Embracing the Age of Influence (Neal Schaffer -- Founder, PDCA Social)

Neal Schaffer is an international speaker, author, and consultant who focuses on digital and social marketing strategies. As Founder of PDCA Social, he helps businesses navigate digital transformations and grow their online audience. His latest book The Age of Influence explains the meteoric rise of influencer marketing and how brands can successfully work with social influencers. In this episode, Neal explains that the early days of social media were similar to word-of-mouth marketing. Those days are long gone, however, as social platforms increasingly gate audiences and have become pay-to-play environments. He argues that now influencers are a way for brands to incite word of mouth and predicts that influencer marketing will soon be a dedicate line item in most advertisers’ budgets. Finally, he highlights examples of brands that have turned their customers into brand advocates, such as Disney Parks and Ritz Carlton, both of which have adopted a 100% UGC social strategy. Host: James Creech LISTENER SUPPORT If you’d like to make a small monthly donation  to help support future episodes, please visit https://anchor.fm/allthingsvideopodcast/support ABOUT THE SHOW All Things Video is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the past and charting the future of the online video ecosystem. Listen to interviews with founders, executives, and thought leaders from the world’s leading media companies and engage in thought-provoking debates about the issues shaping the next generation of entertainment. From the short-form content revolution to the fragmentation of video viewership in an always-on world, All Things Video reveals the key trends and insights from the world of digital media. Follow All Things Video on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for new episodes and updates! ABOUT THE HOST James Creech is an entrepreneur focused on technology, online video, and digital media. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Paladin, the essential influencer marketing platform for media companies, agencies, and brands.