pic by joshua davis on flickr
OK, so I’ve just finished reading my 38th blog post on predictions for 2010. And I have read 26 posts on trends for 2010. So, I guess as a blogger, it is my duty to report on trends and predictions for the coming year. I will do this too. However, I will combine the two. So here are ten predictions and trends for 2010 – in no particular order. Well, except for #10 [which is most important...]:
- Video will change everything. In fact, I predict that a majority of blogs in the next couple of years will become strictly video-based. As it becomes easier and easier to record, upload, and share quality video, people will jump on the bandwagon. The big question for 2010 appears to be “do it yourself” verses “hiring professionals.”
- There will be a continued focus on improving the overall customer experience. The significant growth in use and understanding of social media in handling customer outreach, means we will see more and more use of these tools. In fact, just listening and responding to customer complaints online is no longer unique. Be on the lookout for the next big idea.
- Social media, however you define it, will play an increasingly larger role with small businesses. It wasn’t long ago I read an article that said 76% of small business people saw no value in social media in terms of marketing their business. My prediction? That changes in 2010. Big time. And those who don’t figure out how to begin integrating it in 2010 – will be out of business in 2011.
- Personal branding will be more important than ever before. Since we are moving away from cubicle nation, and more and more people are going entrepreneurial, I expect there to be a larger push from the masses on a strategic utilization of modern tools to build their personal brands. And this commonly heard statement that “Facebook is for my friends only…” will start to go away too.
- Users of Social Media will achieve a better understanding of how to measure success and ROI. This is STILL the biggest mystery when it comes to the application of social media to business. How do you measure it’s success? How to I measure my return on investment. Since this question is asked one million times a day, I expect better and more articulate thought leadership on how people can get these questions answered. And I think the answer – the realization rather – will be different than most people expect…
- Sharing will become recognized as a marketing tactic. If you don’t know what I mean by sharing (certainly in terms of social media), then you probably don’t believe in or practice this approach to marketing. Yet. But you better figure it out, because that’s where all this is heading…
- There will be an explosion in mobile marketing. Yes, you will start getting marketing messages via text. And assuming you opt in for these, it will be the wave of the future. I am already exploring this for several clients. And I can only imagine the possibilities when more and more people get smart phones…
- More people will learn how to make money online. [Including me!] I am in the midst of building and soon launching my very first online product with High Velocity. And now that I am moving into that space, I am realizing there is a lot of advice and thought leadership on the subject. But with case studies and a lot of lessons already learned, I think the marketplace will refine how people can achieve success in this endeavor.
- Niche and passion marketing will finally be understood. Marketing thought leaders and teachers have been saying for generations that you must market towards a niche, and if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Nothing new here, other than I believe that the masses will start understanding this, and creating business opportunities for themselves around a passion. This naturally leads to marketing towards a niche. The modern tools are there to really capitalize on this, and I think you will see a new movement…
- People will begin to fearlessly JUMP, to dive in head first, to be intrepid, and take more risks. This attitude, this new way, is how you have to set yourself up to compete in the new world. People stuck in their shell, afraid to do anything wrong, will slowly fade away. I don’t mean that people will en mass begin to take silly, uncalculated risks. I just think people are beginning to realize they have to be a little less afraid to jump, and not be afraid of where they will land… What about you?
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