Join us over a cocktail at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco on June 30th for lively debate on some of the key issues faced by brands communicating in the social age. Moderated by Brad Berens, Chief Content Officer, Digital Marketing Sector at dmg :: events.

Panelists will include:

• Bill Wohl, Chief Communications Officer at HP
• Paul Burrin, Vice President, Corporate Communications at Citrix Online
• Mark Wilson, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Field Marketing at Sybase
• Will Valentine, Head of Global Corporate Media, Social Media and Analyst Relations at Visa

The discussion will touch on some of the key insights from the recently published “Many Voices, One Message” report – an independent survey of senior marketing communications professionals worldwide, conducted by Econsultancy. The panel will explore everything from the structure of communications departments through to content development and the measurement of campaigns.

WHERE

Grand Hyatt San Francisco
345 Stockton Street, San Francisco (near Union Square) in the Bay View Room.

WHEN

Thursday June 30, 2011, 5:30–8:30 p.m.

• 5:30 – 6.15pm – Networking over cocktails and appetizers
• 6:15 – 7:15pm – Panel discussion
• 7:15 – 8:00 – Networking

Register now for this FREE event before seats fill up.
Sponsored by the San Francisco American Marketing Association.
Visit our Facebook event page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=209769172394108

RSVP

To RSVP this event, please visit the BiteBash Eventbrite page. If you require more information, please email BiteBash@bitecommunications.com or call Kaleen Barnett at 415.365.0379.

At Bite’s Age of Conversation event last week, a thirty strong group of technology and media industry experts were left with the promise that a decade of change in the way we communicate with consumers is fast approaching. After three insightful presentations (see below for summaries and videos) and stimulating debate it was clear that our audience is still grappling with how to engage consumers in a unique and personalised way. While it was clear there is no quick fix, if the passion and experience of the group that came together on 10th December is anything to go by, we can look forward to a very interesting journey over the next ten years.

Steve Gettings,  Head of Broadcast Market Intelligence, Ofcom
Despite an ongoing recession, adoption of digital devices and services in the UK continues to rise. In this short presentation, Ofcom’s Head of Broadcast Market Intelligence Steve Gettings helps us understand why. Drawing on the Ofcom 2009 Communications Market Report, Steve highlights the impact of DVR’s and on demand TV on viewers consumption behaviour, the increasingly mobile nature of internet access and constantly evolving social networks.

Peter Cowley, Managing Director of Digital Media, Endemol
Endemol are the largest independent production company in the world across TV and digital, with 80 companies in 27 countries. Here Managing Director of Digital Media, Peter Cowley discusses what content “works” in a world where access is so ubiquitous. Highlighting some of the most successful Endemol campaigns across TV and digital, Peter looks at what it takes to effectively extend user engagement online, create original digital programming and successfully build a social game.

Professor Michael Hulme, Lancaster University & Director of Metaply
A change in communication and ‘connected behaviour’ on an unprecedented scale and depth is just beginning. In this speech, Professor Michael Hulme draws on more than a decade of research experience to explain what today’s device and content consumption behaviours mean for the trends of tomorrow. Highlighting a fundamental shift towards a culture of ‘assemblage’ and ‘verification’, Michael discusses the new role that brands must now play for consumers.

Guest speakers from Ofcom, Endemol and Metaply

This week Bite UK will be hosting the latest in its ongoing series of industry events, entitled, “The Age of Conversation: losing control and winning relationships.” Brands already signed up to attend include, ITV, Sony, 4Music and Yahoo!

According to experts, it is the reluctance to relinquish control that’s holding brands back from successfully speaking to people in this increasingly real-time culture. So, Bite is bringing together three experts in the field to lead the debate on building and maintaining brand equity in today’s 24/7 digital society.

Kicking off the event will be Steve Gettings from Ofcom, giving an overview of the latest Communications Market Report, setting the scene for the debate with a broad analysis of media consumption habits and technology uptake. Professor Michael Hulme will then be building on these trends to look at the social factors behind the statistics. The debate will then focus on the changing balance between mass and personal broadcast and the increasingly ‘real-time’ nature of communication.

From Bite’s pre-event research it is clear that many brands are struggling to move away from ‘tell-based’ mass broadcast, even when they are developing digital initiatives. The event will focus on how campaigns can move away from merely paying lip service to the notion of personalisation, with Endemol’s Peter Cowley showcasing some of its ground-breaking work.

This event comes at a time when organisations know that losing control makes people nervous and is scary for marketers. There is however an acceptance that the future is all about conversation. The issues of verification and trust have huge implications for corporate messaging in 2010. Bite is confident that the event will help attendees to better understand the emergent trends in how we communicate and how ‘content’ is fast becoming a vital part of that communication. Ignore it at your peril.

You can watch each of the speakers here

Steve Gettings, Senior Broadcasting Manager, Market Intelligence – Ofcom

Steve Gettings heads up Ofcomís broadcast market intelligence team which is responsible for collecting and analysing radio and television market data. They author Ofcomís three annual market reports (focussing on the UK, the Nations and Regions and international communications markets); they also provide the evidence base on which Ofcom develops its policy proposals, such as those connected with the review of Public Service Broadcasting. Prior to Ofcom Steve worked in a variety of strategy and business development roles at the BBC, Teachersí TV and the Ministry of Justice and started his career in consulting at OXERA and PWC.

Peter Cowley, Managing Director of Digital Media – Endemol UK

As Director of Digital Media for Endemol UK, Peterís role is to develop and implement Endemolís digital media strategy in the UK. The role is a UK board level position, reflecting the significance of interactive media within Endemol’s business.
Strategically, Endemol looks to exploit its TV brands on a multi-platform basis and fund its activities via broadcasters; advertisers or consumers. Increasingly Endemol is looking to develop entertainment products on new media platforms such as mobile, broadband and interactive TV.
Previous to Endemol, Peter has worked in the media, marketing and advertising industries at Freeserve, Cable & Wireless, Videotron and Bartle Bogle Hegarty.

Professor Michael Hulme – Lancaster University and Metaply

Michael Hulme is Hon Professor and Associate Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Studies at Lancaster University where he is a member of the Lancaster University Development Board. He holds an MPhil in Critical Management also from Lancaster. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Market Research Society. Michael is also Director of Metaply. Metaply provides understanding, analysis and future views of socio-economic trends, technologies, audiences and markets and was established to make academic research accessible and relevant to the business community. Metaply is responsible for undertaking the annual technology and media behavioural study, the Digital Lives Research Programme.

Michael’s career began in corporate finance before moving into marketing and then strategy in the computer industry, becoming Head of Strategic Marketing in Europe’s then largest financial services software house. He then became an independent entrepreneur starting, developing and selling companies in the consultancy and mobile communications industries. Whilst, during the last 10 years he has devoted most of his time to social research he has also been able to play an active role in the economic and social regeneration of the North West with a particular commitment to Cumbria.