What Trends and Apps Do YOU Think Marketers Can’t Do Without in 2010?
As a part of the Small Business Trends expert group, I get to write articles that are posted on the Open Forum blog. My last article “10 Must Do Marketing Tips” got a lot of traction, so I thought I’d do another kind of list article that people could use in the coming months as they put together their marketing plans.
My idea was to pull together a list of hot applications; some that I use a lot and some that I wish I could use more. Well, in the process of doing the research I found that Guy Kawasaki did a post on his Favorite Apps on the Open Forum blog. “RATS!”, I thought. ”He beat me to the punch.” Undaunted, I started looking for another twist.
So now, I’m exploring the top trends and apps that YOU think marketers and small businesses can’t do without!
Leave a comment below with your ideas.
So far, I’m listing Google Wave (c’mon people register and start using it, it’s no fun being there all alone!) Virtual collaboration will only start getting bigger and better.
Location-based applications like BrightKite were floundering and maybe before their time. Now FourSquare has gotten into the mix. I’ve registered and posted a couple of things, but still don’t see how it will replace Twitter.
Augmented Reality Apps are getting popular on the Andoid systems and iPhone. I’ve been asking around about how a small business can be sure that they are included when potential customers are scanning the area with their phones.
So there you have it — send me your ideas and links. Don’t forget to leave a link to your blog so I can give you credit!
Hyper Local News will be huge in this coming year, and those who take the opportunity to create “portals” or local websites will be very successful.
I also think mobile apps for both the iPhone and Android platforms will become a lot popular and we should see even more innovation in those spaces.
I believe it will be foursquare. A previous boss of mine brainstormed a similar app years ago; she envisioned hers as a way to enhance coporate learning/knowledge sharing . I could kick myself for letting the idea go. I know she will use fourquare (I’ve already hooked her into it). My teen daughter is watching it closely to see how she can adapt use for her circle. If Facebook integrated its functionality, the teen crowd would embrace quickly.
Ivana,
Although I think it has a long way to go, Augmented Reality continues to blow people away, including myself! It’s recent integration into Yelp’s iPhone app can only increase the technology’s popularity. On the other hand, many companies that don’t know how to handle the negative reviews, the adjustment of the transparency businesses are facing today and the businesses that don’t understand the changes in technology, and in turn deny that these changes are taking place, are doing everything they can to try and keep these sites under the radar, along with extensive damage control.
What do you think is going to happen to these businesses that are resisting these changes in technology, and the others that continue to get negative reviews by consumers as soon as the previous “damage control” is done?
Great article and info!
~ Joey Goodman aka Joey Buddha
Hi Joey –
What an insightful comment! My prediction for businesses that resist ANY new technology can is that they will fare the same as those businesses that resisted the telephone, the television, the radio and the computer.
The whole idea of real-time reviews and transparency is a long time coming. If you’re a fan of a true market economy – then this is a dream come true. The consumer now has access to near perfect information about many products that they want to purchase. You have to love that.
Companies that want to stay in business and be profitable will have to create systems that create more open channels between them and their customers.