What is influence? For a decade, Malcom Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" has served as a touchstone for those who believe that influence resides in the hands of a select few. Not so, says a new generation of marketers. They believe that thanks to the democratizing power of the Internet, anyone can be an Influential. Both camps are wrong. True influence flows from drawing together people with shared interests. This session focuses on the process of identifying areas of relevancy among your customers and prospects, building community, and allowing others to amplify your influence as you meet their needs.
Valeria Maltoni is Principal, Conversation Agent, LLC. She built one of the first online communities with Fast Company magazine. A brand strategist with 20 years of real-world corporate experience, 10 of which online, she’s worked with companies from Fortune 500 to small start ups in 5 industries. She takes brands to what’s next in their business cycle through marketing communications, customer dialogue, and brand advocacy. Conversation Agent is consistently ranked among the top 30 marketing blogs in the world by AdAge. Handpicked by Fast Company as Expert blogger, Valeria is on the Advisory Board of SmartBrief on Social Media and a co-author of The Age of Conversation. An active member of the Social Media Business Council, the American Marketing Association (AMA), and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Valeria is an Accredited Business Communicator and a Board Member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
