A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive

Social media has changed the way the world operates, and companies need to modify just about every aspect of how they do business to remain efficient and profitable. Coine and Babbitt, self-described "successful veterans of the social revolution," offer an insightful and thorough exploration of how to implement these systemic changes. They delve into the new company/customer power dynamic, where customers hold many of the cards, and show how, thanks to social media, employees are also emerging as a new power group. The authors go on to provide examples of companies that use social media to their advantage, such as Southwest and Verizon, and those which have learned the hard way, such as United Airlines and Bank of America. Coine and Babbitt also describe the disruptive changes social media has spurred in employment recruiting, and predict that social media will permanently change how legacy enterprises act, lead, and operate. Of particular interest to executives will be the book's consideration what it means to be a social leader and what to do if you're just not a good social representative. In-depth discussions of teams, customer experience, and social media marketing round out this comprehensive examination. Illuminating and insightful, this book is essential reading for all levels of the corporate ladder. (Sept.)