with the ability to produce and digest content in real-time, the era of 2-way communication with consumers is upon us. brands need to begin the discussion now.

1. The Era of 2-Way Communication with Media and Brands

2. We used to sit and listen the media dictated and we obeyed

3. With 1-way communication, we were slave

4. (this is me)

5. But then something happened

6. 1999 2001 2004 2006 2004 2006 2004 2007

7. In the new media world, we don’t just receive messages, we participate

8. We Speak Up We Speak Out We participate in hordes

9. Number of blogs (doubling) (doubling) (doubling)

10. Content coming shorter and swifter

11. And it’s happening in Real-time

12. 10.31.2007 Twitter and RSS Beat CNN to the Punch Alerting Me About the California Earthquake At 11:05 PM EST an earthquake of 5.6 magnitude hit Northern California By 11:17 PM EST there are reports that Twitter is lighting up with first hand documentary By 11:24 PM EST I receive my first alert via blog post noting how much activity was on Twitter. At 11:53 PM EST CNN publishes their first mention of the earthquake (My firsthand account)

13. Facebook today: from address book to live experience

14. And it’s not just text

15. (now this is me)

16. Our voice is now a part of the media

17. Supplementing it.

18. Contributing to it.

20. Curating it.

21. Becoming it.

23. Ustream live stream panelists A recent Conference I “attended” Meebo live chat with other watchers Attendees and panelists messaging each other

24. The ability to become content producers means our voice is beginning to define brands

25. Brand credibility will come from embracing the consumer

26. And working with the consumer

27. And opening up a real dialogue

28. Recognizing ultimately that the consumer defines the brand

29. And embrace it

30. Now embrace and begin the conversation. The end.