behalf of enterprise and startup clients alike. The idea of course is to accomplish great feats, beyond the output or achievements

Humble Brag! Celebrities Tweet Support for My New Book #WTF

Published on 2013-03-22 20:26:25

I just can’t believe it. On Friday afternoon, my Twitter stream was overflowing with Tweets and Retweets of what could only be best described as an outpouring or gushing of love and support for my new book by some of the world’s most reco

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee Adopts Startup Culture in Government

Published on 2013-03-21 12:21:03

Welcome to the season 4 premier of Revolution! Believe it or not, this is the fourth season of bring you some of the best minds exploring the revolution and evolution in tech, business, and culture. In this premier episode, I’m more than proud

WTF is Going on with Future of Business?

Published on 2013-03-19 15:00:44

It is with the utmost excitement that I finally announce the availability of What’s the Future of Business, Changing the way businesses create experiences (www.wtfbusiness.com). You can get it now at Amazon, B&N, iTunes. It’s also availab

The Gap Between Social Media and Business Impact: 6 stages of social business transformation

Published on 2013-03-12 11:21:23

In business, social media is becoming a lot like email. Every company has it. In an Altimeter Group survey of 700 executives and social strategists fielded in late 2012, we found that 100 percent of participating enterprise organizations run to varyi

Can you answer the question everyone is asking? WTF – What is the future of business?

Published on 2013-03-07 12:11:02

Today’s leading companies are already becoming obsolete. Fortunately or unfortunately, they won’t know until it’s too late. In 10 years, 40% of the Fortune 500 was replaced. Irrelevance is only accelerating. It’s Digital Darwinism out here. #

Will you fall or thrive in this consumer revolution? Believe it or not, you decide

Published on 2013-03-04 13:46:12

In a post Occupy world, organizations everywhere should contemplate the themes that flooded the undercurrent of one of the greatest consumer uprisings in recent history. Even though some minimize the rise of Occupy as a rebellion without a cause, I b

Pre-order What’s the Future of Business and get the all new Conversation Prism for free

Published on 2013-03-02 13:24:17

Good news! What’s the Future of Business is on its way to all the distribution warehouses. This means that your new book will ship this week or next. I’d like to ask you for your help. For authors, pre-orders are important. I recently shared

No Business is Too Big to Fail or Too Small to Succeed – Sobering stats on business failures

Published on 2013-02-28 10:08:41

We live in an era of what I refer to as Digital Darwinism, a time when technology and society are evolving faster than the ability of many organizations to adapt. Over the years, I’ve studied how disruptive technology affects consumer behavior and

Pre-order WTF and get a silver #EndofBusiness bookmark

Published on 2013-02-27 08:40:38

I just learned that What’s the Future of Business is just about to start shipping! I’m so excited to share my new book with you. I put a lot of time and passion into writing what I hope is nothing less than an easy-to-ready„ convincing but also

Are Businesses Invading Consumer Privacy By Listening to Social Media Conversations?

Published on 2013-02-25 12:37:07

Social media represents a new frontier in customer engagement. Not only can companies participate in conversations, a dizzying array of tools now help them listen to conversations as well. This isn’t news though. Everyone understands the importance

A Visual History of Book Trailers by Brian Solis

Published on 2013-02-21 16:09:45

If you follow my work, you’ve probably learned that I’m becoming increasingly fond of web video. As an author, I am fascinated by the different channels and new media opportunities that have been thrust upon the world of book marketing. O

The 5 Pillars of New Media Strategy: There is no box!

Published on 2013-02-19 10:10:56

I often share my thoughts to help global brands and enterprise organizations. But with this article, I would like to talk to the broader group of business professionals without reference to the size and shape of your company. Here and in many other m

48 Hours: A humble request and a special offer

Published on 2013-02-14 10:03:52

What’s the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences I recently announced the title of my next book and also that it was already at the printer with delivery just around the corner. As an author, you put a lot of work,

Announcing my next book: What’s the Future of Business?

Published on 2013-02-11 11:04:29

It is with great pleasure that I share with you the details of my next book published again by Wiley, What’s the Future of Business: Changing the way businesses create experiences. The book debut at SXSW on March 8th and will be officially avai

The diffusion of brand, ownership, and experience

Published on 2013-02-07 12:15:17

Guest post by Ian Greenleigh, author of The Social Media Side Door (Fall 2013) and social strategist with Bazaarvoice. Follow him on Twitter @be3d Products were once contained by physical ownership and access. To experience a product, you had to buy

Forget about Social Media for a moment. What’s your mobile strategy?

Published on 2013-02-05 10:46:01

Facebook hit a billion users! Twitter is the new digital water cooler! Youtube is the future of TV! Ok, you get it right? Social media is transformative. So what? Every business that thinks about customer engagement through a technological lens will

Transitional Marketing and the Connected Interface

Published on 2013-01-31 11:54:52

Guest post by Scott Forshay, creator and editor of mobi.luxe. Follow him on Twitter @scottforshay There is no first, second, or third screen; there are only screens. Regardless of their uniqueness in form factor or function, these connected screens a

Exploring the Fifth and Sixth P of Marketing

Published on 2013-01-29 09:58:49

For years I’ve written about how the 4 Ps of Marketing, Product, Place, Pricing, and Promotion represented a dated perspective of customers and markets. In an era of connected consumerism, one could argue the merits of any of “Ps” and whether o

Welcome to the Revolution: Season 4 Coming Soon

Published on 2013-01-24 09:51:28

In the four months since we wrapped Season 3 of Revolution, the production crew and I took some time to reflect on the last three years. We’ve come a long way but we believe we’re also just getting started. Changes are on the horizon for

Social media is not your saving grace: Experiences should first be defined and supported

Published on 2013-01-22 10:55:45

Social media experts will tell you, and they’ll make a pretty good case too, that it is the golden key to unlocking meaningful customer relationships and the gateway to surprising and delighting them over time. So how does social media do this? Wel

Facebook: Can It Keep Growing?

