This new year, I couldn't help but ask myself the question, "How is marketing going to be different this year?" I mean, every year pretty much starts out the same but something is bound to happen to jazz things up. Do not call lists, do not fax lists, Twitter. The reality is that anything can happen!
Here are just a few of my predictions for the new year. I probably should consult with the Popcorn report or something that is based on legitimate research, but here's what I think the new year will bring.
1. New social media. Marketers have been struggling to make social media work from a marketing perspective. Even if I have a thousand "Fans" or ten thousand "Followers", what does it really mean? Not only will marketers do a better job of utilizing social media to market their products, but I believe we'll see new innovation in this area as well.
2. Mobile marketing. The concept of mobile marketing has been around for a long time. But with last year's introduction of cell phones that have full browser capabilities, everyone is connected all the time. This spells opportunity in the area of mobile marketing and real time promotions. I'm not sure what it will look like by year's end but I do know that it will be a focus in 2010.
3. An emphasis on organic search. As Google becomes even more dominant (maybe the government will step in this year) and pay-per-click costs continue to escalate, companies will be spending more of their marketing dollars on organic search and proper web design. Having to depend on PPC marketing to generate revenue is still a key ingredient in everyone's marketing budget but so will search engine optimization.
4. Analytics are king. This year, even marketers who have resisted adopting the latest and greatest analytics will succumb. As a mentor once told me, "In God we trust, all others bring data." We have access to more information than ever before and with free analytic programs like Google Analytics, there's no longer an excuse for being unable to identify your best lead sources.
5. More for less. Consumers are going to continue wanting more for less. As a result, marketers must focus on perceived value. Although the tendency may be to discount early and often, creating lasting value is what consumers want and will respond to.
2010 is going to be a great ride. Just like last year, marketers will continue to evolve their methods and effectiveness. We have more tools at our disposal than ever before and the prospects for a happy new year look very, very good!
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