About
Jeremiah Owyang
As a Web Strategist I strive to define and deliver user and community needs, business goals, and web technology to craft and deliver long term successful web programs for companies. To learn more, see the three web strategy spheres.
The focus of this career blog is to discuss how web tools enable companies to connect with customers. Get started by reading all analytical posts tagged Web Strategy.
In my day job as a Forrester Analyst, I research the social computing industry, and use this knowledge to help clients make the right decisions.
Left image taken by Laughing Squid
Disclosures
While Forrester has thousands of clients, as an industry analyst I’m expected to be objective in my coverage both in person, online, speaking, and in reports. We must maintain objectivity for clients as we would non-clients, as a result, we say good –and bad things about companies in our space. I will disclose public speeches and public webinars that I do on behalf of clients. Some clients do not want us to disclose our relationship with them.
I review technology products that are related to social media, I disclose who I’ve received them from, and give them away after I’m done reviewing them. The job board (right column) is an affiliate program, where I receive a percentage of fees from companies who post job openings.
Employment History
(Company | Title | What I actually did)
Social Media: Industry Analyst
Forrester Research | Senior Analyst | Advised and researched on social computing for the interactive marketer (current position since Oct 07)Social Media: Vendor Side
PodTech Network | Director of Corporate Media Strategy | Educated and advised corporations on social media, business developmentSocial Media: Brand Side
Hitachi Data Systems | Online Community Marketing Manager | Launched and managed integrated social media program: blogs, wiki, forum, rss, podcasts, real world eventsHitachi Data Systems | Global Web Marketing Manager | Managed global enterprise intranet and customer extranet
World Savings (now Wachovia) | Intranet Architect (LADM) | Aligned disparate enterprise intranet
Cable and Wireless | User Interface Designer | Designed customer extranet portal
Exodus Communications | User Interface Designer | Designed enterprise intranet, light development, and production
What I need to Improve on
Here’s what I’ve self-identified what I need to improve on, you can see other feedback about this blog on my uservoice page:
Processes: I struggle with highly structured environments, and need a great deal of creative lattitude, as such, I did poorly in school, but thrived in the creative arts. Details: Sadly, I find myself taking on too much, and tend to work quickly, as such I sometimes miss details. Attitude: Sadly, I’m almost always overwhelmed, I try to answer everyone’s questions, emails, comments, and skim almost all pitches, sometimes I may appear stand-offish, but that is never my intent. Time Management: I’ve dedicated most of my life to web strategy, and I need to remember to go excercise, spend time with my wife, friends, and family. Sometimes I make mistakes –I’m living and learning each day.
In the News
For all press and media mentions, see this full archive of press mentions, recent highlights include:
Business Week, April 8th
Does Facebook’s Business Plan Include Premium Memberships?Bloomberg, April 8th
Sony, Google’s YouTube In Talks to Put Full-Length Films on WebLA Times, March 30
Job seekers turning to online social networksUSAToday, Mar 4
Facebook gets a facelift, MySpace loses execsZDNet, Mar 2
Q&A with Jeremiah Owyang: Social business economyNYT, Feb 20
Baby Boomers, Luddites? Not So Fast
Research
View all of my Forrester Research, select reports include:
Future of the Social Web, May 2009 Social Media Playtime is Over, May 2009 The Best and Worst of Social Network Marketing, 2008 Google’s OpenSocial: Good News For Marketing Widgets But No Silver Bullet April 10, 2008 How To Staff For Social Computing February 28, 2008 Online Communities: Build Or Join? February 28, 2008 Online Community Best Practices February 13, 2008
Publications
Select publications include:
Dow Jones’s Factiva: Tracking the Influence: Social Media Measurement (White Paper) | August, 2007 Website Magazine: Social Media from the Drawing board to the Board Room (Article) | August, 2007 White Paper: Business and I.T. Must Work Together to Manage New “Web 2.0″ Tools (White Paper) | Jan, 2006 Video Show: Web Strategy Show, read premise or watch archives | 2006-Present
Speaking
While I frequently speak or present for clients (Video: recent example here), here are some conferences or events that I’ve participated in either as a presenter, panelist, or moderator. Access my speaking bio.
2009
Internet Strategy Forum, Portland Oregon, July 23 San Francisco American Marketing Association, SF June 25 SNCR June Event, Palo Alto, June 23 Facebook Marketing Breakfast Series, SF, June 18 KickApps Seminar, SF, June 17 Gllbane, SF, June 2-4 The Twitter Conference 140TC, Mountain View, May 26-27 Twitter Con, SF, May 31 Corporate Social Networking, Amsterdam, May 14 New Com Forum, SF, April 27-29 Web 2.0 Expo, SF, April 1 Web Strategy Summit | Calgary Alberta Canada, May 4-5th SXSW | Austin, March 15th Omniture Sumitt | Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb 17-19th CES: Social Media Jungle | Las Vegas (virtual) Jan 7
Speaking Archives
Board of Advisors
Previously, I sat on the Board of Advisors, to offer guidance and strategy to these successful startups. As a result of becoming an Industry Analyst, I’ve resigned from all advisory roles and do not own stock in any of these companies. Some of the the CEOs have provided a reference regarding my service.
Board of Advisors member for Social Media Club, Non Profit User Group (2006 - July 2007) Board of Advisors member for ConnectBeam (2006 - July 2007) Board of Advisors member for Worksona, (2006 - Sept 2007) Board of Advisors member for Ustream (May 2007 - Sept 2007)
Education
Bachelors Degree, San Francisco State University, Focus on Marketing.
PersonalI’m a young generation X who grew up with computers but not the internet. I can relate to both those that are born with the internet (natives) and those that have to learn it (immigrants). This makes my experience much more rich, as I can be the bridge between both of these worlds.
I’m a fifth generation Chinese-American, my Grandfather’s Grandfather came to the United States in the 1880s, (read story) and we’ve stayed ever since. There’s some info about my unique last name here and here.
I’m often asked how to pronounce my last name, I prefer if you pronounce my last name “Ow-Yang”, and not the Irish variation, although I won’t mind if you do.
I’m a former Jazz performance music major (piano and trombone) and spent a lot of my life in the arts. My wife and I enjoy salsa dancing, when we can afford the time, and I strive to stay in shape through jogging, weights, and the occasional swim.
Left: We attempt to Salsa Dance at the amusement of our wedding reception audience.
Profile Photo Credits: Thomas Hawk.
Need to reach me? see options at the contact page.
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