Published on 2013-01-17 07:25:01

Guest post by Ekaterina Walter (@ekaterina), a social innovator at Intel and the author of “Think Like Zuck: The Five Business Secrets of Facebook’s Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg” This question has been of great interest to inves

From the Big Screen to the Little Screen: The evolving relationship between TV and search

Published on 2013-01-15 10:19:33

As a digital analyst, it’s my job to study how technology disrupts business markets and models. As an aspiring social scientist, I also study technology’s impact on culture and behavior. These two worlds are colliding with increasing velocity as

Mitigating Risk in Social Media Engagement

Published on 2013-01-10 07:15:20

Guest post by Danna Vetter, VP, Consumer Strategies, ARAMARK - Part 4 in a series There are a lot of articles out there about what to do for your company’s social media strategy. However, there is limited information about how to train the employ

How Social Media is Sparking Organizational Transformation

Published on 2013-01-08 10:10:27

It is with great pleasure that I share with you some exciting and hopefully helpful news. Salesforce and Altimeter Group recently collaborated on a special project to help executives understand the real impact of social media and in turn how to lead

What Your Business Needs to Know About Facebook’s EdgeRank

Published on 2013-01-03 07:41:18

Facebook recently introduced the ability for brands to increase reach for important posts and updates, but that reach comes at a cost. The prices varies depending on how many fans you have in your community. This new feature coincided with changes to

L.L. Bean: The importance of relationships in CRM and social in CSR

Published on 2012-12-27 11:31:30

Guest post by Steven Gadecki, Director of Digital Marketing at SONY Pictures Television – Follow him on Twitter This is a post about the bond between a brand and a customer and the importance of relationships to do good things together… M

Twitter passes 200 million monthly active users; no longer a fad

Published on 2012-12-19 11:20:20

I wrote my first in-depth post covering Twitter in March 2007 saying that Twitter would be the “message heard around the world.” Since then, we learned that Twitter has become a human seismograph where news no longer breaks it tweets. We

We are now a society of multi-taskers and multi-screeners

Published on 2012-12-18 10:15:46

We are a nation of multi-taskers. As you read this, you’re either doing something else, or this is the “something else” you’re doing while your work on other projects or relax in front of another device. Not only are we multi-taskers, we’re

You’ve got Klout!?

Published on 2012-12-14 10:48:32

Digital influence is one of the most fascinating and widely debated trends in social media today. Whether or not you agree with the idea of assigning a score to individuals based on their actions in popular social networks, the reality is that Pandor

The Human Algorithm: Redefining the Value of Data

Published on 2012-12-11 09:46:40

The onslaught of real-time social, local, mobile (SoLoMo) technology is nothing short of overwhelming. Besides the gadgets, apps, social networks and appliances that continue to emerge, the pace of innovation is only outdone by the volumes of data th

Social Media as the Next Web

Published on 2012-12-04 08:56:30

Source: GapingVoid “The World Wide Web is the universe of network-accessible information, an embodiment of human knowledge.” - Tim Berners-Lee, Web inventor, founder, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), source For years now, we’ve

Blame it on the youth: How Rocket21 is connecting Generation Z and the future of business

Published on 2012-11-29 10:16:21

The Millennial or Generation Y has the world abuzz. This generation is not only changing how businesses sell and what they sell, they’re also changing how businesses work. Millennials are indeed the first truly digital generation but they’

Your Brand is More Important Than You Think: BrandSTOKE’s 9 Criteria for Brand Essence

Published on 2012-11-26 10:25:42

The importance of establishing your brand in the era of Digital Darwinism cannot be overstated. Digital Darwinism occurs when technology and society evolve faster than one’s ability to adapt. Every brand is vulnerable, but no business is too big to

Why open social collaboration platforms will disrupt the enterprise market in 2013 and beyond

Published on 2012-11-21 14:24:53

Guest post by Sarah Evans (PRsarahevans), chief evangelist, Tracky, social correspondent at Sarah’s Faves and author of [RE]FRAME: Little Inspirations For A Larger Purpose The majority of businesses aren’t run efficiently and employees lack the t

This is the End of Business as Usual and the Beginning of a New Era of Relevance

Published on 2012-11-19 13:41:37

Photo taken 11/19/12 using an iPhone5 at St Kilda Beach, Melbourne Australia The Times They Are A-Changin’ Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be

Is the Millennial Workforce Linked In?

