Understanding The New Consumer Contract

The media and marketing industry has long been guilty of beating consumers (aka people) over the head with commercial brand messages until they pay attention. This mass marketing approach is crudely military with big brands seeking maximium reach and frequency by launching campaigns that seek to cut-through and penetrate. However, modern networked media has put the power back in the hands of individuals who are simply able to turn off, fast-forward, filter out and unsubscribe from irritating ads. This has left brands in a quandary about how to reach consumers and build that illusive equity that encourages shareholders to keep investing their shekels.  However, whilst mass marketing results in the majority of folk covering their ears, the new alternative may leave them looking over their shoulders.  This is because big brands are increasingly focusing on mass-snooping exercises to gather data about individuals in the hope of identifying likely customers.  Clearly, the collection of information about people isn't new. The direct marketing industry has been with us...