So I spent the better part of today listening to different folks discuss varied topics relating to interactive media. This was my first time at @nevadainteract, also lovingly known as #nim10, #nims10, #nims2010, #nim2010 or more correctly Nevada Interactive Media Summit.

I listened to quite a few of the folks that live in this world today, the common thread being that you have to be genuine, authentic and transparent. The message triumphs the media, etc., etc. It was all very well done, especially considering the low cost of entry.

After all of that the biggest thing that I learned today is that there is a decent sized group of folks out there that still don’t “get it”. Not thy that’s a bad thing since we were all there at some point. It just leads me to believe that the active users are all selling eachother on eachother’s products (a loose quote from @fuze/Bryan Landabaru).

I heard quite a few explanations of viral video, FireWire, keywords (all in a sadly horrible presentation/sales pitch for and equally horrible black box). Maybe it was just this small sampling of folks, but it seems that the masses really don’t get it.

I’m sitting in The Vintage wine shop, blogging from my iPhone via their free wifi. That in itself encompasses the power of the new media world in which we live. An this is what the masses need to grasp. The converstion can and will happen when it wants or needs to. With or without the business’ input on it.

Using SM in a biz environment is nothing more than joining the conversation that is already taking place. Sure, you need to learn a few basics, the so called “best practices” to make the most of it but that’s no reason to he scared!

If my opinion matters at all to the noobs (that’s slang for newbies, just in case) it is simple- dive in, be part of the conversation, don’t worry about making mistakes (as @mehwolfy/Mike Henderson says, you’ll be in good company) and finally, be yourself.

And to all of the folk that I had my first offline experience with today, I look forward to making fun of your tweets in the future. Ciao!

(in the interest of full disclosure- I have had a few beers and now a glass of wine, I do not work for any media agencies, there are no affiliate links and/or paid ads, I am trying to figure out a way to make money from my ramblings but haven’t yet and finally- it was a great day and tomorrow can only bring more opportunity-enjoy!)