Published on 2012-11-15 10:37:17

Millennials aren’t only disrupting the consumer landscape, they’re changing the game for human resources. To say that the digital lifestyle of Gen Y is unique is an understatement. How they express themselves and what’s important to

Facebook’s Page Post Targeting Sets the Stage for Contextual Marketing

Published on 2012-11-13 08:12:35

Content Context is King! Social media ushers in an era of contextual relevance that finally trumps content as king. Don’t get me wrong, content is important. After all, without it, what would people read, watch, interpret, remix and share? But

It’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn of Entrepreneurship

Published on 2012-11-08 14:13:29

Understanding the investment process in Silicon Valley used to require membership to a very exclusive club of investors, plugged-in media and experienced entrepreneurs. Adeo Ressi sought to change that. After starting seven successful companies that

Small Business Strategy: 10 Trends to Watch

Published on 2012-11-06 12:28:25

Part of an ongoing series dedicated to small businesses As you read this, the business landscape is shifting right under your company’s foundation. How customers make decisions, how they discover, communicate, and share, how they influence and

How Government Should Embrace Startups and Innovation to Revamp…Everything

Published on 2012-11-01 09:54:01

The future of government isn’t just created, it’s co-created Technology is disrupting everything it touches, from arts to government. But with disruption comes an opportunity to innovate. And of all the places where innovation is overdue,

TEDTalk: Reinventing Consumer Capitalism – Screw Business as Usual

Published on 2012-10-29 12:18:18

I’ve always admired TED’s approach to presentations. More importantly, I appreciate how this approach inspires its presenters to in turn inspire audiences in the room and around the web. This evokes the concept of having an “audience with an audience of audiences” where those on stage break through the fourth wall to speak to and [...]

User Experience is Not Just Design, It’s the Key to Innovation and Growth

Published on 2012-10-25 16:43:42

It’s not every day you have Jesse James Garrett stop by to talk about the state of user experience (UX) and its role in the future of business. But, we were fortunate to have him visit the set of Revolution to talk about the importance of people and experiences and how UX deserves the attention [...]

The Erosion of Privacy and the Rise of Publicness…and why it’s a good thing

Published on 2012-10-23 12:22:52

Gabriel García Márquez once wisely observed, “Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life, and a secret life.” In an era where individuals take to social networks to not only connect with one another, but also share experiences, the “statusphere” as I call it, is transforming a media ecosystem into a very personal EGOsystem. [...]

USA Today’s Jon Swartz on the The Urgency of Now

Published on 2012-10-18 14:58:43

Jon Swartz is a veteran technology reporter based in Silicon Valley currently covering emerging and disruptive tech at USA Today. This is the second time we’ve invited him to Revolution. His take on news trends is less about hype and more about how technology impacts everyday business and society. Sometimes technology is the solution as [...]

Help me spread the word: I have important news to share with you

Published on 2012-10-15 10:20:09

I’m often asked, “what’s next?” How will I follow up on The End of Business as Usual. Well, I have some news to share. I’ve just completed working on my next book and it will be coming out this winter! It is with great pride that I announce, right here, right now, What’s the Future of [...]

It’s The End of Business as Usual at B&N on 5th Ave.

Published on 2012-10-13 16:06:47

I’m in New York getting ready for The Pivot Conference. Shortly before arriving, I was told I needed to visit the Barnes and Noble store on 5th Ave. upon arrival. After several days, I was finally able to make it over and I’m sure glad I did. Wow. The End of Business as Usual is [...]

The Future of Social TV is a Multi Screen Experience [video]

Published on 2012-10-11 08:26:30

The Pew Internet and American Life Project recently published a study that found 50% of cellphone owners use their phones while watching TV. Connected viewers are not only driving the rise of Social TV, their activities are opening new windows for real-time multi-screen experiences that require design. Joining me on this episode of Revolution is [...]

Businesses not Making the Pivot from Lip Service to Social Customer Service [infographic]

Published on 2012-10-09 12:04:59

Social media changes everything. Marketing, sales, customer service, they’re no longer departments, engagement is now a way of business. As the impact of social spreads through organizations, questions arise about the role social ultimately plays in customer service and overall customer experiences. For the past three years, good friend Brent Leary and the folks at [...]

Calculate the ROI of Social Media

Published on 2012-10-08 03:07:32

Guest Post by Jaap Favier, managing partner of The Small Circle What is the secret of bars? Why do we happily pay four times as much for beer in a bar as in a store? We pay this brand premium to be with friends. The secret of bars is that they convert our quality time [...]

Facebook: Over 1 Billion Served – Plus Interesting Stats

Published on 2012-10-04 10:04:53

Mark Zuckerberg announced in a short and sweet post today that Facebook is now home to one billion digital denizens. I’m not going to focus on the impact this news will have on its stock. Instead, I would like to focus on how this significant milestone aligns with his vision, a vision that was clearly [...]

Twitter Shifts from Tech Startup to Media Network [Infographic]

Published on 2012-10-03 14:15:17

The state of the relationship between Twitters and its developer community is nothing short of tumultuous. While there are significant merits on either side of the debate, what’s clear is that the Twitter of yore is no longer on a similar course for what will be the Twitter to come. It’s a sign of maturation [...]

Why Do Customers Use Social Networks for Customer Service? Because They Can…

Published on 2012-10-02 07:32:43

Every day, an increasing number of connected consumers are taking to social networks to ask for help or express sentiment related to business or product related experiences; some do so to seek resolution from their peers, others broadcast questions or comments as a form of catharsis; and a smaller group of consumers actually hope to [...]

Social Slacktivism: How to use social media to promote human rights and social justice

Published on 2012-09-27 10:01:41

There’s been many debates as to whether or not social media promotes activism or whether or not it’s actually fostering a lazy form of participation. Retweets and Likes don’t bring about change. While I believe social media is a strong platform for raising awareness, the relationship between cause and effect is defined by action regardless [...]

