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Author: Tim Collins

With a decades-long career in marketing at brands like Bank of America, Taco Bell and Popeyes Chicken, Tim has been involved in social media for more than a decade. When social media consisted only of blogging, he started the social media function at Wells Fargo, which was the first bank to blog and the first bank on Twitter. He and his team coached senior executives on the impact and use of the then new medium as the bank weathered the reputation challenges of the financial crisis.

At Grisdale Advisors,  Tim takes a customized, collaborative, research-based approach to coach C-Suite Executives on the safe and effective use of social media to grow their professional brands and further their careers.   He helps Executives develop and implement an appropriate social media plan based their objectives.   Finally, he works to identify and manage roadblocks to participation, such as time, knowledge and risk.

Tim's client engagements typically take around six weeks.  They are designed to get the Executive up and running on social media.  Based on the Executive's objectives, this includes a content plan, platform recommendations, set up and training.  After six weeks, you will have the strategy, resources and knowledge to be a social media rock star.|With a decades-long career in marketing at brands like Bank of America, Taco Bell and Popeyes Chicken, Tim has been involved in social media for more than a decade. When social media consisted only of blogging, he started the social media function at Wells Fargo, which was the first bank to blog and the first bank on Twitter. He and his team coached senior executives on the impact and use of the then new medium as the bank weathered the reputation challenges of the financial crisis.

At Grisdale Advisors,  Tim takes a customized, collaborative, research-based approach to coach C-Suite Executives on the safe and effective use of social media to grow their professional brands and further their careers.   He helps Executives develop and implement an appropriate social media plan based their objectives.   Finally, he works to identify and manage roadblocks to participation, such as time, knowledge and risk.

Tim's client engagements typically take around six weeks.  They are designed to get the Executive up and running on social media.  Based on the Executive's objectives, this includes a content plan, platform recommendations, set up and training.  After six weeks, you will have the strategy, resources and knowledge to be a social media rock star.|With a decades-long career in marketing at brands like Bank of America, Taco Bell and Popeyes Chicken, Tim has been involved in social media for more than a decade. When social media consisted only of blogging, he started the social media function at Wells Fargo, which was the first bank to blog and the first bank on Twitter. He and his team coached senior executives on the impact and use of the then new medium as the bank weathered the reputation challenges of the financial crisis.

At Grisdale Advisors,  Tim takes a customized, collaborative, research-based approach to coach C-Suite Executives on the safe and effective use of social media to grow their professional brands and further their careers.   He helps Executives develop and implement an appropriate social media plan based their objectives.   Finally, he works to identify and manage roadblocks to participation, such as time, knowledge and risk.

Tim's client engagements typically take around six weeks.  They are designed to get the Executive up and running on social media.  Based on the Executive's objectives, this includes a content plan, platform recommendations, set up and training.  After six weeks, you will have the strategy, resources and knowledge to be a social media rock star.

Categories
Best Practices Culture Growth Health and Wellness Leadership Skills Technology

Your Privacy in the Wake of the Facebook Cambridge Analytica Scandal

While Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal continues to play out,  one of the big “AHA” moments has been the discovery of the amount of information that Facebook has captured on it’s users. 

The fact that Facebook captures data on users is not really a surprise, but the breadth of data captured was stunning to many, as were the lax safeguards in place to protect that data.  The scope of Facebook’s data collection is still a bit of an unknown, as we haven’t learned of additional data captured by Instagram and What’sApp, both of which are owned by Facebook.    Facebook’s empire is a data collection machine that powers the marketing campaigns of business around the world.

And Facebook is not the only data collection machine.  Most tech companies collect data for marketing purposes, and privacy and data protection varies on each..  Google collects data  via search, Gmail, maps and Google applications.  But also captures data via Android phones, Waze driving applications, and it’s Nest home automation subsidiary.  

