Let’s take a look at just a few of the companies that are defining the next generation of advertising.

1) Brickfish
Brickfish offers unique, innovative ways for brands to engage with their customers. They help brands craft a message that then solicits consumer interaction.  Consumers create user generated content all around their brand and then share it virally to all their friends online.  Some of their most recent success stories have been campaigns for David’s Bridal, Nike, and others.

2) Pixazza
Millions of images are used by content publishers around the web. They add great value to the content but are never monetized and often even incur licensing fees.

Pixazza, Inc. provides an internet service that turns static images into engaging content, while generating incremental income for web publishers. Pixazza enables consumers to simply mouse over images on their favorite web sites to learn more and see related products.

3) ConciseClick, Compulsion.tv, and Innovid
All 3 of these firms are revolutionizing the monetization of online video in different ways allowing virtual product or in-video ad placements and clickable video elements, similar to the way Pixazza does for images, but with video.

4) Engage Advertising and Massive Inc.
Both of these companies create custom in-game advertising. Purchase in game products through an eBay powered marketplace, drive past branded billboards as you race through city streets, take your character to a bar and choose from Coca Cola, Absolut vodka, or Bacardi Rum. The possibilities for integrative experiences truly are vast, and based on results thus far they seem to be effective.