by Ellie Gibbard on February 4, 2011
While some companies are waiting for their office lines, cell phones or emails to notify them of an issue or opportunity, they leave the social web untapped. In every industry, it’s imperative that the customer or client’s satisfaction is monitored, but lately I’ve begun to wonder why more companies aren’t utilizing social media as a tool to “customer-source” that type of data. Blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter not only connect people, but also provide insight into current trends and hot topics being discussed by a company’s existing and target customers. While social networking has become an integral part of relationship building, many companies have yet to take notice of the intrinsic benefits those relationships provide.
Social media channels directly connect a company with its customers, allowing the company to reinforce its position as a thought leader in its field and bolster its presence in the market, while simultaneously monitoring customer feedback. Data is being created at an astounding rate and in the social media context, the data that is available to be monitored comes directly from the source: the unfiltered comments of the users. This “customer-sourced” data is rich with detail, and can often clearly delineate what a company is doing right and what areas may need improvement. With the variety of social media communication channels available, it could be said, “the Social phone is ringing.” The question then becomes “is anyone in your organization going to answer it?”
by Ellie Gibbard on October 22, 2010
The entrepreneurial landscape looks vastly different today than it has in decades past. Financing isn’t as easily obtained as it once was, but with respect to technology and innovation, the beat goes on. We are in the midst of a period of change, and those that are able to embrace the change will reach higher levels of success during these unstable times.
A gap is developing, and it’s not a generational or intellectual gap; it is a gap in perception. In the past, work ethic was somewhat measurable based on how many hours someone spent at their desk, and by how often they picked up a telephone or went on a business lunch. It was a world where “nose to the grindstone” prevailed, and that generally meant in-person work production and a fairly linear workflow. That perception of work ethic has become somewhat archaic to today’s entrepreneur.
Today, there are new tools at the entrepreneur’s disposal. Those tools allow entrepreneurs to be mobile, to work from wherever they are, and whenever they want. Today’s entrepreneur not only writes e-mails from a cell phone, but they have the opportunity to open a laptop or iPad on a train and consume or create media while they travel. The Internet has become interactive, and consequently so has the entrepreneur’s landscape. The gatekeeper has been removed, and today’s entrepreneur can connect with the marketplace in a manner that was only dreamt of in the past.
The current economic climate requires flexibility, energy, and vision. Advances in technology continue to influence the way we work and live, and innovation continues to affect the way people interact with the world around them. Ideas are still being conceived and developed, but the conversations are different than they once were. Today’s successful entrepreneur knows that it is extremely important to be aware of, and implement a strategy tailored to, the environment that currently exists.
by Ellie Gibbard on October 19, 2010
The world is changing around us…
…and it’s changing rapidly. Advances in technology continue to influence the way we work and live, and innovation continues to affect the way people interact with the world around them. These advancements continue to have a profound impact on businesses in virtually every industry, and the legal field is not exempt.
The purpose of The Entrepreneurial Lawyer is to explore issues and trends that exist at the intersection of business and law. The Entrepreneurial Lawyer will provide fresh perspectives from Ellie Siegel Gibbard, an ambitious lawyer and business consultant with a JD/MBA based in Philadelphia.
This blog will feature guest posts from notable established attorneys, junior attorneys, entrepreneurs and established business owners, among others. We are always open to your ideas and suggestions. We love comments so don’t be shy.
Thanks for reading,
Ellie S. Gibbard