So what are we supposed to do?  Unless you are willing to completely abandon the digital world, you have to accept that privacy is elusive online.  But there are few things you can do to minimize the amount data collected and the accessibility of that data .  Here are a few tips that could help:

Be aware of the information available on you and adjust your privacy settings accordingly.   Both Google and Facebook will let you see a good portion of the information they collect on you.  It doesn’t cover all of the data collected from related businesses, but it is still helpful.  For example, I found out that Google knew the 10 different cities that I lived in my life, and was making that information publicly available.  While I couldn’t delete the information, I could make it private. 

Close unused social media accounts.  Many of us have tried new networks, but ultimately abandoned them.  Despite our neglect, your information is still out there.  Use justdeleteme to jog your memory and delete as many old accounts as you can.  Some do not make it easy. 

Don’t use Facebook’s or Google’s single sign on for other services.    When you start using a new service or retailer and are asked to “create an account”, many will ask if you want to login via Google or Facebook.  While it is convenient and one less password to remember, this service also allows Google and Facebook to track everything you buy with that retailer. 

Don’t use third party applications on Facebook.  Those cute quizzes and other entertainment might be fun, but they are also data collections devices.  These are the type of applications that supplied the data for Cambridge Analytica.  Some applications just collect data, but some require that you submit personal information that is often the subject of commonly used security questions.   Don’t play along.  The fun is not worth the risk. 

Delete unused applications on your phone, desktop and other devices.   Many of us constantly add new applications, but are less diligent about deleting old ones.  Applications collect a lot of data, even when they are not being used.  So if you have not used an application in a while, delete it.  I purge applications every six months, and end up deleting more than half the applications on my phone.   

While digital privacy remains elusive, you can take action to minimize the breadth of personal information out there.  Take control!

Categories
Growth Leadership Personal Development Technology

Social Media Is Dead! Long Live Blockchain Social Media!

Something is rotten in the land of social media.  The current behemoth social networks are tearing our country apart, while making money hand over fist.  Even technology executives won’t allow their kids on social networks.    For the first time since 2012, Facebook just reported a decline in daily visitors in the US and Canada.  Inc. wrote that the big social networks “are centralized in every way, decide what you will see and not see through their algorithms, and completely lack transparency. This sounds like something ripe for disruption.”  Queue the rise of blockchain social networks.

Many have heard of blockchain’s application in crypto-currencies, but the technology is now being applied in a variety of industries from financial services to pharmaceuticals.  It has already been tested in voting applications, and could allay voter fraud concerns while generating higher voter turnout.  Social media is one of those nascent blockchain applications.

Why are these new networks different from Facebook and the other large players?  Users of the traditional networks consist of a few content creators and many lurkers.   With few exceptions, there is little incentive to create great content.    The traditional networks monetize the content created by users and sell advertising against the eyeballs it generates. Stealing a page from Reddit, blockchain social networks reward content creators for creating great content.  Users decide what is great content. There are no algorithms.

Content creators and active participants are rewarded with some form of cryptocurrency and the rewards structures are relatively easy to understand.  And, as of yet, they have no advertising.  Consequently, they create a more engaging environment with active contributions from the people you actually want to hear from.

Numerous blockchain social networks have launched over the last year.  Steemit squarely competes with Facebook and Instagram, and its video platform could take on YouTube.   It is the largest blockchain network and will soon have over a million users.  It rewards creators and active users with Steem Power and its proprietary Steem cryptocurrency that can be exchanged for popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Etherieum (https://www.ethereum.org).

Twenty-one-year old Sven Lucas earned $4,000 by posting in his free time. While this is nothing compared to professional YouTube contributors, it is a significant incentive for casual users who earn nothing on the big networks.  He writes that he is “sticking around for the great content.”

Indorse is still in Alpha and is aimed squarely at LinkedIn.  It promises an authentic presentation of skills without the fake endorsements that plague LinkedIn.

So how will this impact the big social networks?  Some of the emerging blockchain networks will certainly be swallowed by the big guys, as Facebook acquired Instagram and WhatsApp.    All of the big networks are already experimenting with blockchain applications and will liberally copy successful features of the blockchain networks.   They will experiment with greater rewards for content creators.  But given their advertising model and huge scale, it is doubtful they could reward all contributors and active participants.

