SMACtalk

In This Episode

Enterprise companies are often admired for their access to resources but digital is leveling the playing field for businesses of all sizes. In this episode Brian and Daniel discuss how small businesses are using social, mobile, analytics, and cloud to differentiate themselves from competitors.

How Does Leveraging Digital Benefit Small Business?

What is the best way to get to my customers? A common question asked by business owners. What should be an easy question to answer is often a daunting task for most business owners. A few minutes into this episode Daniel shares how he uses the acronym T.C.I.K. The Customer Is King when making business decisions. Historically small businesses have had to deal with a lack of technology, lack of customer intelligence, lack of ability to utilize data but thanks to the growth of cloud based applications small businesses are no longer at a disadvantage and can serve customers as well or better than larger entities.

Digital is powered by the cloud. Cloud allows us to have services on demand, pay for what we want or need, and be extremely agile accessing applications from wherever we happen to be. Digitally enabled small businesses are well equipped to take on larger competitors.

Why is Social Important For Small Business?

"Social is the great amplifier. Social allows you to not only communicate your message at scale but also crowdsource feedback on your product or service in real-time to then augment content creation and ultimately better understand the customers you desire to serve." -- Brian Fanzo

Why is Mobile Important For Small Business?

"Mobile is the ultimate enabler. The ability to share, consume, and engage on the go has allowed for much greater collaboration between colleagues, departments, partners, and more. Mobile technology has made it possible for us to keep the ball moving no matter where we happen to be physically located." -- Daniel Newman

Why is Analytics Important For Small Business?

"A small business has to be able to learn and pivot as customer needs and wants change. Analytics plays into every business decision. Answers to questions such as when is the right time to hire someone, how is our content performing on social, and how happy are our current customers can all be found in analytics. The information is available. You're doing yourself a disservice if you're not looking at analytics. There is no excuse to go on gut feel alone." -- Brian Fanzo

Why is Cloud Important For Small Business?

"Cloud has been a mythical beast for many small businesses but I think this year we are finally seeing awareness and understanding. Cloud's impact and necessity is that it impacts every single thing we do. The agility to migrate from an integral business tool such as a CRM to a better fit with little effort is priceless. Cloud is an equalizer. Employees can access tools from anywhere. Businesses can be nimble and pivot when needed. This is the future of business." -- Brian Fanzo

"Cloud runs every facet of our business now - either indirect or direct. Every part - collaboration, back office software such as accounting, payroll, CRM, and all social tools - all cloud based. My entire business runs in the cloud. Do you know how many IT guys I have on staff to run it? None. You know how much money I've saved? Tons. The cloud allows small businesses to become big businesses very quickly." -- Daniel Newman

How is social, mobile, analytics, and cloud transforming your business?

Blab link: https://blab.im/brian-fanzo-isocialfanz-social-mobile-analytics-cloud-usage-in-smallbiz-smactalk-podcast

In This Episode

Digital transformation is more than a buzzword. It's a movement. In this episode Brian and Daniel begin by defining what digital transformation is and exchanging views on the importance of buy-in and it's role in successful digital transformation. The conversation then moves to how digital transformation starts and progresses. The episode ends with fantastic examples of why digital transformation is necessary - not just future business success - but success today.

In the opening minutes Daniel shares a few interesting statistics about this episode's show sponsor the SAP Store. Launched just a little over a year ago in May 2015, the SAP store has driven 1.3 million unique visitors to its site and processed over 10K orders. A proud advocate for the digital economy and digital transformation the SAP Store is changing the way people consume applications and technology for business. On their site you can purchase SAP solutions, as well as 3rd party solutions, all designed to make businesses more efficient and successful.

Where should businesses start their digital transformation process?

Brian puts on his change evangelist hat and begins his answer by stating that digital transformation requires a mindset shift. You have to be open to change to transform but that alone won't kick start the process. Successful digital transformation begins with an audit.

Ask yourself these 4 questions:

• What experiences do I want to achieve?
• How am I leveraging my existing solutions?
• Where do I need to make immediate changes?
• Where do I need to make programmatic changes?

And remember, change does not have to happen all at once!

Where does the buy-in for digital transformation start?

Top down. Bottom up. Daniel points out that there is no one size fits all transformation path. Often there is a ground swell in an organization that fuels digital transformation. As employees start to feel disgruntled by current applications and processes and the "what you give me isn't good enough" sentiment increases employees will seek out other options and passive transformation begins. But change cannot be siloed. Effective digital transformation begins once leadership acknowledges that the way things have always been done are no longer working. Once leadership is willing to seek out new solutions and empower and educate employees, and adopt new strategies themselves to lead by example, that is when buy-in enables digital transformation.

This episode is 55 minutes long and full of incredible insights and actionable takeaways. Get a snack and keep your favorite note taking app or pen and paper close! Your digital transformation journey starts here!

Blab link: https://blab.im/brian-fanzo-isocialfanz-social-video-s-impact-on-content-consumption-smactalk-live

In This Episode

Sometimes buzzwords are unavoidable. In this episode Brian and Daniel exchange views on the role of big data analytics in better business decision making. Not discrediting having the right mindset, the magic of gut feel, or the importance of context - the data we have available to us today gives us the power to make decisions like never before.

What IS Big Data?

In the opening few minutes Daniel leads with big data as a whole most often needs clarity. What is it? What does it mean? Outside of a niche community, when the term big data is thrown around, most people don't actually know what it is. Data and big data is not a new thing. Companies have been collecting data for hundreds of years. Technology has enabled collection of data to migrate from notebooks to computers to the cloud. Simply put, big data is extremely large data sets that can be analyzed to reveal patterns, trends, and associations.

The collection of data may not be new but the ability to analyze big and small data sets to make smarter business decisions is. But still we're faced with a dilemma. Are we asking the right questions? Are we focusing on the right problems? What keeps CIO's and CFO's up at night?

Demonstrating the Value of Big Data

In the second half of the episode Brian points out that demonstrating the value of big data can be challenging. Selling the use case to management requires actual examples of how department transparency of data will improve overall company operations. Equate to saving money for extra bonus points! Focusing on solving business problems - not data problems.

What if we treated big data like little data? Big can be scary and little is palatable. Maybe that's the secret to making big data less of a buzzword and more of a success facilitator for businesses of all sizes.

In This Episode

On the day of the Tesla Model 3 "launch" Brian and Daniel sat down and discussed the pros and cons of owning a smart car. Just one week later Tesla reported that reservations for the Model 3 totalled over 325,000, which corresponds to about $14 billion in implied future sales, making it the single biggest one-week launch of any product ever. Are all the people who stood in line and threw 20% down for a car that won't be available for 18 months (or longer) crazy? Or super smart?

People today are willing to buy something sight unseen. Perhaps a generality but we do it all the time when we buy something from Amazon or eBay. Are we so accepting of this behavior that trust now extends to vehicles and other high dollar items? Early in the conversation, Daniel points out that the fact people are willing to put money down in advance on a $30K car in mixed economic times is a phenomenon. Talk about F.O.M.O.!

What Does the Future Hold for the Connected Car?

Will GMC, Honda, and other car makers be just as technology enabled as Tesla? Will the connected car become more universal? Daniel shares examples from Audi and BMW to highlight that other car makers are including more connected features in their latest models. He ends his thought by asking does the general public want or need a connected car? A car reading emails out loud is not for everyone.

In closing, Tesla has made simplicity extravagant. Giving people what they want and none of the excess packaged in a sleek exterior. Similar to some of your favorite apps - disruption is the theme. Connected car, smart car, what will the next cool vehicle be dubbed?

Connect with the show & hosts on twitter:

https://twitter.com/SMACtalkLIVE

https://twitter.com/iSocialFanz

https://twitter.com/DanielNewmanUV

Snapchat for hosts:

http://www.Snapchat.com/add/isocialfanz

http://www.Snapchat.com/add/DanielNewmanUV

In This Episode

Apple is releasing a four inch phone?! Back to the future indeed! In this episode Brian Fanzo and Daniel Newman debate the logic behind this surprising product launch and make comedic references to the early days of mobile and the popular movie Zoolander.

Brian kicks off the conversation by recapping the evolution of the iPhone. What started as a phone with a music player evolved to a phone with a limitless amount of apps to a device we heavily rely on for all aspects of life. Phones today give us access to anything and everything - anywhere.

Does phone size correlate to improved functionality?

The technology and innovation behind some of the most vital parts of a mobile phone, memory chip and battery, have shrunk. To increase functionality we no longer have to increase the size of the device. Going backwards in size does not reflect the usefulness of the new iPhone or its ability to complement other choices in your mobile workflow.

Does fashion dictate mobile device design?

Daniel insightfully points out that the smaller build of the new iPhone may have been dictated by fashion trends. Large devices simply don't fit into everyday clothing items. Or is it simply the fact that iPad sales have suffered since the release of the iPhone 6 Plus.

