Nielsen online is now watching you

I was thinking about how to include this list in a blog post when I read a news story about Nielsen (the big market research company best known for tracking our television viewing habits) which has just launched a new service to help companies keep an eye what you and I are doing. OK let me be more accurate here -- Nielsen Online is building a consulting group to help advertisers manage their reputations on the Web -- specifically in user-generated content environments.  Proof that big brother is now watching over you. Makes you feel important doesn't it?

Seriously, social media is becoming an important tool in the business world. Companies need people who understand the blogosphere, understand YouTube, Facebook, viral videos, social media and the like. Turns out that all the stuff you have been doing for fun may actually lead to something.