Throughout this book, I discuss social influence marketing on the major social platforms: what you can do on the paid side of the equation as well as on the unpaid or earned media end. Still, much more social activity is happening online beyond Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, and Twitter that needs …

It is the Camelot of your dreams – the castle of every fairy tale.” So said the 20th-century British travel writer H. V. Morton of the mighty Krak des Chevaliers, which sits majestically high above the rolling plains of western Syria. This monumental castle, built by Crusaders in the 12th …

giving it a population larger than most countries. That’s a lot of people talking about a lot of things (including products) to a lot of people! People are making more and more purchasing decisions online every day. It’s as natural to buy a product online as it is to go …

If Tikal were a volcano, it would be on perpetual amber alert. You tell yourself that nothing’s going to happen while you’re there, but then again, once in situ, suddenly you aren’t so sure. Perhaps it’s the constant chattering, rustling wildlife, or the feeling that the on-site archaeologists are on …

Work with business analysts Most of the people I interviewed had opportunities to work with business analysts prior to becoming one. Leverage any opportunity you have to observe business analysts or partner with them on a team. As you build relationships, let them know about your career goals. This could …

If you pay close attention, you are likely to find opportunities in your current position or company to take on tasks that fall within the sphere of business analysis. These may not land in your lap. Instead, you’ll need to be proactive in seeking out additional or different work assignments. …

In addition to understanding the basics of business analysis, you should to have perspective on how the business analyst role fits within software development lifecycles and the tools you or your colleagues may be using. As you probably realize by now, a business analyst is never in a self-contained box. …

Before you dive into this section, get out pens or highlighters of at least two different colors. If you are reading online you can use the online editing functionality of your reader or simply have ready a sheet of paper with room for three lists. As you read this section …

If you are truly passionate about the role and most responsibilities required by the role come naturally to you, it should not be any more difficult to find a BA job than to find a job in most other professional positions. In some respects, the barriers to entry are lower …

It depends. If you start the project with a well-defined idea and your efforts are focused on working through the details, you might work with a handful of business stakeholders and very closely with the implementation team on the functional requirements. Alternatively, there might be a fair amount of exploration …