Conversation Agent - Valeria Maltoni

Making You

Two situations when this expression usually comes up: the context, or someone else has the action verb and decision power it's what everyone does, you need to do the same; it's the thing to do In both cases, this is an artificial construct. It has consequences, and may not up your score. A driver speeding out of a driveway without looking, barely missing a neighbor walking the dog and not even slowing down to see if they were alright is rationalizing that her son is making her late for something. She has no time. When drivers tailgate, usually the same... Read more →

Social Science as Applied to Commerce

Social Science as Applied to Commerce View more documents from Valeria Maltoni. This is another real time conversation I published more than four years ago at Conversation Agent that is still relevant today. At the time, we didn't have content curation tools, and I worked as both filter and curator, parsing through comments, and adding color and context. Social science applied to commerce Some highlights from the conversation: Behavioral research is often limited to hypotheses and personal preferences among employees. When you have experience designers who know how to concept new products quickly, and can marry that with observing what... Read more →

How to Write a Newsletter That Will be Read

It's not a well kept secret: To become a better writer, you need to write and read more. Better writing does several things you're interested in achieving for your business: cuts through the clutter delivers utility connects based on value and relevance There is something that is as or even more satisfying than social relationships: And that is personal mastery. The command of one's thoughts and ability to communicate them. You develop that muscle by exercising it. You can use your new skills to grow your business by writing an email that stands out, and to help others by writing... Read more →

Word Choices

[YouTubeby RSA Animate - 10:54"] Sherry Lowry over at the SxSW panel picker site gives really good feedback. I'd like to riff off her comment as I start a new series of conversations that bridge technology and business. As I said in my response to Lowry, her feedback made me think about words a little more (I'm a linguist, I do geek out on words and expressions) and inspired further thinking. My point of view on the topic is that learning to see things differently requires also some unlearning. This is especially valid when it comes to assumptions. To put... Read more →

3 Books I'm Reading Now

These days, I don't seem to be reading fast enough to publish reviews every week. Since that is such a popular service for so many - and you are always welcome to the book reviews archives - I thought I'd tell you which books I'm reading now, and why. *** I became intrigued with the work of Genevieve Bell from reading some interviews when I was researching the post on the role of the participant-observer in organizations. Admittedly, the book she co-wrote with scientist Paul Dourish and published by MIT, is pretty geeky. However, besides it providing a much needed... Read more →

When You're Speaking in Slogans Rather than Solutions

Do we expect too little, or too much from digital content? I've been thinking about the parallels between political and business environments and how the conversation is stumped by words that don't work. Because they have good intentions, and a mismatched intent. More worried about the effect, than how they affect. When you're speaking in slogans rather than solutions, that's what people hear, and what doesn't get done. Whatever your political persuasion, message mishaps occur when words don't work. Positioning an idea linguistically so that it affirms and confirms an audience's context can often mean the difference between that idea's... Read more →

Ten Ways Leading Brands Lead

Depending on how you look at it, the protracted difficult economic conditions and the world events we are experiencing can be both a burden and an opportunity. This is a good time for businesses that are getting back to basics to step on the commerce pedal and take the lead. In times of uncertainty, new leaders are made. Leaders confront the brutal facts of reality by delivering true solutions and not solutions in search of a problem. They are not discouraged by limiting conversations both in social channels and those fueled in mainstream media-tainment. After all, they are a reflection... Read more →

Branding is About Being True to the Business

Branding needs to project the right image. Before it does that, it needs to be true to the business. I see too many instances in which the focus has been flipped around - putting emphasis on the externalities, like look and feel - to the distraction or detriment of the business. I also think that it is the business that drives it, not audiences. Audiences respond, the business (usually) reacts to that response, taking it for a sign that it needs to react when the best place to learn how to become strong, more resilient, and enduring is to learn... Read more →

Publishing Real Time Conversations

Take Your Brand From Commodity to Community View more documents from Valeria Maltoni. In early 2007, I held a series of conversations with professionals about several subjects that are still quite thematic today. Despite them being real time in format on the site, I also created portable versions of the documents. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the main themes we discussed and looking at their relevance four years later. Starting with Tom Clifford, or Director Tom, and the idea of taking your brand from commodity to community. Why is Storytelling so Compelling... Read more →

Taking Back Social Streams

There's a disturbing trend online fueled by social networks. Places like Facebook for example, which make it easy to see the posts of a few people who think like you and agree with you. They give you the illusion that anyone who thinks differently is evil without giving you the benefit of new context, especially if you don't take the time to read up on the issues. Life is not black and white. It's a bit more complicated than that. Information being available is not the same as you being informed or letting data and facts inform your thinking. Because... Read more →