Brian Solis kicked off LinkedIn’s Brand Connect 2012, delivering the keynote address on the Future of Social Media. Brand Connect brought together Australia’s top marketing and advertising executives to discuss the latest global digital marketing trends.

In the keynote, Brian discussed the future of social media and marketing, emphasizing the role of community and people. Too often, marketers use social channels for traditional marketing campaigns…resulting in too much talking and too little listening. Brian explored how the best companies are truly social in their social media strategies and how marketers and brands today can move forward with a new vision and mission.

According to Brian, “If this is the end of business as usual, then what is the next business as usual? I believe it’s around the idea of experience.” Social media is based on shared experiences and marketers should think about what they want people to experience, feel, and share.

About Brian Solis

Brian Solis is principal at Altimeter Group, a research-based advisory firm. Solis is globally recognized as one of the most prominent thought leaders and published authors in new media. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, Solis has studied and influenced the effects of emerging media on business, marketing, and culture. His new book, The End of Business as Usual explores the emergence of Generation C, a new generation of customers and how businesses must adapt to reach them. Engage, Solis’ previous book, is regarded as the industry reference guide for businesses to build and measure success in the social web.