Employee empowerment is about creating brand advocates to scale customer relationships and effectively compete in new digital markets. Organizations can no longer rely on inbound and outbound sales reps, people willing to jump through hoops and obstacles via call centers, or traditional marketing to boost awareness and demand. Customers demand engagement, in real time, and that takes human beings, training, and support. In January 2014, the San Francisco Chronicle, one of the country’s oldest remaining metropolitan newspapers, opened a technology…
Acclaimed Thought Leader Brian Solis to Present Exclusive Webinar for SmartFocus Clients
SmartFocus is delighted to announce that acclaimed author, blogger and analyst Brian Solis will be visiting the SmartFocus London office on Tuesday, 28th January, to present an exclusive webinar for SmartFocus clients. Brian, whose latest book ‘What’s the Future] of Business?’ explains the importance of creating meaningful consumer experiences, will discuss the future of marketing, the role of technology in the decision‐making process and how to create multi‐channel experiences that really mean something to your audience. He will also take…
4 Steps to Connecting with—and Engaging—Generation C
Connected, empowered consumers—also known as of Generation C—have come to expect businesses to know them, to understand them, and to deliver what they want, where, when and how they want it. I recently published an ebook with IBM, The Connected Consumer and the New Decision-Making Cycle, that explores the new decision making cycle of connected customers. You can download it for free here. Thanks IBM! The goal of the ebook, and also this post, is to introduce readers to the differences…
We Need More Cowbell, Not More Email
Credit: NBC Direct Marketing News covered Brian Solis’ empowering keynote at the Direct Marketing Association’s Email Evolution Conference in Miami, “We Need More Cowbell, Not More Email.” You know that classic Saturday Night Live “Cowbell” sketch? The one where Christopher Walken plays a music producer and tells big-bellied Will Ferrell that his band’s song needs more cowbell. As the skit goes on, and as Jimmy Fallon continues to lose his composure, Ferrell beefs up the bell. And the more he…
Brian Solis Heads Keynote Lineup at EEC Conference in Miami
The Email Experience Council (eec), the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) email marketing arm, today announced that Brian Solis, principal analyst, Altimeter Group and best-selling author of “What’s the Future of Business,” will be the opening keynoter at the Email Evolution Conference, which will be held January 22-24, in Miami, Florida. Solis is globally recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. He joins a distinguished array of keynote speakers, including: David Daniels, CEO…
Build Experiences Not Just Products
Music is the one thing that accompanies me on my journeys, experiences, as well as my adventures in writing. While earbuds deliver sound, they do not deliver the essence of the song, the waves of sound, nor the soul of the artist. At the same time, I have a hard time justifying the need to buy overly expensive headphones just to enjoy music the way it was written or meant to be heard. One day I was shopping for headphones…
FOX Business on Apple’s Core…Rotten or Ripening?
FOX Business’ After the Bell featured special guest Brian Solis to discuss the state and fate of Apple. The segment was inspired by Solis’ thought on Apple’s pattern of incrementalism versus innovation on MarketWatch. The segment, “Has Apple lost its innovation mojo” aired on Friday, January 17, 2014 and covered the recent China deal, Apple’s roadmap, Tim Cook, innovation, and the company’s future. Watch the segment here. “Apple is a church without a preacher,” says Solis. But in the end,…
Exhibitor 2014 Asks…What’s the Future of Business?
Learning Track: Marketing & Communications Authors Executive Series Advanced Learning What’s the Future of Business? In an era of social and mobile media, the future of events requires more than incredible programming. You must now cater to an audience that has an audience of its own, and connect with that audience to amplify every experience you create. Leading digital analyst, anthropologist and futurist Brian Solis will explore how to connect audiences, build communities and create shareable experiences with a focus…
Sydney Business Chicks Hosts Brian Solis in Australia
Sydney Business Chicks is excited to welcome Brian Solis! Mon 17th February 2014 9.00-11.00am This is what business used to look like: a customer would come to you, they’d buy from you and you’d hope one day they’d return. You’d sell, sell, sell, giving not much extra beside the occasional fridge magnet or calendar. The future of business won’t be like that. The future of business is all about creating shared experiences according to Brian Solis, one of the most…
Business Transformation: Why General Motors is Investing in Customer Experience
As editorial director and conference producer of The Pivot Conference, I have the privilege to meet with the people who are bringing about real change inside organizations. During the 2013 conference, I had the chance to interview Dr. Rebecca Harris (@RebeccaHarrisDr), who leads the Social Media Center of Expertise at General Motors in Detroit. Her role is all about transformation and integration as she works across brands and around the world on social strategy, social tools, social processes, points-of-view on…