Infographics are not a Social Media Strategy: The need for social producers

Published on 2012-09-24 09:42:11

I can’t be the only one to notice this…infographics, “viral” videos, Like and Retweet campaigns, they all seem to be trying a bit too hard lately. For example, most infographics I see today are no more than visual press releases with graphical elements tied to information…and then more information…but wait, then more information. If this [...]

Never Say Never: How Loic Le Meur turns startups into successful experiences

Published on 2012-09-20 09:36:18

All eyes are on innovation hot spots around the world. But it’s not just about hot startups, soaring investments, and mind-blowing exits, it’s about the series of common traits that inspire entrepreneurialism. Vision, determination, creativity, salesmanship and the relentless pursuit of communities is something that not only applies to entrepreneurs but also intrapreneurs within small [...]

The 4 C’s of the Conversation Company: still a long road ahead for most companies

Published on 2012-09-17 03:01:52

Guest post by Steven Van Belleghem (@steven_insites) One of the key challenges in the social business/conversation world is: how can companies honestly be customer-oriented. In my research, I learned that four pillars help companies to move forward in this challenge. These four dimensions are: Customer experience, Conversation management, Content marketing and Collaboration with clients. Customer [...]

How the San Francisco Giants Hit a Home Run with Social Media

Published on 2012-09-14 11:38:26

It wasn’t too long ago when sport industries were confounded by the openness of social media and the ability for fans and players to share experiences in real time. Now of course, times have changed and teams in every sporting league imaginable are experimenting with social media to improve relationships and experiences with fans. The [...]

Why?

Published on 2012-09-12 09:07:20

Why? Why ask why? Why not? Why make excuses? Why ignore what it is that will help you stop making excuses? Why stay where your dreams are suffocated? Why would you settle for less than anything than you believe in? Why be unhappy when you could be appreciated for what makes you…you? Well, because it’s [...]

Are you connecting with your new generation of customers…Generation C?

Published on 2012-09-10 12:00:18

As you’ll no doubt read here over and over again, social media is important to your business. If you don’t engage on Twitter, Facebook, or Youtube, you’ll eventually go out of business. At least that’s what the experts will have you believe. Fear tactics are not so much as effective in business or defining customer [...]

Sephora Gets a Digital Makeover to Attract Connected Customers

Published on 2012-09-06 15:59:16

One of the challenges marketers and strategists face today is understanding the difference between a success story and an example that has true business impact. With every story and through our own experience, we are learning about the transformation companies are undertaking to migrate from social brands to social businesses. One of the emergent trends [...]

5 Ways Strategic Social Media Can Help Small Businesses

Published on 2012-09-04 09:57:07

I often write about enterprise organizations and global brands…essentially big businesses. This is the first in a series dedicated to small businesses. One of the biggest misconceptions about social media strategy is that only the big brands and enterprise organizations can afford success. The impression is bigger businesses have unlimited resources, people and budgets to [...]

Silicon Valley is Not a Place, It’s a Movement…and It Has a Story Behind the Story [video]

Published on 2012-08-31 12:42:17

Silicon Valley is a flashpoint for innovation and entrepreneurialism. But, what does Silicon Valley even mean these days? Silicon Valley technically spans the area in the southern San Francisco Bay Area including Santa Clara Valley, San Jose and southern East Bay. What Silicon Valley actually refers to in terms of geography seems moot in an [...]

The Internet vs. Facebook in 10 Years [infographic]

Published on 2012-08-29 10:29:27

When we take pause to appreciate where we are, we can truly appreciate just how far we’ve come. I recently stumbled across an interesting infographic as it made the rounds across the social web recently. Created by bestedsites.com, the graphic visualizes the meteoric rise of the Internet in just 10 years. For example, in 2002, [...]

Is Zuckerberg to blame for Facebook’s slumping stock?

Published on 2012-08-27 09:58:13

As an analyst, that’s the questions that I’m asked over and over again. In fact it was the same question CNN recently asked in its story last week on Zuckerberg, Facebook, and Wall Street. It’s a fair question to ask and CNN’s Heather Kelly wrote a balanced and thoughtful piece on the subject. While it’s only [...]

Why Brands are Becoming Publishers [video]

Published on 2012-08-23 13:10:09

Is content still king? According to Deanna Brown, CEO, Federated Media Publishing, “Content, in the right context, is ultimately king.” Welcome to the evolution of publishing, where storytelling, advertising, and technology intersect. By having unhindered access to social and mobile media platforms, brands are experimenting with paid, owned, and earned media to reach connected consumers [...]

The Perception Gap: what customers want and what executives think they want [infographic]

Published on 2012-08-22 10:34:31

In February, the team at Pivot released a revealing research report that documented the increasing gap between marketer and customers. I referred to this as the Great Divide or the  “The Perception Gap,” the distance between what customers want in social media and what executives think they want. In collaboration with Barnickel Design, we’ve just [...]

The Hunt for Social Business Value

Published on 2012-08-20 13:08:52

Guest post by Ashley Furness of Software Advice When Microsoft announced plans to buy enterprise social network Yammer recently I was a little stunned. The reported $1.2-billion acquisition price tag seemed like a lot for simply replicating social networking functions in the business environment. Would companies really achieve ROI? Or would it be more of [...]

