There’s an old saying that I think about more and more as I study technology and its impact on behavior…technology changes, people don’t. But nowadays, I’m not so sure. I think technology is indeed changing and us along with it. Whether it’s through social networks or digital lifestyle products such as iPhones and Kindles, we are adapting and perhaps evolving as a result. Through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare, we are learning to live our lives online,…
Best of 2010: The Future of Business is Social
Social media and marketing have become synonymous over the years. At the same time, social media is placing the customer back in customer service. Each movement represents important and overdue (r)evolutions within business, but this is just the beginning. With every step toward progress we make in social media, we uncover what’s necessary to make real headway in the progress of progress. The future of business is social and as such, every aspect of business affected by outside activity will…
The Year of Understanding Influence
2010 was the year where we revisited not only the definition of influence, but also deeply explored its meaning in today’s social economy. What represented an ongoing series of virtual global summits on the topic, influence was scrutinized as a way of better understanding its role in new media. It goes beyond academic study however. Influence permeated the realm of the masses and suddenly, we the people, were gifted with the opportunity to voice what moved us. In doing so,…
The Best of 2010: Hybrid Theory and the Future of Marketing
Jeremiah Owyang, industry analyst at Altimeter Group, published a report that sent shock waves throughout the global creative industry. For large agencies, it represented a harbinger of change. For specialized groups, the report was a declaration of validation. In his report, “How Social Media Boutiques are Winning Deals Over Traditional Digital Agencies,” Owyang documents the disruption facing traditional agencies. For those businesses already advanced in social media strategies and needs, budgets are turning to boutique shops as much as 8x…
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas! Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Feliz Navidad Boas Festas Gun Tso Sun Tan’Gung Haw Sun Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan GlƦdelig Jul Hyvaa joulua Joyeux Noel Froehliche Weihnachten Kala Christouyenna Mele Kalikimaka Š”ŃŠµŃŠ½Šø ŠæŃŠ°Š·Š½ŠøŃŠø! Vrolijk kerstfeest Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova Shub Naya Baras Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket Selamat Hari Natal Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat Buone Feste Natalizie Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto ŠŠ· Š ŃŠ·Š“Š²Š¾Š¼ Š„ŃŠøŃŃŠ¾Š²ŠøŠ¼! Sung Tan Chuk Ha…
A Conversation About You, Social Currency and Social Capital
In February 2011, I have the privilege to speak at the lift conference in Geneva. But this isn’t about the conference as much as it is about an important subject that I’ve been asked to address. While this idea is nothing new to economists, theorists, futurists and other intellectuals around the world, my focus is on those who are unfamiliar with the role they play in an underground, but vital economy. I’m going to explore the undercurrent of social economics,…
How Twitter is Changing: A new study reveals Twitter’s new direction
2010 will be forever commemorated as the year Twitter matured from a cool but undecided teenager into a more confident and assertive young adult. While there’s still much room to mature and develop, Twitter’s new direction is crystallizing. With a new look, Dick Costolo as the new CEO, and an oversold new advertising platform, Twitter is growing into something not yet fully identifiable, but formidable nonetheless. At a minimum, Twitter is an extension of each one of us. It feeds…
(R)evolution: Stanford Law’s Ryan Calo on Privacy Harm and Education
Welcome to the (R)evolution, a new series that connects you to the people, trends, and ideas defining the future of business, culture, and media. There’s a poignant observation by Gabriel GarcĆa MĆ”rquez I’d like to share with you, āEveryone has three lives: a public life, a private life, and a secret life.ā Which do you broadcast? The social web is not powered by technology as much as it is by people. While it is the responsibility of social networks and…
The Difference Between Friends, Fans and Followers
With every day that passes, brand managers are learning the value of presence in social networks. The extent to which new media permeates a company’s fabric depends on where in the world the company is based, as well as the prevailing culture of its organization. What’s clear however, is that brands are paying attention. Social media and our understanding of its promise are raw. I’ve always believed that media and ensuing behavior are evolving faster than our ability to master…
The State of the Blogosphere 2010
The question we ask ourselves when examining the state of the blogosphere is whether or not the cup is half full or half empty? Personally, I believe the answer lies in the nature of circumstances. If drinking from the glass, it is then half empty. If pouring, it is half full. With the rise of Twitter, Posterous, Tumblr and other forms of micromedia, many believed that the glass was half empty. Blogging appeared passĆ© as many individuals opted for microblogging,…
