As I was presenting ideas about social media and the trends that we are seeing. I used a term that answers some of the critiques of the statusphere: devicification of the Internet.

As Google knows where I am through my mobile phone, plaxo tracks my online activities, and possibly my DVR “tweets” the show that I am watching, increasingly the activity status updates will fit my flow.

Scary? Hell yes it is, but then again I write about more “revealing” things than “my washer just finished a load of laundry.” Unfortunately, the washer is probably more interesting.

photo by tochis

So, they have talked about it for some time. I just want to say, “it’s here.” Welcome to the age of the conversation. Don’t believe me? Leave me a comment below, and we can talk about it.

The days of standing in an auditorium with a spotlight on stage shouting while the audience obediently listens are over. The era of big broadcast messages on television shows, billboards that clutter every open space, or in the pages of your magazine are reaching the end of their usable lives. People are tired of businesses screaming at them and telling them what to buy, at what price and how many. Now consumers are talking to each other, talking to the businesses, and sometimes even shouting back, a little.

B 2 C (Business to Consumer) is redefined. Under the new definition, Business to Conversation, businesses eavesdrop on the Consumer to Consumer conversation for an opportunity to jump in:

Take Comcast, for example. Have a problem with your cable or internet connection. Jump on Twitter and start talking about your experience. I wager that a friendly tweet will come from @comcastcares trying to help–talking with you about your problems (and not just sleeping on your couch).

Have a problem with Quickbooks? I posted about the diabolic Quickbooks. Within a few hours, Intuit jumps into the conversation pledging assistance.

A friend was raving about a new wireframing application, Balsamiq, through a tweet. They reached out to him and started a conversation about the product. They not only gave him a free license to the product, they offered more licenses to friends. The online conversation that started with a tweet sprang to life as he truly had something to talk about: a great product and a company that engaged.

B 2 C is also flipped to C 2 B. The consumer now has a voice to reach out and talk to businesses. If careful and attentive a business can listen exactly to the needs of their market. What would have required focus groups and millions of dollars in testing is now just a matter listening, which is reserved for the courageous.

After listening to a few raving reviews, I wanted an invite to a cool new application, Boxee, but Alpha testing was backlogged. After my subtle suggestion, Boxee obliged the next day. By gently listening, which in this case required nothing more than a search feed, this company can organically grow their product to interested parties. Compare that with a blairing billboard.

Sometimes the Customers shout a bit more. Glenn Reynolds’ core concept in Army of Davids is that the emerging (conversational) Web and other technological enhancements are allowing the little guy take down giants. For example, conversations between a group of moms in the fall of 2008 forced the Goliath, Motrin, to yank their ads after a short run.

We are truly in a different era that is not fully understood. Some businesses lightly wade into the social sphere to “get the benefits” of the new web, but they are unwilling to truly get wet. Unfortunately, there are some still standing on the dimly lit stage, shouting and no one is listening–they just don’t get it. The age of conversation is here, just listen.

What separates success from failure?  What is the difference between a great idea and a profitable business? Execution with consistency.

The recent election has great examples of both great execution and poor execution. What was Obama’s message? Ask anybody, the message was change. Every media channel was cohesive and broadcasted consistently.  McCain on the other hand may have had a message but it was so it was diluted with all of the ideas that it was not clear. While McCain appeared in some of the same social outlets, the many messages sounded, well, noisy.

With all of the channels that we can use to connect with each other, promote ourselves, and promote our business, we can blitz, but without consistent execution, we risk making a lot of noise.

Tags: newmedia, web 2.0, social, media, marketing, noise

As President of this our Family Reunion this year, I have launched a reunion website.

I have a few mashups (pictures, videos, blog, maps).  As I say on the site:

All things web web now 2.0, which basically means that the web is at the next level of interconnectivity. Maps can be embedded in web pages; pictures can be shared; but most importantly people’s stories can be shared with one another like never before.

As part of this plan, I made some postcards, check them out here.

Recently, I started a work real estate marketing blog. I am collecting technology related marketing thoughts there. FYI, that is my nickname it work, and .com was $39k…

Google Docs revealed a new look this week:

This interface allows you to organize your documents into folders and boasts a clean fresh look. I have been using google docs to write most of my articles for my NEW BLOG about web 2.0 strategies for marketing real estate. I like that I can collaborate in the google interface.

Just before Google snatches them up, Grand Central is offering service in my area. If you haven’t heard of it, the application is very helpful to distribute only one “anonymous” number to reach you at all your digits.

Busted up in web 2.0 and found me some sweetness.  Make your own radio station with your favorite songs and artists in less than 15 seconds. Starting now.

Of course, alerts are nothing new, but to tie onto an old post, I have taken ego surfing to a new level.  Latest alert, “Jeremy Floyd.”  If you blog, post my name and I will let you know if Google is indexing your page.

Everybody who’s anybody has been writing about PIPES recently.  I have run a few of the prebuilt pipes, and I have the sense that this is something really big, and I am unable to figure out its use fully (beyond tying flickr pix to NYTIMES).  On the other hand, this could be another web 2.0 pipe dream.
Thoughts?