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


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.


Link Internal and External Social for Higher Benefits!

Hot of the presses!

  • 96% of companies don’t link internal & external efforts – Dachis Social Business Council, August 2012
  • And if you do link them together as per McKinsey's Web 2.0 Survey – calculating the average benefit increase of Fully Networked compared to only Internal or External -- showed that “Fully Networked” companies achieve 3.6X higher benefit increase.

So how about you?  Are you linking the 2 together?


Social Business Coffee Break Vblog! CEMEX as best practice

Happy Social Business Coffee Break!

This is CEMEX one of the very best Social Businesses in the world!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHf-p_CeDeA&feature=youtu.be]