Randi Zuckerberg: The Future is Mobile

Former Facebook director says to provide products people use around the clock

TREVOSE, Pa., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Digital power player Randi Zuckerberg in a radio interview today suggested companies tap the power of social media and mobile devices, talk to people in the real world and focus on building a brand instead of being cool.

"More and more companies are creating beautiful experiences on mobile devices, on tablets," said Zuckerberg, former director of market development for Facebook, in an interview Tuesday on ASI Radio. "They're bridging all those experiences – watching content on TV and having incredible mobile experiences simultaneously. Offering deals on mobile. We're on the tip of the iceberg with mobile, and I'm really excited to see where we go."

Zuckerberg, who's launching R to Z Media to help companies take advantage of social media, said she advises people to "provide a product so useful people want to use it around the clock, like e-mail. Focus on building a brand, rather than on being hip or cool."

Zuckerberg spoke to ASI Radio to advance a keynote speech she's giving May 10 at a trade show in New York City hosted by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) on Social Change Through Social Media: How the Web is Changing the Way We Live, Vote, Organize and Work.

The Harvard grad spoke on ASI Radio about branding, connecting with clients in cyberspace, becoming a media empire-builder like comic Tina Fey and singing in a cover band called Feedbomb.

To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.

On creating a ubiquitous brand, Zuckerberg said to avoid getting caught in a bubble. "Anyone developing a global brand needs to really get out there and talk to people who are using your products," she said.

Social media, she said, is a great way to catch the attention of a potential client or business partner. Open a dialogue by posting or tweeting articles about them or their campaigns and encourage friends and followers to re-circulate. "People are really suckers for flattery, and social media is great in that regard," she said. "When you're on social media, be sure to really respond to people and have a conversation – don't make it a one-way communication."

Zuckerberg credits a strong, involved team for her successful launch of Facebook's U.S. election and international politics strategy and Facebook Live's streaming coverage of the presidential inauguration. "It's really important to have a culture where people truly believe great ideas can come from anywhere," she said. "You'll be much more effective at creating something truly groundbreaking if you can empower people on the team to be experts. And to come up with really interesting challenges and solutions."

The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) is the largest media, marketing and education organization serving the promotional products industry, with a network of over 27,000 distributors and suppliers throughout North America.

SOURCE Advertising Specialty Institute