Guy Clapperton speaks regularly on social media to business audiences internationally. In 2011 he spoke in Malaysia, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Holland; meanwhile in his home London he has chaired the first day of the Social Media World Forum two years in a row. He has been invited back to speak in Italy and Denmark in 2012, on both occasions by audience members who liked his style and had conferences to arrange.

 

Guy takes a no-nonsense, common sense approach; he likes to engage with the audience and his recent themes have included “Social media: are we any good at this?” and “Social media: OK, now show me the money”. Audiences have reacted well to his humorous style; for example he has used social media “expert tools” to back up claims that he is a fashion icon in Milan, and also a watch expert in Switzerland (both of which conclusions came from genuine online results - and they did get a laugh!)

 

His authority in social media comes from the two books he has written on the subject, “This Is Social Media” (2009, updated 2011) and “This Is Social Commerce” which will come out in January 2012. Guy has been a technology journalist since 1989. He always tailors his presentation to the client’s requirement but he is comfortable talking about social media in a business strategy, the hidden costs of social media and sustainability. 

 

Outside social media he chairs panel discussions for professional audiences at Bafta, most recently on the subject of interactive TV in October 2011, and often chairs and facilitates for corporate clients which have included Google and others. In 2009 he also co-wrote the book “The Joy of Work?” with Prof. Peter Warr and has spoken on work and happiness at Sheffield Hallam University and also in London. He addresses the nature of happiness, collectivism v. individual happiness, creating workplace happiness at low cost. He also appears regularly on the BBC News Channel’s newspaper review.