There ARE alternatives to Banner ads - look around

Not a very surprising newsflash that I am huge fan of flickr and the flickr team. Not only am I a long time passionate user but I also often use the site as an example of how to 'get it right' from a customer experience and marketing perspective. With flickr, the customer always comes first. No banner ads cluttering the flickr site, instead they are looking for more innovative approaches to monetizing the site.

Last week flickr launched their camera finder - and not a moment too soon - as I just happen to be in the market for a new digital SLR. Seeing which camera my flickr buddies use makes a lot of sense to me. It is not my only decision lever - but it is a great trusted starting point. As for future sponsorship opportunities, I can think of a ton that surround the world of photography and are customer driven. Smartly - flickr is putting a toe in the water. I hope they test community response and set up some additional useful efforts.

I have always been surprised that there have not been more companies who have realized that the passionate community of flickr users is a great place to connect authentically with customers. There are rules to this connection - but it is such low hanging fruit - for the right company with the right attitude who plays by the community rules.

Thanks to Pete for the link.