It seems likely that the smartphone will become the central hub for human connectedness. Question for you - will your future smartphone be bigger or smaller than the current phone in your pocket? Tune in to see what Brian and Daniel have to say!

Resources from this episode:

Blab link: https://blab.im/brian-fanzo-isocialfanz-smactalk-podcast-apple-goes-back-to-the-future-4-iphone

In This Episode

Inspired by recent news that Twitter claims it is no longer a social network but a media outlet Brian Fanzo and Daniel Newman discuss the difference between social media and social network.

Social Media Needs Social Networks

Online social networks are the foundation and conduit for social media but they are not one and the same. In the first half of this episode Brian mentions that while social media heavy hitters Facebook and Twitter originally became popular by connecting people together they have evolved to be the way many people look for and consume news. Social networking sites have without a doubt disrupted traditional media. Social media is no longer "what are you doing." Social media today is "what's happening."

In the second half, Daniel shares examples of the undeniable power of social media. Hyper-fast aggregation of real-time events. Audiences can now watch, talk with their friends, and be fully immersed in an experience in real-time thanks to social networks. Twitter is the clear front-runner as it is the only social network that provides an unfiltered view of current events.

The Attention Era Meets a Powerful Duo

Periscope plus Twitter is a new level of accessibility, a new level of live media engagement, and it's a way for brands and individuals to create a need for consumption in an age where people are fighting for attention.

This episode is jam packed with quotable nuggets, actionable takeaways, and leaves you wondering will social media one day just be the media?

Resources from this episode:

• Don't Look Now, But Twitter Has Momentum With The Youth by Gary Vaynerchukhttps://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/dont-look-now-but-twitter-has-momentum-with-the-youth/
• Building Dragons: Digital Transformation in the Experience Economyhttp://www.amazon.com/Building-Dragons-Digital-Transformation-Experience/dp/0692696350/

Link to Blab Show Recorded Live:

https://blab.im/brian-fanzo-isocialfanz-social-media-vs-social-network-smactalk-podcast-recording

You can't do a technology podcast and not do a year in review and a technology preview for the upcoming year. Daniel and I might both be millennials but we have unique approaches to how we thinking about technology, how we use technology and what about technology excites us. In this episode we talk about trends like live streaming with Periscope and Facebook Live while also putting on our futurist hats and predicting the use of AR/VR, 360 Video and more.

Stay tuned for some exciting episodes LIVE as Daniel and I travel the world to events including: CES, Periscope Summit, SXSW, Mobile World Congress and thats just the first couple months!

We've had an amazing 2015 and we are beyond excited for 2016 as we make the commitment to you the community of doing an episode every week, because we've heard from you the community that you want more SMACtalk and we are going to do just that. Thanks as always for listening to our podcast, writing a review and sharing our episodes on social media.

Here's to an exciting 2016!

In this episode of SMACtalk, Daniel and Brian dig into the tech and business trends that shaped 2015 the most. From the launch of Meerkat during Mobile World Congress to the shifting forces in brand storytelling, 2015 was a year where companies embraced the power of Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud to drive their businesses forward. Other topics in the episode include the growing trends in remote work, mobility and how technology has the power to not only connect people, but connect people for good. Don't miss this great wrap up show and one of the last shows for SMACtalk in 2015.

We’re proudly sponsored by SAP.

Brian and I are both fans of Apple products. With the recent buzz about the iPhone 6S and the iOS 9 update, it seemed like a good time to talk about all things Apple as we see them.

Brian kicked things off by admitting that although he loves Apple products (going so far as to have @iSocialFanz as his social handle across platforms with the “i” being a nod to Apple) he also loves Android. So he has field tested a wide array mobile devices and can speak somewhat objectively about their pros and cons. He is also an Apple beta tester.

“Windows kept me employed, Apple kept me happy,” Brian said of his time working in cybersecurity. He had always found Apple’s software to deliver on functionality and fun. Unfortunately, he says that the iOS 9 beta version was far and away the worst operating system he has dealt with. It was buggy and unreliable, contrary to most of his previous experiences. He says he’s been seeing a decline in quality in Apple’s recent software releases, even outside of beta. He hopes this isn’t tied to Apple’s new leadership.

