5. Start partnerships – Listen marketers, we love your products. We usually buy them right? Now please recognize your captive audience and treat us like adults. Ask us questions, have us test, even have us develop. All we really want is to help.

4. Use ad dollars wisely – The world has changed and so should marketers. No one can hide anymore and everyone can be heard. Some people have a head start in this. Court them and see what makes them happy. Trust me, they will tell you at length.

3. Stay active with your brand – This is a new world and consumers are expecting open lines of communication. Staying active virtually and physically will increase loyalty in these tough times. Everyone wants to feel the love, so give it to them.

2. Have fun – Don’t take life too seriously, you won’t get out alive. High transparency is the new way of business (see Wall Street mess). Admit mistakes, try new things and for god sake, have a good time with your product.

1. Stop Shouting - A lot has happened in one very short year. We learned we are not the only superpower (hi China Olympics). We learned we can forget or past and embrace change. And I think we matured a lot. With maturity comes an impatience with shouting. Most TV ads shout, as does radio. Consumers are getting wise to shouting and in turn are tuning out (Tivo, XM). So if you are a marketer, make 2009 the year you stop shouting and start connecting.