The New Hollywood: Developing Entertainment for All Screens [VIDEO]

Published on 2012-08-17 09:30:21

Perhaps you remember Zoolander, Dodgeball and Tropic Thunder? My guest on this episode of Revolution is Mike Rosenstein, producer at Red Hour Films. Owned by Ben Stiller and Stuart Cornfeld, Red Hour Films is a production company that produced these classics and more. To compete for the future of entertainment, Stiller brought Rosenstein in to [...]

Without a Strategy, There Is No ROI

Published on 2012-08-15 11:18:10

Guest post by Danna Vetter, VP, Consumer Strategies, ARAMARK - Part 3 in a series Have you ever started a meeting without an agenda? Driven your car with no destination? How about gotten surgery before diagnosing a need? While some of those options may seem like refreshing changes, it’s not the way you run your business. But [...]

Q: What’s your best advice to social media managers? A: Stop talking about social media

Published on 2012-08-13 12:42:59

The New Social Producers

Published on 2012-08-09 10:33:31

Miles Fisher may not be a household name, but chances are, you may have already seen his work. Perhaps you’ve seen his Tom Cruise spoof in Superhero movie or the clip that’s still making the rounds on the Web. Or maybe you’ve seen his clever rendition of “This Must be the Place” by the Talking [...]

Why the Olympic Games Social Media Policy Failed

Published on 2012-08-08 07:39:16

Guest point by Eric Schwartzman (@ericschwartzman) on why he believes the Social Media Policy at the 2012 London Olympics failed First off, social media could have at least partially erased the advantage that some state-sponsored “full-time amateur athletes” from Eastern Bloc countries enjoy over self-financed amateurs from Western countries. But unfortunately the social media gag order by [...]

The Strive for Balance is a Journey Not a Destination

Published on 2012-08-06 11:03:48

These days, we’re running fast…sometimes too fast. Our social networks keep us connected, but in some ways they’re also pulling us away from our center. Our social streams feed us information about our friends, family, events and even the latest viral videos or trends, but the currents too can overwhelm us. In a time when [...]

The Age of Transparency in Digital Politics

Published on 2012-08-03 13:25:02

Guest post by Minter Dial @mdial on social, transparency and politics using the recent French Presidential election between Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande as a case study The paths of social media and politics would seem to be inextricably linked. Politics has proven, in many countries, to be a great way to “democratize” social media, [...]

How to Recognize Disruptive Opportunities

Published on 2012-08-02 10:34:56

On this edition of Revolution, I’m joined by venture capitalist Mark Suster (@msuster). Together, we explore the state of innovation and the differences between emerging and disruptive technology and its impact on business and culture. Whether you’re a business strategist, an entrepreneur, or an investor, innovation is part of your livelihood. As a result, recognizing [...]

Finally, a look at the people who use Twitter

Published on 2012-07-31 08:29:07

The days of “I don’t get Twitter” may soon pass. Tweets are now a form of self-expression among connected consumers and it is this connected generation that continues to grow in size and influence year over year. Much in the same way that TXTing is a natural form of common conversation, even if it’s a [...]

The Future of Media is Currently in Production

Published on 2012-07-27 07:31:07

Broadcast journalism evolves with every new medium that emerges. Social media certainly opened the doors to new forms of content and distribution channels, but in the end, value, consistency and engagement separates those who find a long-term audience from those flail in obscurity. The market for relevant and compelling content is infinite, regardless of medium. [...]

It Takes Empathy

Published on 2012-07-19 10:36:11

If you look at the picture above, you might see a sunset. Some of you will see a sunrise. Much like the famous philosophical discourse between skeptics and optimists, a glass can only be either half empty or half full. I believe nonetheless that the above picture is that of a sunrise. I’m an optimist. [...]

Smashing Convention: Billy Corgan on why artists need more than viral videos

Published on 2012-07-16 10:53:16

Welcome to Revolution Season 3! Although, we unofficially launched one of the interviews early (because of the GRAMMY Awards), Season 3 proudly debuts with an unapologetic interview with none other than Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. This episode also celebrates the release of Oceania, the new Smashing Pumpkins “album within an album.” As guitarist [...]

A Social Publishing Model from Intel: “iQ”

Published on 2012-07-12 07:49:27

Guest post by Bryan Rhoads, global content strategy, Intel Today’s web is an endless 24/7 cycle fed by content and social actions. In this cycle, brands are realizing that content is currency and social actions are the transactions in this marketplace for eyeballs and attention. To remain relevant, not only do brands need to produce [...]

Investing in the Mobile Enterprise

Published on 2012-07-09 08:01:40

Your customers are not only becoming increasingly social, their digital lifestyle is fueled by mobile devices. Whether it’s a smart phone or a tablet, they are masters of the small screen experience and accomplished in the art of communicating with both their thumbs and their voice. The most riveting facet of the mobile revolution is [...]

How to Live a Recommendable Life

Published on 2012-07-05 07:14:26

I often talk about how in this era of digital and connected consumerism, we as organizations and individuals can live a meaningful, recommendable and shareable life. I’ve asked Paul M. Rand, President/CEO of Zocalo Group to share his recent commencement at Northwestern University with you here as it helps us see the world a bit [...]

Please help us update The Conversation Prism v4.0

Published on 2012-07-02 10:09:58

Even though there are a few imposters out there, The Conversation Prism is still the original and IMHO the most thoughtful visualization of the social media landscape. JESS3 and I introduced The Conversation Prism at SXSW in 2008. Since then, it has undergone three iterations with the last being v3.0. I’ve good news to share. [...]

