via Richard Lorenz (@rlorenzen), Huffington Post When it comes to navigating the difficult waters of Silicon Valley, it is important to know who the big movers and shakers in the industry are. These are some of the top people that have shaped the Silicon Valley that the world knows today. These are also the most important individuals that anyone looking to make their way in this market should know. 4. Brian Solis Digital marketing analyst Brian Solis, focuses on the…

via Built in Chicago, Marketwired Getting the key players who have the power to influence purchasing decisions for your company on your side can supercharge awareness and lead-generation, but the effort you put into building relationships with them is only as impactful as the effect those influencers have on their communities. How do you find and interest the key players who have the power to amplify your brand message to the right audiences – those people who are looking for…

Excerpt of X via Graphics.com Experience is the New Brand Close your eyes for a moment and think about the last time you truly had a great experience with a company as a consumer, an experience that captured your heart, mind and spirit. What about it was special? Let’s call it “X” – that je ne sais quoi that makes something so special. X: The Experience When Business Meets Design is about X, creating such memorable moments for your customers…

via BuildFire Brian Solis The term ‘thought leader’ is over-used – one of the few people that actually qualify for this title, in the digital marketing arena at least, is Brian Solis. Solis is the author of several books on the evolution of business, including the upcoming ‘X’, and regularly shares informative and enlightening perspectives on digital transformation and the increasing role technology plays in our lives. What’s more, Solis is a great writer and communicator, able to present clear…

via Sarah Silbert, Fortune The ride company doesn’t only exemplify the on-demand economy—it’s also setting the pace for a new generation of brand marketing. Hardly a day goes by without Uber launching a new brand partnership. On Oct. 21, the so-called Back To The Future Day, Uber offered users in London free rides in a DeLorean in collaboration with Pepsi, providing complimentary beverages en route. Earlier this week, Uber passengers in select cities were treated to free trips in the…

via A Person You Should Know Digital Anthropologist. Analyst, Altimeter Group. Author, X: The Experience When Business Meets Design and What’s The Future Of Business. Believes no one will remember your failures, but everyone will remember your success. Thinks true influence is the ability to cause effect or change behavior and that too often we measure our influence by the wrong metrics. “To succeed in the business of the future, we have to become the very people we’re trying to…

via Ken Yeung, VentureBeat “The thing about Square is that its biggest advantage is that it could empower SMBs to become more of a digital business,” said Brian Solis, Altimeter Group principal analyst and author of X: The Experience When Business Meets Design. “Digital Darwinism knows no sides — it’s an equal opportunity disruptor. SMBs struggle with this and it’s devastating to the economy if they don’t adapt.”