But they may not have to, as the blockchain social networks may be forced to meet them in the middle. As the new networks grow, they will have to figure out a revenue model to keep the lights on, reward content creators, and generate a return for their investors.  Brand marketing will likely play a role.  These new networks will have to balance their need for revenue with the needs of users, many of whom could be fleeing traditional networks because of privacy concerns and intrusive marketing.

But the ripple effects of blockchain social media could extend far beyond their initial impact on the big social networks.   Apple’s current business includes an ecosystem of devices, iTunes, applications and more.  It has disrupted several industries.  But Apple’s business started with the Mac, which made computing easier.  Amazon started by disrupting the book business, but has since built an entire ecosystem that is disrupting the grocery and health care businesses.

Successful blockchain social networks will foster similar ecosystems built on cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. Cryptocurrencies and their underlying technology are complex and difficult to understand.  The simple rewards of these new networks provide incentives for cryptocurrency adoption beyond cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiasts, which will foster business extensions.  The current plethora of blockchain start-ups, will explode as these networks take off.   Disruption of the big social networks may be an immediate effect of blockchain social networks, but, longer term, disruptions will ripple into other industries as these start-ups gain traction.

As is often the case when new players disrupt the marketplace, the big winner is the consumer.  They will see a more rewarding social media experience. This rewarding experience will ripple out to other industries as well.  Traditional social media may be waning, but blockchain social media is alive and well.

Grisdale Advisors helps current and aspiring C-Suite Executives build a powerful and influential social media presence, which helps their companies, their employees, their communities and themselves.  Contact us here.   If you would like to subscribe to the monthly Grisdale Mail, click here.   

Categories
Growth Leadership Personal Development Technology

Do You Know What Your Reputation Is?

Have you ever Googled yourself and been surprised by what you find?  I have a relatively common name, so I always find out things about the famous Tim Collins’s of the world… a Major League Baseball player, a British general, and more.  But one time, I came across something that I clearly did not want associated with my name.  I shared a name with a serviceman who involved in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.   The story and its search results have long since faded into the background, but it taught me a lesson about monitoring and managing my online reputation.

The majority of business interactions happen online, including interactions with Executives.   Most people will Google you immediately after meeting you.  This includes hiring managers and recruiters, employees and prospective employees, vendors, journalists, and of course, customers. First impressions matter, so make sure you give people the right impression.  The first step is being aware of your online reputation.

Google just your name.  If you have a relatively unique name, your results will be straightforward.   But if you have a common name like me, you will see results from others who share your name.  While it can be informative and amusing, it can also uncover negative news that could rub off on your reputation.  Imagine sharing a name with Monica Lewinsky, as more than a dozen women on LinkedIn do.

Google your name + your current company.  Double check that the results aren’t derogatory, particularly on the first couple of pages.

Google your name + your last company.  Your results can get interesting if your former company has had a bumpy ride since you departed.  For example, I left Wells Fargo just a few weeks before their account scandal broke.  More recent negative company news can get mixed in with your historical accomplishments, particularly if there are others still at the company with similar names.

Focus your attention on results on the first pages.   Over 90% of searchers never go past the first page of search results.  If there is something derogatory on page one, action is required.   But 99% never go past page three, so a negative result on page six won’t really matter.

What do you do if you’ve found something negative?  For many, one relatively easy task is to create content that pushes the negative results down, ideally onto the next page.  For some this could be as simple as participating in a popular podcast or YouTube video that features the key words that yielded the negative result.  For example, I might create a contemporary video about “What Tim Collins learned at Wells Fargo?” with content that has nothing to do with their recent troubles.  Depending on where the derogatory information came from, the video may have to be posted on a site with some level authority to displace it.

