the short reply from me on that is that the definition of “value” is changing, and moving into an area where metrics are less valuable than philosophy or intention.

edge economy principles, open beats closed, good beats evil, are newer realities that we all get to live with. it might be hard for any company, or person, or institution, or country still using old thinking.

maybe those who talked about 2012 in 1980 were onto something afterall! :)

I think we are getting increasingly savvy as consumers in being able to detect intention. The democritization of information and connections that is a direct result of the internet, means we can see through the veil.

I think it is really hard for a really large company to have a meaningful conversation with a consumer, in part because there are so many people and departments “in charge of the brand” and many of them are not even inside the company! They are outsourced to the folks at the agency. One department wants to talk one way or one message, while three others veto it.

Combine that with the transiency of many people’s jobs, and you have less and less loyalty inside a company—that also translates to less and less with the customers.

What used to be thought of as a one to many conversation – the brand to the marketplace – has become a many to many conversation, and it includes all sorts of people on the sidelines.

and i even wonder about the west, can the pipes get fatter at the same rate as the increase in downloading, uploading, hd? isp’s are already limiting “heavy” users. so, an infrastructure question.

and my time, i can read faster than you can talk.

production values. sure, seeing people on their web cams leave comments, the seesmic thing, is tolearble, unless it is really loving and personal, businesses better have better production values, but then, it slips into being marketed to, and i hate that. so the personal/effective mix is a tough one

and yeah, measuring results, not only clicks or connects, but, mind changes, not yet easy to do, and probably will never be, in the sense that you either need an implant or facial recognition to really know whether you have turned me off, or on. and i will tell you, it is off far far far far more than it is on. just between you and me.

so i clicked over here to find out who the heck you are because i saw a comment you made on the current marketing dialogue going on with the silicon valley bloggers … and the ability to do that is the beginning of the future of this immediate medium. as you well know. but coca cola doesn’t have a chance, it will be the smart water guys who get it.

and another experience i will share with you in my garrulous flow… the first time i walked into a whole foods store was last year in california … eight years straight in india, so i missed the growth.

guess what my first impression was …. assaulted by the vibe of marketing decisions and packaging focus group meetings, totally missed the food. frightening, actually. though i adjusted, and was soon heading there daily for my kambucha fix. now that is a smart company, the drinks guys. neofoods? i forget the name. but if you shop at whole foods, you know it.