Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

Imagine the possibilities of a world in which we are able to make trusted connections between a near-infinite number of people. A world in which transaction costs, time and distance are reduced to almost nil. A world that is instantly available from a smartphone, anywhere, anytime.

This global revolution, enabled by databases, search engines and connectivity, has begun. It’s allowing mankind to break free from the limits of the past. We start doing what we do best: collaborating and sharing, at an unprecedented scale — a significant untapped potential for sharing is unlocked on a whole new level, creating value for all.

Thanks to platforms that connect peers and enable the creation of interpersonal online trust, individuals are suddenly empowered to share goods, knowledge, money, skills, network, content, etc. They regain their ability to contribute more directly to society and the economy, but on a global scale, redefining relationships between economic and social actors along the way.

We are at the dawn of a new era, the sharing age, which impacts all dimensions of our relationships with others....

Wondering what the future is for blogs?

Is blogging dead?

To discover what the future holds for blogging, Michael Stelzner interviews Mitch Joel and Mark Schaefer....

It finally happened. After more than six years and 2,000 blog entries I finally had the big screw up!

This post was originally titled “How to achieve pure search results.” I was doing some research for a client and needed to find a way to get out of the “filter bubble.”

When you do a search, your results may depend on what you have searched on before, your contact list and subject matter in GMail, your activities on Google+ and your physical location, to name a few factors.

So if I search for something and you search for something, we’re likely to come up with vastly different results based on the profiles Google has created for us.

But what if you want “pure” results? I looked around at different options and stated using a Google option called “Verbatim.” I lightly experimented with it but misunderstood the fundamental nature of this tool and posted an article about how it can help you find “pure search results.”

Quite a few readers tried it, liked it, and made the same incorrect assumptions as me. But reader Phil Bradley caught the error and corrected me....

What you need is some help from artists who’ve already blazed a trail and discovered what actually works. Because some of those ideas might work for you too. So check out the following list of excellent role models for tons of ideas. And don’t just stick to your own field – cross-pollinate and explore ideas from other disciplines....

One of the reasons writing a great novel is so challenging is that there is no obvious starting place.  Is it a character?  A premise?  A theme?  A single sentence that won’t get out of your head?

While that argument continues to rage, what remains in less dispute is this: there are a set of principles and essential elements that, before the story works, you need to get right.  With that in mind, this series introduces – reintroduces, actually, since these are the foundation of this body of work, and my three writing books – ten of those essential elements.

Today’s post defines and explores the one that is in the running for that Square One focus….