A Facebook Like Does Not Equal an Opt-in

Published on 2012-06-27 09:42:35

I’m writing this post while visiting Antwerp, Belgium as part of the Social Business Sessions I’m hosting along with The Fusion Marketing Experience. While here, I had an opportunity to spend time with several Belgian journalists. One of the notable conversations was with Erik Verdonck of Pub, a local magazine focused on the advertising industry. [...]

You say you want a revolution? Well, Revolution Season 3 is coming soon

Published on 2012-06-25 15:48:55

Over 30 episodes and two seasons, Revolution TV is coming back stronger and more engaging than ever. This season, we’re only inviting guests who are proving that they can disrupt what it is that they set out to change. This show is dedicated to learning from their challenges and how they found success. In an [...]

Culture Shock: Culture’s Impact on Social Marketing and Business

Published on 2012-06-21 13:50:15

Guest post by Ekaterina Walter, a social media strategist at Intel. She was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors of Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA). Follow her on Twitter Culture is one of the largest components of how we communicate: not just how we say something but how we choose the [...]

Facebook Takes Action, Introduces Action Links to the Open Graph

Published on 2012-06-19 08:35:26

In September 2011 at its f8 Developer Conference, Facebook introduced the social world to frictionless sharing and Action Verbs. With the rollout of its Open Graph, the 900 million strong social network declared that the future of engagement would be driven by both implicit and explicit actions. Explicit actions require the user to click a [...]

Inside Look: How The Boston Celtics Win in Social Media and Digital

Published on 2012-06-14 09:26:57

The Boston Celtics know how to win. And while the team is now preparing for the next NBA season, Peter Stringer, Senior Director of Interactive Media is on the court every day. With 6.5 million fans on Facebook and 600k followers on Twitter, Peter’s work is just getting started. Serving customers in today’s hottest networks [...]

The GM Facebook Advertising Saga Plays Out Like an Episode of Mad Men

Published on 2012-06-11 09:21:42

Shortly before Facebook’s turbulent IP “uh oh”, GM announced that it was pulling its $10 million advertising budget from Facebook. Controversy erupted. Accusations ensued. Camps divided into three factions, those who support GM, those who support Facebook and those not yet ready to take a stance either way, but are paying attention. It will forever [...]

The 5th P of Marketing is People: Engagement begins within

Published on 2012-06-05 08:17:52

Guest post by Danna Vetter, VP, Consumer Strategies, ARAMARK – Part 2 in a series There are no stronger or truer words in the business world: your people are your product. It sounds so simple, yet time and time again, companies make decisions and take action without including the pieces that make them whole. You [...]

Facebook to Marketers, It’s Time for a Click to Action

Published on 2012-05-31 08:09:56

You Like me…you really Like me. Wait. Maybe you don’t really Like me after all. According to our Facebook engagement metrics, only 1% of you actually react when we post. So, to keep the numbers up, our team posts more often, asks questions, runs polls, curates content, introduces more and more contests, and asks for [...]

From Co-creation to Collaboration: 5 pillars for business success

Published on 2012-05-29 08:43:16

Guest post by Steven Van Belleghem (@steven_insites) & Tom De Ruyck (@tomderuyck) In the last months, my colleague Tom De Ruyck and I did some research on structural collaboration between companies and customers. We’ve interviewed 17 C-Level executives working at 17 organizations, operating on a global scale. We wanted to get a clear view on [...]

Dear [insert business name], what’s your promise?

Published on 2012-05-24 10:11:40

You say you want to get closer to customers, but your actions are different than your words. You say you want to “surprise and delight” customers, but your product development teams are too busy building against a roadmap without consideration of the 5th P of marketing…people. Your employees are your number one asset, however the [...]

Discovery Communications Discovers the Meaning of Like

Published on 2012-05-21 08:31:34

The future of TV is much more than social, it’s a multi-screen experience that takes design. Often, producers, broadcast and movie marketers and brands alike underestimate the role social media plays as consumers watch, share, and interact. Whether its watching movies, TV shows or listening to music, consumers will have at least one-to-two other devices [...]

4 Strategic Areas Where Facebook Must Invest Post-IPO

Published on 2012-05-18 12:39:07

Mark Zuckerberg by Brian Solis Mark Zuckerberg and 900 million of his friends hit Wallstreet with America’s largest IPO and has once again made history. Facebook’s first trade was $42.05 giving the social network a valuation of ~$115 billion.  In the process, Zuckerberg became the 29th-richest man in the world with another half dozen employees [...]

9 Ways to Improve the Signal to Noise Ratio on Twitter

Published on 2012-05-17 09:43:32

Even at 250 million Tweets per day in addition to the updates across Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and every other feed that we willfully subscribe to, information overload is in of itself a fallacy. But the feeling the overload of information is very real and a reflection of our inability to pull the levers necessary to [...]

The Fallacy of Information Overload

Published on 2012-05-15 08:50:51

Some of you know me through my work in studying how social media and disruptive technology impact business and culture. Others have worked with me in translating insights into action and change within the enterprise.  Every now and then, I share another side of myself that evokes the aspiring social scientist in me as I [...]