Since the search engines prioritize active personal social media presences, another solution is to create a robust social media presence that pushes down negative results  Walt Bettinger, CEO of Charles Schwab, has a robust presence on Twitter and LinkedIn, and these two accounts both pop up near the top of his search results, pushing other content down.  Contrast that with Morgan Stanley, CEO James Gorman, who is not socially active.

Of course, building a robust social presence is something that I can help with.  But with really challenging online reputation issues, with multiple derogatory results, a reputation management company is called for.  One that I can recommend is Blue Ocean Technologies. There are numerous others.

But the first step is awareness.  Google yourself, and hope that the results you see are positive.  If not, take action.  Remember, first impressions matter.

Categories
Growth Leadership Personal Development Technology

Check Your Email Please

As part of my social media advisory business I send out a monthly newsletter.  This month I noticed something as I reviewed my mailing list.  I was surprised to find dozens of people on my list that still have old school mailing addresses.  We are talking AOL, Hotmail and others.   Not only do some of these people possess these addresses, but they publicly display them on professional social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, as well as their business websites.

First impressions matter, and often people’s first impression of you is via Email, or a display of your email address.  The first impression these folks are giving is that I am older and not very technologically savvy.  In a business world where digital is everything, and ageism is rampant, this is the last impression you should give.

The movie “You’ve Got Mail” came out in 1998, near the peak of AOL’s business, which steadily declined in the new millennium.  Ten years later, articles started appearing about how old-fashioned AOL users were. Now, 20 years later, why are folks still using these outdated addresses?  I asked a few of my subscribers, and here is a sampling of their response.

“I didn’t think it really mattered.”  I wish it didn’t, but it does!  Another common response included “inertia.” One person told me “Warren Buffett doesn’t even have an Email address!”  Yes, but Warren Buffett became one of the richest men in the world BEFORE email was even invented.

Lastly, some said “my current AOL (or Hotmail) account is established with my friends, family and business associates.  I don’t want to lose those contacts.” This is a fair, but manageable concern.  No-one wants to disrupt connections unnecessarily.     But you can keep the same address for current contacts while presenting a contemporary one for new ones.

AOL users can set up a Gmail account that forwards messages from your AOL address to your new Gmail account.  Old friends and colleagues don’t have to change addresses, while you look contemporary to new people.  Hotmail users can do something similar with more contemporary Outlook addresses.

If you have an AOL or Hotmail Email address, it is time to come into the 21st century.  A contemporary e-mail address will improve the impression that you make with new friends and colleagues.

Now, can we talk about that MySpace account?

Categories
Best Practices Growth Personal Development Technology

Don’t Go Into a Proxy Fight with One Hand Tied Behind Your Back

After investing in their stock last summer, activist investor Bill Ackman of Pershing Square went after human resource services provider ADP.  He proposed replacing the CEO and asked for Board seats. What ensued was a nasty proxy fight that played out on CNBC.  Both sides peppered shareholders with webinars, letters to shareholders, highly targeted advertising, and more.

Ackman, who reportedly boasted that he “gets more clicks on that internet that anyone except Donald Trump”, also took to social media.  He promoted his cause on his personal Twitter account to his 15k+ followers and created the ADP Ascending account specifically for the proxy fight.  Some of ADP Ascending’s few followers were large shareholders of ADP.  In addition, Pershing Square promoted the content on the account to targeted investors.

ADP ceded the social media battlefield to Mr. Ackman, despite the fact that the majority of Americans get their news from social media.  Increasingly proxy fights play out on the social media stage. Investment professionals use social media to keep tabs on current and prospective investments.

Other than a few business-as-usual tweets on its September Analyst Day, ADP did not mention any investor topics on its Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn presences during the proxy fight.  Their content remained customer focused, which is understandable.  Why upset happy customers with board room drama that may never affect them?

Like Mr. Ackman, ADP could have created social media accounts specifically for the proxy fight.  While short term issue-specific accounts rarely garner many followers, content on the account can easily be promoted to key investor stakeholders.  Lastly, ADP CEO Carlos Rodriguez could have taken this on personally.  Investors expect to hear from the company and the CEO.  Unfortunately, Mr. Rodriguez does not appear to have any public facing social media profiles, so he was absent from the social media discussion as well.

