Book Review: What’s the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences

51NxMSgBwIL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_This post is part of The Edge monthly series of book reviews on books relevant to new PR professionals.

I first heard from Brian Solis at the Social Business Summit in New York City last year and received a copy of his book [What’s The Future] Of Business from the summit. Solis is a digital analyst, anthropologist and futurist studying and influencing the effects of emerging technology on business, marketing and our culture today.

Not just another social media or customer service book, this is a detailed and insightful book on our changing customer experience and social commerce that revolves around a new generation of connected consumers (Generation C as Solis calls them) on the opportunities we are missing or underestimating. The book outlines actual recommendations on how to align your new business objectives and marketing plans based on the new world of engagement and the upcoming Generation C.

Solis focuses on how we can create and invest in meaningful and shareable experiences; this is the future of business. It provides great visual with well-designed graphics, sketches and examples of actual tweets. Personally, I appreciated the research and case studies Solis put in this book to make it even more authentic. From the design and layout of the book, it is one you will want a tangible copy of, not a Kindle version.

“In the circle of life, connected consumerism is the new reality. Those businesses that don’t disrupt their own markets will find their markets disrupted for them.”

Solis says now is the time to innovate as Generation C is taking place and innovation starts from within. The most dangerous words in a meeting can be “this is the way we’ve always done things,” but Solis says change starts with a vision. “To change takes two things: the aspiration and determination to change.”

The book provides inspiration around rethinking your business model, helping your company equip itself to change with your customers and learning how experience design helps businesses.

0114bd7Lauren Gray works within public relations and marketing from Stamford, Connecticut. She serves as a PRSA New Professionals Section blog co-chair and as a PRSA New York new professionals co-chair. Connect with Lauren on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Five Tips to Start Pitching Holiday Gift Guides Now

1)   SIMPLE SUBJECT: The first challenge when sending any pitch is to get the editor to open your email! Simple and upfront subject lines are most effective when pitching holiday season gift guides.

Example: “Patterned stationary under $20 for gift guide consideration”

Holiday Gift Guide Photo

2)   KEEP IT EVEN SHORTER: We all know the rules of keeping product pitches short, clear and concise. For holiday gift guides, the pitch can be even shorter than traditional pitches. Let your contact know what the product is, why it is a great gift idea, give them pricing info and a link to the website or specific page for easy viewing.

3)   KNOW THE RULES: It is important to know the criteria for being considered in the gift guides you are pitching. Most importantly, be sure that your product falls within the price range of the gifts being featured in the guide.

4)   TIMING IS EVERYTHING: Though you’ll want to pitch gift guides of national magazines and outlets throughout the summer, your work is not done. You will want to pitch regional magazines and large online publications in September. In October through mid-November, you’ll be pitching the online versions of those national magazines!

5)   EXPAND YOUR REACH: If your product does not make it into holiday gift guides of the winter season, get an early start on pitching annual gift guides for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

 

Bio PhotoMagan Felitto is a public relations professional, working in the New York office of Jack Morton Worldwide.She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology’s, Advertising & Marketing Communications program in Summer 2013 with four years of experience as Vice President of Chapter Development of her former PRSSA chapter and a plethora of internships. She is a proud member of PRSA, PRSA-New York, and PRSA New Professionals Section. Ms. Felitto can be reached at MaganFelitto@gmail.com

Career Transitions Twitter Chat Highlights: Preparing for a Full-Time PR Career

We’d like to thank everyone who participated in the Transition Month #NPPRSA Twitter chat as we discussed ways new grads can plan and prepare for a full-time career in public relations.

May Twitter Chat Highlights PR Career

Specifically, we’d like to thank PRSA and Joe Cohen, APR. Joe is Chair of PRSA & senior vice president at MWW, a leading global independent public relations firm.

Join us again on June 5 for our next #NPPRSA chat and stay up-to-date with PRSA New Professionals on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Review highlights of the chat below.

How can you enhance your current role by building upon previous experiences? What are ways PRSA can serve you as a new professional? 

Learn more about PRSA and the PRSA New Pros Section at www.newpros.prsa.org. PRSSA members can receive free PRSA New Pros Section membership with promo code AM14 when you join PRSA as an associate member.

Lauren Rosenbaum soversity prsa new pros prssa

 

Lauren Rosenbaum is the PRSA New Professionals Social Media Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Soversity, a public relations and digital marketing company. You can connect with her on Google+, LinkedIn or Twitter.

PRSA New Pros Teleseminar on May 22 on Integrated Marketing

From Whiteboard to Customer: A Journey Through Integrated Marketing

Thursday, May 22, 12-1 p.m. EDT

Lately, the conversation seems to be predominately held around real time marketing. It’s time to change the conversation and get into logistics. Megan Severs, Associate Vice President at Fahlgren Mortine will host our second PRSA New Professionals Section Brown Bag Discussion of the year on the hidden topic of integrated marketing. Megan hopes to address the following points in her teleseminar:

  • The importance of integrated marketing and what it means to consumers
  • The anatomy of an integrated team – who comes to the table, and the blurring of the traditional PR roles
  • The important role of research to guide an integrated strategy
  • Step by Step Case Study: McDonald’s Nocturnivore

Register today for the May 22nd teleseminar!

Transitions Month Twitter Chat May 15

This month, we’re celebrating Transitions Month as we will mainly focus on the important transition from PRSSA to PRSA.  We will also be discussing professional transitions too.

May Twitter Chat Square - PR CareerOne event is our Twitter Chat on May 15 at 9 p.m. EST with @PRSA and special guest Joe Cohen, the PRSA National Chair.  During the chat, we will be asking questions that address several facets of the transition process including tips for starting your first full-time job, ways to continue learning & evolving your skills/knowledge and questions around PRSA.

#NPPRSA Chat Topic: 
Preparing for a Full-Time PR Career