competition with actual prizes

Ed Cotton of Influx/BSSP has very kindly offered two passes to their msquared conference as a give-away. So, since the conference looks well worth going to and each pass represents 'a $195 value' I feel I should make you work for it.

So we're going to do a two stage thing like the cool question.

Since the theme of the conference is 'what will marketing become?' you need to answer that question: 'what will marketing become?' in 20 words or less.

Then we'll vote and the favourite two answers get the tickets. If anyone can't get to SFO for the conference, or doesn't know someone who wants to go then we'll move down the list until we get to someone. And we'll find a nice prize of some sort for the first two anyway (though probably not worth $200), so don't just enter to win the passes, enter to prove that your the Emperor or Empress of Planning.

Does that make sense? I'm in a rambly and incoherent mood tonight.

So, stage one - answer the question ' what will marketing become?' In 20 words or less. As a comment on this post. By midnight GMT this Saturday. Win fabulous prizes.

Comments

[Lisa England]

A voluntary relationship.

[Holycow]

Really effective marketing will become 'invisible'.

[George Crichlow]

An attempt to inform consumers of their options

[MarcusBrown]

marketing will eventually become a grown up

[Ed Tam]

Smart and interesting people coming together constantly making stuff(products, books, theatre, services, ads etc) that other people like.

[doug]

ineffective unless it provides value to the recipient

[christianbaujard]

The art of providing unexpected stuff that turned out to be dearly awaited.

[Lebowski]

What it's always been - giving people what they want

[tom]

marketing will become an antiquated term

[RajaB]

An art of creating “Wants” and transforming them into “Needs” through a constructive, meaningful & sustained dialogue with the consumers

[Richard Buchanan]

Marketing will turn society into one spectacular spectacle. A grand theatre with the commodification of emotional experience at its core. WOW!

[James B]

Fat, if Russell's diet is anything to go by. :-P

[Matt]

mutual discovery - between brand and consumer

[Ben]

There will be two tiers. An incredibly over spun top layer with a swirling undercurrent of gritty honesty.

[Aaron]

An open conversation between brand and buyer.

A lame blog meets myspace thing with streaming video and a viral campaign.

[sarah]

Fluid, less resembling a task list (viral? check. 30s spot? check.) and more an actual intelligent conversation. (oh i hope!)

[brent]

Marketing will become more focused on fueling the spark which ignites consumers to become self-marketing spokesmen (bottomline: more UGC).
Boo.

[mark]

A strategic way to add value to the consumer's life beyond the product or information e.g. entertainment, experiences etc.

[zahor]

great marketing is and will be a mutually beneficial communication between companies and consumers about their brands, products and services.

[Chris Spurgeon]

Marketing will simultaneously become so well camouflaged as to be invisible, and so effective as to be essential.

[owen mack]

Marketing will become: The point at which market research and brand messaging converge, openly.

[Lauren]

It will become less of a jarring disruption and more a welcome informant.

[Pamela Rico]

Real. A conversation when there's something to say and interactions when there are deeds to be done.

[henry lambert]

All digital (not necessarily 'the web') and all contextual.

[G]

Marketing will become...

... many things to many people. There isn't just one marketing solution or one direction in which it will change