I happen to think iOS 9 is the best Apple operating system yet but prior to this update I’ve had to replace both hardware and software due to malfunction. I’m curious to know what our community thinks about this so I’d love it if you’d tweet us and let us know. I also think the QA process seemed to be better in the Steve Jobs days than it is now. And I wonder if pressure from competitors and Wall Street is causing Apple to try to innovate and produce too quickly. And if not, then why is Apple now putting out products that have problems?

Brian says that Tim Cook has done an amazing job of being accessible and visible as a CEO and that’s good for Apple. But is Apple adding features to benefit the customer or are they adding features as a means of keeping up with competitors like Android? What’s the result? Does the end user need an iPad Mini with updated cameras at every turn? Not necessarily. Innovation isn’t always about reinventing the wheel.

Is Apple Really Innovating?

I wonder what comes next. What will the iPhone 7 be? Apple has made strides or mini-innovations with things like the new glass on the iPhone. I spend so much time texting and tweeting on my phone these days I fear I’ll end up with carpel tunnel syndrome. I spend more time on my mobile than I do on my desktop. With that in mind, maybe better speech to text capabilities would be most helpful? But challenges still exist. I’d love to see batteries that can be swapped out, for example.

The Apple Store experience, on the other hand, is more innovative. Brian mentions that he uses his phone to conduct business while in store and that’s very convenient. He talks about the Apple experience and in-store is part of that. In addition, the product you paid for is there when you open the box (and you don’t need a chainsaw to get through the packaging). Apple is doing a better job with this than many others including Google. But Brian and I agree that all of these businesses could improve our experience tremendously with one essential thing: better battery life.

Apple is notorious for minimalistic design. You don’t see lots of extra slots or gadgets on an iPhone. They keep it simple and that does ultimately help eliminate human error. But now some phones have two full pages of preloaded apps when you purchase them. Many of the apps are native and can’t be removed. So even though most phones have a lot of built in memory today, native apps are draining resources right out of the gate. I see an opportunity for Apple to improve here.

Apps Are Key to Mobile UX

Speaking of apps, the rapid updates to iOS are putting a lot of pressure on app developers to keep pace. Apps are a critical part of the smartphone experience and when the iOS is updated, it impacts the user experience if the apps don’t function well. This is costly for both app developers and end users. Pacing iOS updates might help both.

Brian’s opinion is that most mobile apps could use improvement. They can be buggy and limited. But as iOS and hardware updates roll out, there can be a benefit to the UX of apps themselves. He also thinks Apple TV is doing good things for both users and developers.

A member of the community asks, “Has Apple really ruined what innovation looks like?” We expect a lot from Apple and, generally speaking, they keep delivering. Brian took a good look at one of his old iPhones recently and he struggled to even use it because the newer models have such different, improved functionality. My opinion is that in spite of any bugs or down sides to Apple products, there’s no alternative that will work for me.

Is Apple “Smart” to Look at Cars?

I read recently that Apple is going to be moving into the car industry. I ask Brian why he thinks they might want to do this. His answer is that cars are the essence of mobility and Apple is already heavily into the mobility business, so this is an extension that makes sense. He wonders if Apple will become something other than Apple – something larger and more encompassing of different verticals within consumer technology. What will the smart car really be? We might not want driverless cars but smart features could be a real benefit. I’d be really happy if car technology could improve people’s driving tendencies. Imagine if the act of merging lanes could be done more safely by all?

Should Apple be looking at partnering with companies that are already exploring smart car technology rather than starting from the ground up on their own? I could see Tesla powered by Apple, for instance. Such a partnership might enable the development to occur more quickly. But as long as Apple’s focus is on improving customer experience I think they’ll do fine. If they take their focus away from that, problems are likely. Consumers, a loyal and engaged community, are the reason for Apple’s success.

Join us on Blab sometime for one of our recordings! Brian usually hosts and schedules them in advance. Follow Brian and me on Twitter and look for our hashtag #SMACTalk.

We’re proudly sponsored by SAP.

For the third Friday in a row I joined Brian on Blab to talk some SMAC for the podcast and the community. I don’t do a lot of live streaming individually but I’ve been taking part in a lot of collaborative sessions on blab lately and was happy to fill a square again.

I’ve seen a lot of self promoters out in the live streaming world promoting themselves or just making noise. What Brian and I really want to dive into today is what live streaming can really do to help businesses succeed.

Brian points out that in order for any platform to gain traction, it needs early adopters – even those who are just talking about themselves, their lives and so on. But, “All new technology needs marketers to embrace it,” he points out and this brings us to the heart of our discussion.

