Happy Mother's Day to my "non social media" mom! Can you share your MOM stories?

Today I want to celebrate my mom.

I know you may argue but my mom is the best in the world.

  • She loved me regardless of what I accomplished just because.
  • She gave me encouragement in just the right doses.
  • She supported my efforts but showed me how to improve my weaknesses
  • She listened to me.  really listened to me!
  • She is my mom AND my friend.   But Mom first.
  • She taught me all the "selfs" -- self confidence, self reliance, self esteem
  • She showed me fun!

Now, she won't read this as she is not a social media mom but I love her just the same  (  smile!).

I'd love to hear about your mom.  Tell me why she was GREAT!

mom and i


Mobile first. Social Always. Mind the data.

I am here today in Luzern, Switzerland at the Big IBM event with over 1200 companies talking about Mobile and Social!

luzern

We have a special Digital Media Room to assist clients getting started with Social.   Social has a STRONG ROI component which I find is very appealing to our Swiss clients.   And the transformation itself is getting noticed in how it is changing the way we work. Did you know that 83% of gen y has joined a social network and $200B in mobile money transfers by 2015?

IBM believes in this transformation so strongly that Social Business has been a key enabler of IBM's legendary business transformation and global integration.   IBM is the most prolific user of enterprise social technologies.

Today, more than 400,000 IBM employees use IBM social technologies, including Connections, IBM's social business platform. As a result, more than 130,000 communities have been developed, 842,000 files shared globally have generated more than 22.1 million downloads. Every day, IBM generates 50 million instant message chats.   IBMs recent $1.3B acquisition of Kenexa  brings relevant data and expertise into the hands of business leaders within every functional department (marketing, HR, sales, product development).

After the keynote, I'll post our key points for this powerful transformation!


The City of Dubuque is a Social Business/Government!

Happy Monday!  Today's Social Business Coffee Break is focused on a City that has done some amazing things!

The City of Dubuque is a social government!  Take a watch and tell me what you think!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Fak0Hp4SDyQ]


Social Selling -- Why is it important?

Social media is used everywhere and is crucial to think through as a sales avenue:

  1. 1 of 5 minutes is spent online
  2. 3 in 5 IT decision makers learn about new products
  3. 57% of decision made before Sales contact
Social selling drives (per Aberdeen Group, Collaborate, Listen, Contribute: How Best-in-Class Sales Teams Leverage Social Selling, Nov 2012)
  1. 30% more team attainment of sales quota
  2. 21% more reps achieve quota
  3. 15% increase in customer renewal rate

Who is a Social Seller?   The social seller doesn't just use social tools -- they have a different approach.   They are:

  1. A Trust-builder
  2. An Idea challenger
  3. A Customer Advocate
  4. A Conversation Partner
  5. THE Go-to Person
sales quote

A (Social) Business in Motion - What does this mean?!

I was just at the IMPACT conference, and a new term came up  --- A business in motion!  I loved it.    It is dynamic and a living organization!  A business in motion is ready to meet customers on their terms, with a complete understanding of each customer, used to create deeper, more meaningful engagements.

Here's what I learned about in terms of the imperatives for a Business in Motion!
5 key imperatives:

  1. Put mobile first, because this is the first point of engagement for your customers, partners and employees.
  2. Social Everywhere.   Reinvent the way you work in the market -- this is the new norm.
  3. Reinvent your design and business processes to meet new expectations for instant, seamless and insightful interactions
  4. Adopt a flexible and secure integration model so that back-office systems can keep pace with rapid change
  5. Be Insight and Data Driven to uncover opportunities, build efficiencies and make informed decisions

What do you think?


Social is Personal. My story. It is powerful.

The power of social is everywhere.

But no where as relevant than in personal life.

My dad was placed in the hospital for emergency brain surgery.   I got the news while in Vegas, and booked the first flight out.  I had to wait for the plane for over 6 hours -- hoping to get home in time.

I was going crazy in the wait -- and really needed to talk to someone.

So I did something I usually don't do -- I posted something very personal on Facebook about my dad.  Much to my surprise, within minutes I had response from friends all over the world.   The outpouring was overwhelming --- over 500 comments plus dozens of calls.

  • I had calls from friends that I had not heard from since High School.
  • Prayers poured in
  • Comments of encouragement came in texts, comments, tweets
  • And I didn't feel alone

No one gave up either --- days and weeks went by ..... and the love flowed in through twitter, facebook and beyond.

I talk about the power of social in business -- and the power there is very strong and real.  But this personal impact -- priceless.


Social Business Coffee Break featuring CAT! (No, not grumpy Cat!)

Happy Monday and welcome to our Social Business Coffee Break!

Today we feature Caterpillar Inc. a leader in building the world's infrastructure, and in enabling progress for millions of people around the globe, .as a Best Practice Social Business!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nSjpxXGQjA&feature=youtu.be]


Social Tip of the Week! Turn off Retweets!

Do you follow somebody on twitter who publishes great content but also tends to retweet anything (like anyone who thanks them), thus making it really hard for you to spot the interesting pieces in the mass of tweets? Than try this useful function: To turn off a person’s retweets, go on their profile, click on the little person icon next to the following button and select “Turn off retweets”. One exception: This only works for retweets sent by using the retweet button, not for those with RT at the beginning of the tweet.


SoMo -- Social Mobile Beginners View!

Ah!  Happy Monday!  My 2 favorite things in one coffee break -- mobile and social!   SoMo!

This is just a quick introduction to the combination of both with some facts and figures.

Enjoy!  And provide me feedback!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/user/SOASandy?ob=5#p/u/0/gMNTx3LX3SA]