Francois Gossieaux, co-author of The Hyper-Social Organization

This month's Third Tuesday Ottawa will interest anyone who wants to understand the impact of social media on businesses and how the most successful ones are adapting to it. Our February Third Tuesday speaker is Francois Gossieaux (http://www.twitter.com/fgossieaux), co-author of The Hyper-Social Organization (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Hyper-Social-Organization-Eclipse-Your-Francois-Gossieaux-Ed-Moran/9780071714020-item.html?ikwid=hyper-social+organization&ikwsec=Home).

"In the beginning, business and commerce were social exchanges – if you sold poor products, people would bad-mouth you and shun your operation, forcing you out of business or pushing you to improve your offering," writes Gossieaux. While we lost that element of personal contact and accountability through the era of mass media and mass marketing, it is being returned to us in the era of social media. Gossieaux argues persuasively that businesses must themselves become hyper-social in order to survive and thrive in this new era.

Together with his co-author, Ed Moran, Gossieaux has conducted annual Tribalization of Business surveys, examining the impact of social media on organizations and how they are adapting to it. The Hyper-Social Organization draws on this data to map a course that business can follow in the era of social media.

I've seen Francois present the Tribalization of Business Study data at Society for New Communications Research symposiums and I can tell you that he's a smart, articulate presenter who gives everyone in his audience something to think about and act upon.

Best Marketing and Advertising Book 2010

Yes, it's an award winner. The Hyper-Social Organization received the National “Best Book 2010” Award from USA Book News in the category Business: Marketing and Advertising.

Thank you to our sponsors

Third Tuesday brings great speakers to major cities across Canada. This month, Francois Gossieaux will speak at third Tuesdays in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. This would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, who underwrite the cost of visiting each of those cities. Thank you to CNW Group (http://www.newswire.ca/), Rogers Communications (http://www.rogers.com/), Radian6 (http://www.radian6.com/), and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (http://www.fairmont.com/). You help to make Third Tuesday Digital Canada's national meet up.

Students can attend free of charge

We don't want anything to get in the way of students sharing in this great learning opportunity. So, if you are a student, show your Student ID at the door and Thornley Fallis (http://www.thornleyfallis.ca/)will pay the cost of your registration.