Embrace Change

The first thing businesses will have to do in order to leverage live streaming for their benefit is to embrace the new medium and technology. It’s not so much about the various platforms themselves as the new conduit for storytelling and communicating with their communities.

I recall when I first started using Twitter. It was like sitting in a room chatting with people all day long. It was fun but then over years we as marketers honed in on ways to use the platform more strategically. We learned how to grow our reach and our following. As Twitter became busier and more saturated we began using automation and scaling our engagement in accordance with the demands on our time. Now we might think it’s not as much fun but it’s been a maturity curve. It can still be fun but we are using it as a distribution platform in many cases. This is change.

Consider our smartphone usage over the past decade. The things we can (and do) make happen with our smartphones now compared to a few years ago are very different. Brian points out that with technology “Not only is it how you’re using it today but it’s how you’re going to use it tomorrow and not forgetting what got you there….” How we use platforms is a continuous change.

Live Streaming’s B2B Value Proposition

“If you just get on live streaming or any platform and you just start talking at people… and everyone wants to try to be a celebrity, I think you are missing a lot of the point and the value here,” I say. I think the most valuable Blabs, for instance, are those that involve discourse on air. We’ve injected new enthusiasm into our #CloudTalk hour each week by having the Twitter community and the Blab community participating in tandem. If brands could start to embrace the idea of partnering with their customers and employees to talk about their experiences, imagine what good storytelling could happen. It’s a powerful idea.

Brian adds that the fundamental difference between something like a polished, well produced podcast and a podcast recording like this one with us in the Blab community is essentially the difference between having people consume your content and having people participate in it. Use cases run the gamut from interviews, Q & A sessions, behind the scenes and more. With live streaming the audience can actually participate with questions, comments and so on. Why not allow and encourage this?

“We want to do a better job of talking about our business… I can’t tell of you one CEO, CMO, marketing VP who doesn’t have a strategic priority to have their employees and customers start to tell their story,” I say. And live streaming makes this user generated storytelling so much easier than ever before. You can get your customers talking about your brand, your story and your business in ways that were never possible before. The emphasis need not be on products and services. Businesses should lean into things like events, things of interest to the market, etc. and then associate their brands with those.

Because the B2B sector is more saturated with content, it makes attention grabbing and storytelling even harder. Live streaming is a great way for a business to accomplish this and distinguish itself. Businesses can provide insights to their communities that they’ve never been able to share before. Brian says to do this with the “Think Like a Fan” mentality. Live streaming doesn’t mean there’s no strategy or call to action. A great live stream comes from its value and engagement. Businesses should give their customers, employees and communities these things in order to build great stories and, by extension, great reputations.

Live streaming from events is an easy and powerful way for brands to get out into their communities. Showing behind the scene, providing access to watch or ask questions of keynote speakers and giving people a glimpse of things to which they wouldn’t normally have access are all great ways to grow and retain a community. It’s about connecting your digital audience with your offline event audience. Businesses can empower influencers to live stream as their advocates. Storytelling from influential members of the community gives a brand more reach and credibility.

Brian says the future of business is community and I say the future of business is experience. But really there’s interdependence. PR will change because of all of this. Businesses can now become their own channels. The entire process of creating and disseminating messaging is easier than ever before. Get real people in front of real people in a way that’s not only live but can be edited and distributed with ease.

Transparency, Storytelling and Community

The refrain from many businesses right now is “We need to be more transparent.” What could be more transparent than jumping onto a live stream to share a message or useful information with your customers? It’s live, it’s raw and it’s easy to do. No one says, “What will this logo tell me today?” But people do love to see and hear what actual human beings from a beloved brand have to say. This is the difference between talking at people with content and talking with people by engaging directly.

Regarding the idea that live streaming is for the egotistical or that there’s a gap in value, “It’s not vanity if you’re actually bringing value. If you’re helping people learn about something that they need to know about, that’s good marketing,” if you ask me. That’s value. And value is what builds community and experiences. It comes back to doing great things for other people. There’s power in the immediacy and the storytelling facilitated by live streaming.

Content marketing started so that brands and individuals could convey their messages. I admit I’m one who blogs frequently. But with the live streaming mechanism available to us all, why not take advantage? Why not tell those stories and make those connections now? Focus on a philosophy, have a strategy and then pick a platform and connect with your audience.

Brands, get your people out in front! Let them tell your story.

We’d love to see you on blab for one of our podcast recordings! Follow Brian and me on Twitter and look for our hashtag #SMACTalk.