Music, Film, TV: How social media changed the entertainment experience

Published on 2012-05-10 09:56:48

Social media is more than a digital water cooler for TV and movies. The global conversation that takes place around events and the experiences people share based on what they watch teaches us about consumer preferences. More importantly, their activity influences behavior. Behavior counts for everything. Studying it is just the beginning of course. In [...]

The future of TV is more than social, it’s a multi-screen experience that needs design

Published on 2012-05-07 13:19:35

The future of television is much more than social; much in the same way that the future of media is too, more than social. Social is a fabric; it connects the individual nodes that make up the human network. But, social however, is not a means to an end. And, as such, the same is [...]

The Path from a Social Brand to a Social Business

Published on 2012-05-02 11:17:06

I’ve been a long-time supporter of MediaTemple’s (MT)Residence program along with Gary Vaynerchuk, Neil Patel, and many others whom I respect. I wanted to share my “7 questions to answer to become a social business” with you here.. Social Media is pervasive and is becoming the new normal in corporate marketing. Brands who get this [...]

At Your Service versus @YourService

Published on 2012-04-30 10:21:08

Frank Eliason and I have known each other for many years. We’ve shared the stage on many occasions, he’s made an appearance on Revolution, and most importantly, I’m proud to call him a personal friend. Frank has championed the adaption and transformation of customer service during his time at Comcast and at CITI. Never one [...]

3D On All Platforms: Is It Worth It?

Published on 2012-04-27 13:56:37

Guest post by James Stewart, Director at Geneva Film Co The debate surrounding 3D’s viability across all platforms continues to rage. Nay-sayers maintain that 3D is merely a “flash in the pan”… a “fad”… soon to fade into technological obscurity. Yet visionary artists and innovators continue to drive 3D technology deeper into the very fabric [...]

They All Laughed – The road to becoming a social enterprise

Published on 2012-04-25 11:30:06

Guest post by Danna Vetter, VP, Consumer Strategies, ARAMARK People laughed when we began talking about putting resources towards building a social structure for a company like ARAMARK. We heard it all: The standard - “We can’t open ourselves up to this kind of risk.” The mean - “You’re just trying to manipulate company perception.” [...]

Engagement ain’t nothing but a number – why 1% isn’t good enough

Published on 2012-04-23 10:18:11

The headline calls attention to everything that’s wrong with how businesses measure engagement in social media today. Businesses that invest any level of marketing resources in networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and the like (get it?) are being groomed to focus on soft metrics instead of the relevant activity that signals the strength and [...]

The rise of Generation-C…and what to do about it

Published on 2012-04-20 10:28:14

I recently had the privilege of presenting at the GDOL Digital Talkfest in Istanbul. The focus of the event was very much in line with my current work. GDOL tracks the new generation of consumers who do everything online and the impact they now have on popular culture, society and ultimately business. I refer to [...]

10 Trends to Beat Digital Darwinism

Published on 2012-04-18 09:30:19

The digital landscape continues to undergo a significant shift that will have profound effects on business this year. The challenge is that hardly any business leaders noticed. That’s not their fault however. Even through the impact of technology on business and consumer behavior was widely reported, in depth reports on what to do next or [...]

Disruptive Technology and How to Compete for the Future

Published on 2012-04-16 08:39:25

Disruptive technology is the bearer of tremendous opportunity and equally a harbinger of obsolescence. Technology’s impact on society and business is substantial, if not underestimated. As technology continues to become part of everyday life, it becomes disruptive in how people communicate, work, and connect. The evolution of society and technology happens with or without adaptation [...]

It Takes Courage

Published on 2012-04-13 10:15:37

It’s inevitable that I will get the question. You’d think by now that I would learn to expect it…that I would prepare for it…or have a response that would be purely second nature. But I don’t. I’ve no standard answer that automatically inspires anyone in the moment to take action. And, to this day, I [...]

It’s a Small World After All: The Top Global Web Trends

Published on 2012-04-11 07:33:32

Social media is a global phenomenon indeed. Certainly Facebook, Twitter, Google+, in their own way, each make the world a much smaller place. The distance between any two people is shrinking as the number of network connections continues to proliferate. I’m sure you’ve heard at one point or another, that the distance between two people [...]

Meet Generation C: The Connected Customer

Published on 2012-04-09 09:46:53

Marketers, educators, parents, it seems that almost anyone in the Generation X or Boomer demographic is scratching their heads trying to figure out Generation Y aka the Millennial. After all, it’s the first generation to seemingly possess digital prowess as part of their DNA. And, it’s the first generation to receive both a birth certificate [...]

Brands Give Facebook F-Commerce an F

Published on 2012-04-05 09:43:32

With a looming $10 billion IPO on the horizon and a community that’s estimated to hit 1 billion users this Fall, Facebook seems unstoppable. Yet on one important front, the store front that is, Facebook has exposed an imperfection. People are not proving ready to actually buy goods and services in Facebook – at least [...]

The 6 Pillars of Social Commerce: Understanding the psychology of engagement

Published on 2012-04-03 10:15:12

Social media is about social science not technology. As such, its value is not realized in the Likenomics of relationship status nor in the scores individuals earn by engaging in social networks. The value of social media comes down to people, relationships, and the meaningful actions between them. As such, its value is measured through [...]

In an era of Digital Darwinism, no business is too big to fail or too small to succeed

Published on 2012-03-31 09:22:37

In an era of Digital Darwinism, no business is too big to fail or too small to succeed…this is your time. Many follow, but very few lead. Many compete to survive, but few compete for relevance. Do we listen to our customers? Do we truly understand them? Do we create experiences or do we simply [...]

