There are no secrets. The networked market knows more than companies do about their own products. And whether the news is good or bad, they tell everyone.

The Cluetrain Manifesto

Every day people are having conversations online.

Forming around passions and interests, millions of blogs and hundreds of social networks, message boards, wikis and media-sharing sites (Flickr, Youtube, Picasa etc) are discussing a vast array of subjects.

As audiences seize control, attention and influence shifts outside of a brand’s immediate control. Companies need to recognise that people are engaging with brands with or without them.

The rise of social media is not only changing the relationship between brand and audience, it is affecting the traditional marketing and PR metrics. Social media offers insights and understanding never before achievable.

Before the internet, people talked about brands. Usually one-on-one or in small groups, they exchanged stories about brands, products, shopping experiences, and recommendations. Conversations, previously out of site of marketers, are now freely available online.

As a Social Media Strategist, my role is to empower brands with a Social Media presence, and ultimately raise awareness and increase sales.

Now put your consumer shoes on: do you use Social Media as a source of information to make choices? If so, what are the most influential and relevant sources of information you’ve ever come accross.

I bought a Crumpler camera bag after finding this photo on Flickr.

I’d love to hear about your experiences online!

Peter Kim also has a very comprehensive list of brands that embrace Social Media available on his blog.