While ADP and Mr. Rodriguez were prepared in many channels, they were not in social media.  Unwilling to use their branded social media account to reach shareholders, they should have had alternatives in place well before the crisis hit.  One might have been a dedicated “news” oriented social media account that was geared towards investors and the news media.  Bank of America News is a good example on Twitter.

Another alternative is CEO Carlos Rodriguez.  CEO social media accounts, if well managed, are a great way to communicate with shareholders who expect to hear from the CEO.  But as PR Week notes “a crisis is not the time to test whether the CEO is up to the task.  Advance preparation is critical.”

Of course, ADP and Mr. Rodriguez came out victorious in the proxy fight.   But there are still lessons to be learned for others who may not be so lucky.  Here are three tips.

1)   Build Relationships with Current Investors.    Investor satisfaction is a resource you can tap into when things get ugly.  

2)   Prepare for Activist Investor Scenarios.  While it’s impossible to identify every threat, consulting firms and other resources are available to help. Demands for social responsibility are increasingly common.  Whenever possible, threats should be mitigated in advance.    

3)   Develop Draft Messaging and Communications Plans.  Every attack varies slightly, so you will never get it 100% right…but you will be so much further along than if you had to start from scratch.

4)   Ensure that you Have the Right Tools in Place.  Do you have the right Communications and Marketing resources (internal or external) to execute your draft plan?  Do you have the right communications platforms in place?  Of course, this includes social media.  Have you established well followed social media accounts that can be employed during an attack.  If this includes leadership, make sure that the CEO’s account is well established with consistent content, well in advance of any attack.  

Activist investors and proxy fights can be huge distractions from the business.  But with planning and the development of foundational tools, you can be better prepared to take on the challenge.

Categories
Growth Management Skills Technology

Great Leaders Are Always Transitioning

As I moved from company to company throughout my career, I rarely had a gap in between roles.  So when I was recruiting a candidate that had recently been laid off, my internal recruiter had to explain the term “in transition” to me.    I was not a big fan of the term.  Couldn’t we just say that someone was between jobs?  Transitioning has much broader and open-ended connotations.

In my current role as a social media advisor and coach to C-Suite Executives, I work with a few Executives that are between jobs.  But most of my clients are fully employed Executives who are constantly looking ahead and thinking about their future.  Those in new roles hope to transition from new kid on the block to established rock star.   And almost every executive worth their salt is thinking about what’s next, both in their current role and beyond.

C-Suite tenures average around four years, so Executives have to think about their future, whether that be another C-Suite role, a Board position, philanthropic endeavors, etc.  Don’t wait until you are between jobs to set yourself up to be considered for desirable future roles.  You will have much less leverage and influence than you do now.

Do your own internal assessment.  If a merger or reorganization were to eliminate your current role in the next few months, are you ready for the transition to your next role?  Are you successful in your current role?  Are your skills up to date?  Are you perceived as having good executive presence? Are you well networked?  These are some of the questions forward thinking executives ask themselves. A good Executive Coach can help.  Having an outside perspective can identify blind spots and help you create and execute an action plan to build on strengths and address deficiencies.

Also, take an objective look at your social media presence; your Coach can provide objectivity.  A purposeful and active social media presence can help address many of the deficiencies Executives identify in their self-assessment.   While elements of executive presence have historically been in the physical world, increasingly elements must carry over into the digital and social space as well.  A powerful social presence is often viewed as a proxy for “getting digital.”  It also gives you a platform to show off your current success and demonstrate ongoing subject matter expertise and thought leadership.  Finally, it strengthens and extends your already strong network.

Supposedly, it is easier to find a job when you have a job.  Like job hunting, the time to prepare for your transition and build a strong social presence is now.  By virtue of your current C-Suite position, you command attention that translates into building a stronger presence much faster than when you are between jobs.

Now is the time to start thinking about your transition.