10 Important Trends to Survive Digital Darwinism

Published on 2012-03-29 08:03:25

Digital Darwinism is a phenomenon when technology and society evolve faster than the ability to adapt. And, it threatens rigid and traditional practices everywhere. It’s no longer just survival of the fittest, but also survival of the fitting.  Businesses must earn relevance and to do so requires much more than adoption of the latest technologies [...]

The Pillars of Influence and How to Activate Cause and Effect

Published on 2012-03-27 10:32:44

Digital Influence is one of the hottest trends in social media and it is also one of the least understood. Klout, PeerIndex, Kred among many others are investing millions of dollars to understand how our social media activity translates into influence. The market for influence is only heating up with more entrants expected to debut [...]

Report: The Rise of Digital Influence and How to Measure It

Published on 2012-03-21 13:01:03

About three weeks ago, I celebrated my first anniversary as Principal Analyst of Altimeter Group. And, it is with great pride that I mark the occasion with the release of my first official Altimeter report, “The Rise of Digital Influence.” Not a traditional market report, it was written as both a primer and a how-to [...]

A Critical Path for Customer Relevance, Part 2

Published on 2012-03-19 08:41:14

With all of the momentum social media has earned over the years, the reality is that still today, it is very much siloed in marketing.  The aspiration of using social technology to build a social business is not yet within grasp. In many ways, social media is much more about media than it is about [...]

Social media is about social science not technology

Published on 2012-03-14 12:42:33

In 2007, I wrote an article entitled, “Social Media is About Sociology Not Technology.” It’s a statement that after five years, I thankfully continue to see shared every day on Twitter. As time passed and experience matured, I amended that statement to now read, “Social media is about social science not technology.” Why did I [...]

Enterprise Social Networking is More Than Facebook Behind a Firewall

Published on 2012-03-08 07:24:05

We see everyday what’s possible with social networks for improving customer engagement and experiences? Can the same be done with internal social networks for improving employee engagement and experiences? In the many years of helping businesses align business objectives with social and new media strategies, there is one thing that always introduces difficulty into the [...]

The Importance of Brand in an Era of Digital Darwinism

Published on 2012-03-05 12:20:28

Part of an unpublished appendix for The End of Business as Usual… Think of your favorite brand, and the first thing to come to mind is likely a logo, such as the Coca-Cola scripting, a tag-line, such as Nike’s “Just do it,” or a jingle – remember the Oscar Meyer Wiener song? These may be [...]

SXSW News: Billy Corgan Joins Brian Solis to Discuss The End of the Music Business as Usual

Published on 2012-03-03 13:58:50

When I originally outlined my presentation for SXSW, my plan was to set the stage for a passionate and engaged conversation by sharing the inspiration for my new book, The End of Business as Usual. The more I thought about it, I realized that I could do more. To me, SXSW is a celebration of [...]

Expert Review: Tony Hsieh on The End of Business as Usual

Published on 2012-03-01 08:59:36

What follows is an expert review written by Tony Hsieh, NY Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc. This book [The End of Business as Usual] covers an important concept for businesses everywhere. The future of business isn’t just about the latest technology, it’s about market disruption and how an organization [...]

Sorry, We’re Closed: The Rise of Digital Darwinism

Published on 2012-02-27 08:05:58

I am not a social media expert and my new book, The End of Business as Usual, is not about Social Media. If you’re looking for the Top 10 ways your business can succeed on Facebook or Twitter, secrets to attracting more followers or likes, creating viral videos, or the best practices for creating infographics [...]

The State of the Twitterverse 2012

Published on 2012-02-26 15:22:19

The first time I wrote about Twitter was March 2007. My, how time and Tweets fly. With 500 million registered users and 250 million Tweets flying across the Twitterverse every day, Twitter has become a fabric of our digital culture. Twitter is now ingrained in our digital DNA and is reflected in our lifestyle and [...]

When ROI Represents the Realization of Influence

Published on 2012-02-23 12:06:19

Vincenzo Cosenza is a new media strategist living in Italy who has over the years, designed some of the industry’s most comprehensive infographics on social media’s global footprint. Recently, he asked if I would write the foreword for his new book, Social Media ROI. And, as I’m a fan of his work, it was an [...]

Brands Face Stream Fatigue as Consumers Look Beyond Gimmicks in Social Networks

Published on 2012-02-20 11:49:59

Part of an unpublished appendix for The End of Business as Usual… The mystique of Twitter, Facebook and Google+ causes a momentary lapse of reason where businesses are surprisingly acting first and addressing “the why” at a later point in time, if at all. Without careful consideration and strategy, a great wave of stream fatigue, [...]

Report: Content and the New Marketing Equation

Published on 2012-02-16 12:05:49

Rebecca Lieb, my colleague at Altimeter Group released a new report, “Content: The New Marketing Equation Why Organizations Must Rebalance.” The report helps organizations find balance in the creation of effective content strategies while delivering value to stakeholders and consumers and also the bottom line. It’s safe to assume that the attention of the audience [...]

A Critical Path for Customer Relevance, Part 1

Published on 2012-02-13 07:30:41

A key objective for senior executives over the next several years is to use disruptive technology to get closer to customers, to improve relationships, and enhance experiences. It is a considerable move and the result will usher in a new era of adaptive and empathetic business models. However, this is a move that is easier [...]