The Social Business Imperative: Adapting Your Business Model to the Always-Connected Customer

Social media is now the dominant online activity and drives more website traffic than online search. The implications for businesses are as profound as the rise of Google 15 years ago. Amidst the demands of running a business, it can be alluring to fully delegate "digital" to the digital team. But in today's wired environment, digital is actually everyone's job. Company leaders and professionals must seek to personally grasp the tectonic changes arising from the always-connected customer, and then rethink traditional business models, business practices, and even their own job responsibilities and careers accordingly. In  The Social Business Imperative , Silicon Valley entrepreneur and renowned thought leader Clara Shih identifies powerful new opportunities created by social media across the entire customer lifecycle. As described in the book's foreword, written by Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz, this guide is a must-read for all professionals. From boards of directors, CEOs, and Chief Marketing Officers to to front-line sales managers, recruiters, IT, and compliance directors, no role is untouched by the social, mobile, digital transformation. This book explains how to adapt and thrive in this brilliant new world order by understanding the transformation taking place not only in one's own department but across the customer journey. Only with this broader understanding can functional leaders collaborate on delivering a cohesive experience spanning previous organizational silos.   Going far beyond her global bestseller The Facebook Era , Shih offers unprecedented insights into why and how traditional organizations must re-imagine their existing business processes to capture “the digital last mile” across social, mobile messaging apps, Internet of Everything, and the collaborative economy. Drawing on her immense experience helping Fortune 500 companies operationalize digital transformation to drive measurable uplift in sales and loyalty, Shih also presents powerful new case studies spanning multiple industries and companies from Wells Fargo to Warby Parker.   “A book worth reading, a voice worth listening to, from a leader of real consequence. A clarion call on the promise and potential of social channels to transform business.” —Walter Robb, Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market “This is a must-read for any business leader who wants to thrive in this time of disruptive change.” —Chip Bergh, President & CEO, Levi Strauss & Co. "Whether you're a global brand, small local business, or individual who wants to turn your passion into a livelihood, this book simply and clearly articulates how to channel the power of social media to delight audiences and grow your business." —Marne Levine, COO of Instagram “Almost overnight, social media has transformed business and the way we as companies interact with our customers. In a way, social media has become part of everyone’s job. Clara's book gets right to the heart of the matter and gets us thinking critically about what could be next on this roller coaster ride.”  — Robin Hayes, President and CEO, JetBlue “The power of Clara’s book is it highlights not only social media practices but fundamental business practices and how company leaders need to entirely rethink customer engagement models. The implications for every business, regardless of industry or geography, of today’s social, connected consumer cannot be overstated. This book provides a powerful vision and compelling call to action for company leaders everywhere.”  — Ted Mathas, Chairman and CEO, New York Life