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News & Trends

Eric is on the road, so Paul is solo this week. He has recently dipped his toe back into the technology media world after a nearly 10-year hiatus and is struck by how little things have changed in the way PR professionals pitch journalists. Despite the fact that Web new sites require images for nearly all the content they publish, he’s been surprised to find that almost none of the pitches he receives include graphics. Why are PR professionals passing up this opportunity to add value for their clients?

Special Guest: Sam Sova, Social Media Director, Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls (JCI) is a $42 billion diversified technology and industrial company that traces its roots back to 1885. It provides control systems that optimize operational efficiency in the world’s largest manufacturing and process industries. But a long history doesn’t hold the company back from embracing the tools of modern communications. CEO Alex Molinaroli has nearly 11,000 followers on Twitter and more than 75,000 people have registered their approval on the company’s Facebook page. A new video campaign showcases employees from around the world telling their own stories about their careers at JCI and how they make a difference. With 170,000 employees around the world, that campaign could last a good long time.

Sam Sova oversees much of the social media activity as director of global social media and web content. He joined Johnson Controls last year after nine years in the financial services and telecommunications industries, including his most recent stint as head of social media strategy at TIAA-CREF. Among his immediate tasks at JCI is overhauling the company’s web presence to make it more mobile friendly. As Sam explains, the next generation of customers doesn’t behave the same way as the generation that preceded them.

Read an interview with Sam Sova in Advertising Age.

Hear Sam tell the JCI story at the Percolate Client Summit.

Follow Sam on Twitter.

About Paul Gillin

Paul Gillin, host of FIR B2B, is a veteran technology journalist and a thought leader in new media. Since 2005, he has advised marketers and business executives on strategies to optimize their use of social media and online channels to reach buyers cost-effectively. Full bio