Social Impact

Fire Your Worst Customers

How valuable are your customers? Maybe a better question is how valuable are your best customers? The quest for the most valuable customers started in the 19th Century with Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto. Pareto found that 20% of your effort will generate 80% of your results, called the 80/20 rule. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Monday, January 30th, 2012 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Brand Culture Tips

Think of your brand as you would your body. Imagine three months of eating Big Macs, fries, lounging on the couch, sleeping 15 hours a day. Next, think about three months of eating fruit salad, vegetables, doing Yoga every… Continue reading →

Posted in Featured, Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Monday, September 13th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Defining Heart and IQ Brands

Brand appeal is much like sex appeal. Some salivate at even the thought of an iPad, like some ogle at an Anna Kournikova poster. There is an elite class of brands that can instill such junkie-cravings. First that comes to… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Friday, August 27th, 2010 | 2 Comments

How to: Effective Emotional Brand Marketing

Have you ever said “Wow” after watching a TV commercial? Have you ever been so deeply moved by a brand’s commercial that it changes the way you feel in that moment? Brands that connect on a truly authentic… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Social Community for Change Agents

Ever heard of the Green Guerillas Youth Media Tech Collective? The green youth media group proclaims their collective to be sustainable storytellers who challenge the status quo. “We are young media makers who define sustainability in terms that make sense to us. In April 2009, we embarked on a new project with our veggie diesel bus to create our fourth feature film—Green Guerrillas Blockumentary v.3 HD—which will showcase stories of sustainability from under-represented communities in the current environmental movement.” These and hundreds of other change agents are sharing their stories on Changents, a startup social community that serves as a catalyst for social entrepreneurs and great causes. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact, Startups & Innovation by David Capece | Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Innovation in Social Cause Business Models

NBA legend Magic Johnson recently spoke at Wharton’s first Social Impact Forum saying, “Legacies are not built on how much money is made, because after all there are a plethora of millionaires in the world. Instead, they are built on how many people can be touched with the amount of money made. Individuals are able to set themselves apart by helping communities get on their feet.” Today, it has become fashionable to do good and many entrepreneurs are building businesses with generosity at their core focusing on urban renewal, children’s initiatives, and even the basics such as food and water. Continue reading →

Posted in Market Trends, Social Impact by David Capece | Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 | Tagged , | 1 Comment

The Power & Influence of Social Media: Shifting Consumer Behaviors

Social media has had explosive growth as a “trustworthy source” because so many individuals look to social media in their personal life, work life, and everyday life. From Facebook to Twitter, and LinkedIn to Evernote, we’re constantly surrounded by family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances that rely heavily on social media sources as their primary sources for information and relevant content. So, the next important question to ask is: Will this be the end of traditional media, and is it dead? “Dead” might not be the word. “Dying” might best reflect what’s truly happening with traditional media outlets. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Guest Author | Monday, July 12th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Return On Engagement: A Social Media Manual

Return on Engagement is a book about content, strategy, and design techniques for digital marketing, by Tim Frick. Tim has provided creative media services since the early 1990s, creating design-driven media solutions for education, arts, non-profit… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by David Capece | Friday, July 9th, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Top 3 Wow Customer Service Companies

It’s fair to say everyone has experienced terrible customer service. Call about your cable bill and you’re pushed through a labyrinth of menus — half of which do not recognize your voice — then funneled to a person who can barely speak your language. It might… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Friday, July 2nd, 2010 | Tagged , | 3 Comments

BP Oil Spill: Profits Over Planet

While BP’s spill cleanup costs have eclipsed $1 billion and could eventually cost over $10 billion, can you really put a price on the damage to the environment? If it is true that BP cut corners and that they put on a fraudulent show for the President Obama’s Gulf visit (as reported by CNN’s Anderson Cooper), does BP really deserve to still be worth $130 billion? Consumers … this is your opportunity to vote with your wallet. Many of you are angered and would love to change BP’s slogan of Beyond Petroleum to Bankruptcy Protection. The backlash has spread to Facebook with over 200,000 fans of Boycott BP. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by David Capece | Monday, May 31st, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Facebook Privacy Breech – Trouble for the Future?

Facebook endured another privacy debacle this week when a security flaw was found, allowing friends to view each other’s private information, including chats and messages. Though the security breech lasted only a few hours, many users are upset that their privacy had been compromised for the second time in less than a month. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Tara Lane | Friday, May 7th, 2010 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Personalities that Appeal to Gen Y Men

What does Howard Stern, Steve Carell and Ron Paul have in common? No, Howard Stern and Steve Carell are not running for Congress (though Howard Stern might have some interesting takes on international policy…). All of them are on male Gen Yer’s… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Monday, May 3rd, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Digital Earth Day: Leveraging the Web for Sustainability

Earth Day 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of this worldwide celebration. Founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1970, Earth Day is a day dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation for the earth and our environment. Statistics show that Earth… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Tara Lane | Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Earth Day Must Read Articles

Earth Day 2010 celebrates its 40th birthday today. It’s a time to promote the sustainability of our land, water and air through individual efforts that ladder-up to collective, widespread impact. Companies and consumers alike are finding distinct ways to… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How Governments Should Use Crowdsourcing

The Conservative party have been making a lot of noise about Crowdsourcing. Obama is its pioneer. But they have little in the way of practical details about Crowdsourcing strategies and mechanisms. Here is a list of applications of Crowdsourcing in government that we think could prove the most effective… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Guest Author | Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Under the Radar Brand Experiences

Brand experiences make us say “wow.” They engage us in new and unique ways and transport us to another universe. Think Nike, Apple, Google and other leading hero brands. All serve unique brand experiences — whether it’s an in-store Genius Bar or… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Thursday, April 8th, 2010 | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Women’s Month: Women Leaders in Pop Culture 2010

When searching for examples of strong female leaders, People magazine is probably the last place someone would look for inspiration. However, there are many well-known women in popular culture using their status and influence as a force for good, by… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Tara Lane | Monday, March 29th, 2010 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Interview with Social Entrepreneur, Ben Lyon

We spoke with Ben Lyon, the founder of FrontlineSMS:Credit*, a non-profit focused on micro-financing. After his experience in the East Timor hotel, his passion, drive and motivation to help those in need brought him back to Africa, only this time, with a… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Health Care Summit: Truly the Right Path for Obama?

If the Obama brand had a product, it would be healthcare, just as Apple has the iPod. Why does Apple have a 74 percent share of the MP3 market? The tech giant developed a simple, easy-to-use, desirable, MP3 player into a market of clunky, difficult-to-use… Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What are the Brand Implications of Obama / Dali Lama Meeting?

How do global brands stay relevant and appeal to a diverse constituency/audience? For Barack Obama and the Dali Lama, it’s about joining in a symbolic meeting about human rights and taking appropriate action; for corporate brands, such as HSBC or…. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Impact by Ethan Lyon | Thursday, February 18th, 2010 | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment