The Economist weighs in on Social Business Leaders.
The Economist weighs in on Social Business Leaders.
Echo of what Ben Fisher said on the Midweek Zap if your business is not using social media and especially Google+ it will wither.
H/T David Amerland
Originally shared by Bruce Clay, Inc.
NEWS: Top 25 Social Business Leaders list released by The Economist (http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/top-25/)
Reflection: Why This Is New
Times have changed. In the past, business executives made their mark by product innovation (a la Steve Jobs), system restructuring (such as Lee Iacocca), or just plain profit (Bill Gates and lots of others). Those success metrics still impress today, but another has been added that is new: The ability to harness the power of social connection to fulfill business objectives.
What a testament to the new age of socially based success to have a major publication create such a list.
While the ideas of networking (seeking connections), collaboration (valuing many people's input), and reciprocity (helping each other) have helped underpin society for millennia, modern business has not always valued them. Since at least the Industrial Age, there were divisions between business owners, managers, workers, and customers. In that model, communication flowed in just one direction, going down the chain within a company, and then outward in marketing messages. The organization tended to be threatened by communication that attempted to flow upstream.
What Businesses Need Today
Certainly businesses have come a long way. Customer feedback, marketing surveys, and employee input are valued and sought. The technology-driven pace of change alone requires that businesses always be watching and listening for what's coming next and what the new problems are that need to be solved, so they can keep their services and products relevant and meeting the needs.
But the instantaneous nature of information sharing has taken us even further. Today, every individual has a voice as a potential publisher and influencer. Social media is no longer just recreational, and no longer optional for businesses. A business without social engagement to its customer community will likely wither and die from lack of connection. This is the "Age of Transparency" (something David Amerland speaks on frequently), and people expect to be able to know and interact with the companies they do business with. Today, if a business is not willing to be transparent — sharing and listening, too — there will be plenty of competitors ready to step in and engage their customers.
The Leaders Are Models of Doing It Right
Every profile of the 25 social business leaders is a worthwhile read for marketers and business owners. The Economist writers did an excellent job not only showcasing WHAT the leaders did to succeed, but also quoting them liberally to reveal HOW and WHY they came up with their successful strategies.
The 25 leaders include Scott Monty , former chief of global digital communications at Ford Motor Company, who sums up our point here nicely:
“Greater transparency, shared vision or a clearly stated goal creates a sense of trust,” Mr Monty says. “I think that’s been lacking in many brands of the last decade or so.” – Scott Monty
More details on the Top 25 Social Business Leaders : http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/
#socialnetworking #socialmediamarketing
http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/top-25
Echo of what Ben Fisher said on the Midweek Zap if your business is not using social media and especially Google+ it will wither.
H/T David Amerland
Originally shared by Bruce Clay, Inc.
NEWS: Top 25 Social Business Leaders list released by The Economist (http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/top-25/)
Reflection: Why This Is New
Times have changed. In the past, business executives made their mark by product innovation (a la Steve Jobs), system restructuring (such as Lee Iacocca), or just plain profit (Bill Gates and lots of others). Those success metrics still impress today, but another has been added that is new: The ability to harness the power of social connection to fulfill business objectives.
What a testament to the new age of socially based success to have a major publication create such a list.
While the ideas of networking (seeking connections), collaboration (valuing many people's input), and reciprocity (helping each other) have helped underpin society for millennia, modern business has not always valued them. Since at least the Industrial Age, there were divisions between business owners, managers, workers, and customers. In that model, communication flowed in just one direction, going down the chain within a company, and then outward in marketing messages. The organization tended to be threatened by communication that attempted to flow upstream.
What Businesses Need Today
Certainly businesses have come a long way. Customer feedback, marketing surveys, and employee input are valued and sought. The technology-driven pace of change alone requires that businesses always be watching and listening for what's coming next and what the new problems are that need to be solved, so they can keep their services and products relevant and meeting the needs.
But the instantaneous nature of information sharing has taken us even further. Today, every individual has a voice as a potential publisher and influencer. Social media is no longer just recreational, and no longer optional for businesses. A business without social engagement to its customer community will likely wither and die from lack of connection. This is the "Age of Transparency" (something David Amerland speaks on frequently), and people expect to be able to know and interact with the companies they do business with. Today, if a business is not willing to be transparent — sharing and listening, too — there will be plenty of competitors ready to step in and engage their customers.
The Leaders Are Models of Doing It Right
Every profile of the 25 social business leaders is a worthwhile read for marketers and business owners. The Economist writers did an excellent job not only showcasing WHAT the leaders did to succeed, but also quoting them liberally to reveal HOW and WHY they came up with their successful strategies.
The 25 leaders include Scott Monty , former chief of global digital communications at Ford Motor Company, who sums up our point here nicely:
“Greater transparency, shared vision or a clearly stated goal creates a sense of trust,” Mr Monty says. “I think that’s been lacking in many brands of the last decade or so.” – Scott Monty
More details on the Top 25 Social Business Leaders : http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/
#socialnetworking #socialmediamarketing
http://live.wavecast.co/socialbusinessleaders/top-25
Great find Zara Altair and David Amerland, and thanks for originally sharing Bruce Clay, Inc.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a very interesting share Zara Altair! "Social media is no longer just recreational, and no longer optional for businesses." Exactly.
ReplyDeleteIn looking through the bios of some these business leaders, I see the same themes we talk about here on G+ all the time: transparency, collaboration, authenticity, shared values, etc.
An excellent intro from Bruce Clay, Inc. , also.
Marilyn Moore Yes. It's time for us to spread the word outside of Google.
ReplyDeleteI agree Zara Altair ! That's one of the things we try to do in our monthly Web Technology for Small Business seminars :)
ReplyDeleteMarilyn Moore Cool. Would you please add me to the invitation list?
ReplyDeleteWill do! Btw, you've already responded YES to our upcoming seminar next week with David Harry (not a specific G+ topic this time), so looking forward to "seeing" you there :)
ReplyDelete