Of course, I made this known on my personal blog and also on a couple other industry blogs.

To my amazement, someone at Google came across my groveling and emailed me personally and had me added to the program. From the buzz I’ve picked up, I’m not alone here. A very proactive, over the top customer-centric move by some of these folks at Google.

Appeasing some influential industry professionals via their approach to social media is unquestionably a wise move from a reputation standpoint. Regardless of budget cuts, any company would do themselves well to immerse themselves in social media.

I see where you are coming from. I guess with traditional potentially getting hit the hardest, online is a very cost effective way to market (if approached correctly).

I definitely agree that companies will need to listen more. However, despite the lack of ‘hard’ data in any case (evaluation is one of the oft argued areas of communication!) traditional types of marketing are still perceived as that – traditional, cemented, “proven”. I’m guessing there are many rigid executives out there who won’t jump into something they aren’t sure about (i.e. online).

I think you’re right though – traditional will get hit hard and an investment in online could really be just a case of ‘short term pain for long term gain’.

First of all, thanks for remembering some of my past posts!!

Great question. I’m thinking that online overall will become more and more prominent in the minds of marketers and traditional will get hit the hardest.

So what will happen is that companies will start to “listen” more and more. Meaning pay attention to what’s being said about them online. And then from that info, they’ll learn how they should end up marketing to these target audiences.

That may not entail huge initiatives. It could be targeted efforts to different types of customers as those different types of customers use digital arena differently.

Many traditional types of marketing can’t really get that “hard” data, making a weaker case for their continued dominance.

Surely business will want to make decisions based on “hard” data and “proven” approaches in uncertain times? I’m not saying it’s the right or wrong thing to do, just an observation.