CGM & Consumer Attention

I tried something new for my ClickZ column this morning.  I used a fictitious dialogue between a consumer relations representative and typical consumer to illustrate some of the big, conspicuous disconnects in how we think about consumer "attention."  As marketers, we live for CAPTURING attention, but when it comes to RECEIVING attention, that's a different story.  The advent of consumer-generated media has now thrown a big wrench into the equation, as the way we manage "attention" shares a symbiotic relationship with how our brand is "advertised" by other consumers.  Industry groups like the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals are finally starting to wrap their arms around this (here's their upcoming conference agenda), but every marketing stakeholder needs to starting internalizing these themes.