A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to Survive Hardcover – September 17, 2014

Sit back. Relax. It’s time for a serious “roll up your sleeves” conversation about Social. Co-authors Mark Babbitt and Ted Coiné don’t hold any punches. In their book, A World Gone Social, it’s straight talk from beginning to end. Five years of solid research punctuated with recent real business stories present a compelling case for what it means to live, work and operate in the Social Age. The days of “too big to fail” are being replaced by a future rushing at us that is “too big to ignore”. If you want to survive and thrive in business today, this is a must read.Their concept of OPEN – Ordinary People, Extraordinary Network is the giant awakening that needs to be put into action now. In this hyper connected global world, we simply can’t afford to leave talent, skills, engagement and contribution of many on the table. Decision-making and taking action on the most important strategic issues are no longer just the job of a few. Mark and Ted are masterfully inviting us to involve and include the great minds of the ordinary and extraordinary that is in each of us. I salute them. This book not only tells us what is, it also shows us the way.

Living in the Social Age can be exciting and a little frightening at the same time. Ted and Mark do a fantastic job at explaining how the social world is not something to fear, but something to embrace. 20th century thinking and management is dead. Today's world requires mindful leadership. They not only provide real business case studies of what works, but also what didn't work, and why. This book is not a guide to "how to tweet" or "top tools for social media". It is sound advice on how to embrace social media and the opportunities created for business. If you are in management, leadership, recruiting, sales, or looking for a job in today's market, and think if you ignore social, it will go away, you are wrong. It's here to stay and Mark and Ted our your guides to understand it. As the previous Director of Community at The Huffington Post, I personally love the fact they dedicate an entire chapter to communities! Regardless your knowledge of social media, you will walk away with new insights after reading A World Gone Social.

In "A World Gone Social" Ted Coine and Mark Babbitt outline the seismic impact of social media on business. In example after example they illustrate the danger of ignoring the shift in the power dynamic between customer and business. The risks to companies that treat social media as just a toy to pay minimal attention to, or equally commonly, pretending it's a new form of broadcast medium, are put in stark terms. But it's not just a warning, they also guide the way to social done right, and the advantage that companies which have already made the transition have already begun to experience.The book traverses the impact of social on every facet of business including recruiting, customer service, management, sales, even product development. Nothing can be treated as a silo anymore. They make excellent work of showing just how interactive the operation of a social business has become.While I'm already an advocate of social media, I found the book a useful read. Exposing me to both new ideas, as well as refining my existing thinking. Bravo.

A World Gone Social: How Companies Must Adapt to SurviveWritten by Ted Coine and Mark BabbittThis practical yet fascinating perspective on how the Social Age can transform an organization into a more profitable and visionary one is a “must-read” book for every leader and every organization.As society undergoes revolutionary changes, in order to excel so must business. A World Gone Social approaches leadership of those businesses through a humanistic approach which integrates business and social orientations. The core message: Personal engagement with employees and customers alike builds trust. Out of this trust, loyalty is born. From this foundation, Coine and Babbitt outline and detail a step-by-by playbook on how to identify and fix a failing Industrial Age system and how to forecast a successful system by practicing what you have learned about the Social Age.A World Gone Social is a remarkable book concisely written with the purpose of educating both entrepreneurs and executives how to succeed in our more-fluid-than-ever business climate, and society.

If you think that Ted Coine and Mark Babbitt's 'A World Gone Social' is just more social media tips, then you'll be floored by this book. Social is a sea change that is already affecting every aspect of our business and personal lives. Technology like cloud, mobile devices and social networks are radically changing how we recruit, manage, motivate and sell as the old Industrial Age ideas become extinct. On the one hand it's a wake up call because it makes us realize how quickly we can become dinosaurs. On the other hand it's exciting because there are great examples of companies like Zappos and social CEO's like Richard Branson that understand how to thrive in this new world of possibilities. A World Gone Social has energized me to become a social CEO and to be much more OPEN in 2015. You'll LOVE this book!

This is one of the most "powerful" books I've read in a long time - as the title says companies MUST adapt to survive - no option!!! The most successful companies today are the most transparent ones. Social media forces transparency whether you are ready for it or not. The examples in this book of corporate missteps from giants like United Airlines, Target, Starbucks, Comcast, just to name a few, point to disastrous public relations - forcing the expenditure of millions of advertising dollars in the attempt to win back consumer favor. This book provides social reality sanity checks. Systems [people] must be in place to mitigate whatever damage might be done, whether by a disgruntled employee or customer. It stresses OPEN communication between consumers and companies -- and companies and their employees.Well done Messrs. Babbitt and Coine

This book is right on the money! I wish everyone had the opportunity to read this book and respond to the message! The Industrial Age is over. Reading thus book will help you enter "World Gone Social" and up your Keadership game! It his is my favorite book of 2014. I expect this to be a best seller. Congratulations to Ted & Mark!!! I drank your kook-aid gentlemen!!! Just Excellent!

A world gone social is an excellent book with many eye opening examples about how social media is changing how we communicate and do business today. Many real life examples reflecting solid and vast research behind the book. A must read for anyone interested in Digital and Social Media.