Express-It

Marketing person that I am, watching trends and predicting them has always been fascinating. This year, I established a “Top 10 Watch List,” comprised of social media marketing  tools, platforms and trends that have been and are developing, as I see them. The following list and predictions are based on my background experience and observations…

Social Media Revolution

1) Through widespread use of social media, the world continues the process of developing as a global culture. Through connections made, information communicated and shared, the world gives the impression of being a “smaller place.” Developing over the period of years, this phenomena has best been illustrated in times of natural disasters, uprisings. and events that have drawn attention worldwide. Even in the case of attempted governmental mandates to silence citizens,  text messages, photographs or a quick video clip capturing the moment slips out to let the rest of the world know what’s going on behind a suppressive screen of attempted isolation and control. Additionally, through the various channels of social media, brands have an ever-increasing reach to those who desire to have their products or services, and want to know more about them.

2) Google+ growth and development through further integration and enhancement of featured Google products will create a richer experience for those on the platform. While it appears — or is often rumored — that social media platforms attempt to attract the same or similar markets at the demise of another, most often don’t cause platform implosion. Just as theme parks in a close proximity vie for visitors with limited time in the area, more likely the platforms are going to share some participants, but their inherent uniqueness through features, functions and sets of useful tools differentiate them. In this way, their usage and ultimate market share differ. If a platform’s user base is too small to support it without an infusion of funding, it would not survive. In the case of the ongoing duel between giants Facebook and Google — this would not seem to be a problem.

3) Mobile marketing and advertising are going to be big time ‘marketing darlings’ beginning this year. Web sales increased 15.3% during the traditional holiday sales period of November

Mobile Marketing Trends

1-December 26, 2011, as consumers spent $35.27 billion through online retailers, according to a report by ComScore. With rising smartphone and tablet use, and billions in sales reported by online retailers, small businesses should be ramping up for e-commerce activity starting now, if not already. Brick and mortar operations have a perfect opportunity to integrate their social media, online presence, in-store campaigns and conversations. Online marketers should review and enhance their websites to provide optimal visitor experience, presentation and ease of purchase.

4) Customer crowdsourcing decisions and deals will become more the norm. The need for listening and considering the market was well-illustrated in the last few weeks, with GoDaddy’s initial company stand on SOPA, and Verizon’s rescinded decision to charge customers a $2 transaction fee for paying their bills online. These situations cost both the companies on a number of levels. The technology exists to engage in dialogue, polls, and discussions before creating a firestorm of ill will and lost business. Applied properly, this technique can further strengthen brand trust, earning the priceless esteemed recognition of being customer-centric.

5) Content marketing thrives and is an essential element for driving traffic with information-rich articles, ideas and problem-solving solutions, delivered in a consistent experience to the visitor or customer, wherever they are — desktop, laptop, or mobile. The content not only draws traffic, but communicates the intended message, encourages sharing of it, invites conversation, and entices conversion. Not all content offered must be written by the website owner or sharing individual. Private Label Rights copy (PLR) and free articles for content have been available for years. Adding to the mix, social media allows freely sharing and curating as additional avenues for marketing, as well as limitless unique content blending possibilities.

Content Marketing + Blogging

6) Blogging is regaining popularity, recognized as an effective means to drive web traffic through creating content, while establishing thought leadership and generating leads. As part of a marketing plan, a growing number of  business owners will realize that for the effort involved, the cost of blogging can be relatively low (depending upon set-up), packed with powerful potential. Attracting prospects to their self-hosted website with great content not only feeds market needs, but establishes identity as their brand becomes more familiar — known, and maybe even liked — expanding market reach and business.

7) Interactive marketing, engaging people to apply game mechanisms to non-game activity is a growing marketing channel. The NIKE+ Campaign is a prime example, as participants enter their running information and compete with others worldwide. This creates community, engages, and establishes top-of-the-mind awareness in the marketplace. Slightly reminiscent of the key ingredients for successful offline special promotions and events, this type of marketing has even greater potential effect. Reaching connected consumers in a personal way, with their express permission to do so, interactive marketing serves a need, builds community and encourages personal achievement. This touches the consumer at a deeply emotional level, through their ongoing involvement, and perception of receiving value. Designed and executed properly, I believe interactive marketing is one of the most effective ways to build consumer affinity.

8 ) Through social media sharing, pictures are indeed worth a million words, and are known attention-getters. When Mark Zuckerberg explained Facebook would be making enhancements

PowerSpeak: Pictures + Video

on the platform for photo sharing, realizing users like that feature, he wasn’t kidding! In this digital world filled with text and code,  the popularity of ‘infograghics’ continues to soar, as it seems we try to condense even the biggest ideas into a simplified pictureview. SlideShare, Flickr, Instagram, mobile photos everywhere-all the time, fill Facebook’s new Timeline, shared in many forms, and via links rapidly streaming by us daily on multiple channels. Visuals create image, and are an essential element to building brands. Identity is established through carefully-selected images. Brand awareness and familiarity are fostered through sharing consistent images, in a campaign to build consumer preference.

9) Non-text content speaks loudly, with an artful blend of image and audio serving up a powerful message. Video marketing is essential to online success, and will continue to be a marketing strategy component. Online video offers real ‘star power’ for branding efforts, and can be applied in a variety of ways. Incorporating video on a website increases visibility and web traffic, improves SEO ranking, builds credibility with greater potential for conversions.  In December, 2010, Forbes released a white paper entitled “Video in the C-Suite” that reported more than 75% of C-Suite Executives surveyed said they watched work-related online video on business-related websites at least weekly. 65% of C-suite Executives report visiting a vendor’s website after watching their online video. I think you’d agree that’s persuasive evidence for online video. Compelling video provides value to the viewer, and is not another Old School commercial. Effective video messages allow the opportunity to learn something valuable in exchange for the time spent to view it. Video is a powerful media to communicate strategic messages for intentional visibility, build and expand brand and business.

10) Offline activity is important, and remains so, as like-minded folks gather to meet off the grid, for networking and live training programs. It is an opportunity to connect IRL,  away

Network-Communicate-Share!

away from the keyboard, or with the laptop, tablet or mobile device, but not separated by time, space or distance for a while. This is often a time for learning, sharing, community-building, and personal affirmation. This in-person time allows for a more personal bonding process  that can lead to deeper, more lasting relationships, new business, and potential joint ventures.

Do you have a social media marketing or digital marketing strategy? My advice:  Creating an online marketing strategy and integrating it with all marketing and communication efforts helps to strategically direct all efforts, to build your brand and have the potential to sell more products and services.

I hope you found these insights and predictions thought-provoking. If you found some things on the list you’d like to incorporate in your 2012 marketing, the next step is to take action!

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There you have it — my “Top 10 Social Media Marketing Watch List” for 2012. Have I missed any trends you see? Please share in the comments section below… thanks!