Today’s marketing and communications professionals are exploring the online media space, only to find it is as complex and diverse – if not more so – as the traditional media world.

Simon’s 45-minute presentation will give you an overview of the world of blogging, podcasting and consumer-generated media. What are the rules, and how can businesses reap the rewards of participation without being burned?

You’ll also benefit from the many other speakers, case studies and presentations over the two day forum. Register at the Conferenz website.

Read Simon’s latest article entitled “When Design Goes Bad..” in the latest Idealog magazine. It’s about when design – in all areas of life – causes loss of money, convenience, and even life. Simon’s also written this issue’s How2 column on successful public speaking.

You’ll also see Simon’s writing in Marketing Magazine, iStart and The Business, part of the New Zealand Herald.

It’s an interesting development. Must be a sign that more people are accessing content exclusively online. Either that or an accountant is breathing down someone’s neck, making sure everything is paid for.

What’s also interesting is that the premium content seems to be opinion pieces – or “exclusive comment material” as Herald spin puts it. I would’ve thought real news would be the big drawcard for readers, but I must admit of the reading I do, most of it is the opinion columns.

Interesting (I’m overusing that word, I know) and counterintuitive, because opinions are to be had by the bucketful with the advent of blogs. But from my own behaviour, I still want to know what Jim Hopkins and Garth George and Tapu Misa say about stuff.

Maybe this whole premium content thing is a big experiment; maybe that’s why I’ve not heard of it until trying to read two columns.

Will be interesting (I know, I know, find another word already) to watch…