Any day now all the marketing gurus will probably publish their lists of predictions for hot marketing topics in 2008. I figured I might as well share my own.  So here we go:

• Mobile marketing - lots of people are trying to figure out exactly how to use mobile technology to market to their customers (opt in of course). I expect to see some interesting strategies and uses come out in the next few months.  We are looking at one application that would allow you to sign up for a program all from your phone.  Lets see where that ends up. 

• Social Media - the Facebook, LinkedIn style applications are not going away but you will start to see niche networking sites pop up.  In the last few months I joined one for real estate professionals and another for parents.

• Targeting will continue to get better. Using cookie, and click data (yes I said the dreaded tracking words) you will see fewer irrelevant and more relevant ads while online.  Behavioral and contextual marketing will continue to grow. This leads to the whole privacy debate.

• Privacy - It is important.  I hope we can finally put this discussion in perspective.  No one is losing their identity because an ad server put a tracking cookie on your PC.  If you want complete privacy stay off the internet. Don't get me wrong companies should post their privacy statements and data usage but as a user of the internet just assume you are being tracked or targeted for marketing. 

• Video - more companies (Trump U included) will embrace the world of video and how it can be used to sell and generate interest.  I know there are a lot of people having fun exploding stuff or doing crazy things but there are many businesses using video to create interest in what they do.  I already think we are late to this party.

• Eco-Marketing - Won't be the hot topic it was a few months back but companies will continue to think about their marketing and how it affects the environment.

• Cause Related Marketing - I hope we see more companies partnering up with related non profits.  This can be a great win-win situation for everyone involved.

• On the traditional media side - Radio, TV and Print will see decreased ad spending since more and more people are tuning out and filtering for just the info they want. Don't get me wrong they will continue to play a role in advertising but their share of the budget will continue to shrink.

• Direct Marketing - will continue to grow in importance in the overall media mix. It is one media channel that gives you the ability to target, track and serve the customer with the right message at the right time.

I am excited to start marketing in the New Year. I am looking forward to seeing what new technologies come out and how they can help marketers grow their business.

What do you think will be hot in 2008?

What new marketing tools or strategies are you planning to implent for your business in the New Year?

Have a safe and happy New Year.

In my lead up to blog action day here is another tip or tool for eco-marketing:

If you sell or produce a product that is eco-friendly you should make sure you are listed in this new shopping search engine.  The Find Green shopping search engine would even make Kermit happy since it is easy to find green and eco-friendly products. 

I committed to writing one blog about marketing and the environment as part of blog action day.  I thought I would work up to blog action day with a few 'green' marketing tips.  

My first tip is to find a way to reward your customers for helping the environment while doing business with your company.   A good example of this is Trader Joes (at least my local store).  They will enter you into a monthly contest for a $30 gift card every time your bring your own bag.  Sounds good,  right?  Here is what makes it better:

1. They sell reusable bags at the check out. I am sure they make some money on the bags but you just feel better when you use one.
2. They save a little money every time you bring your own bags. Hey, all those pennies and bags add up...
3. It can create good word of mouth.  Who doesn't want to win money for doing something easy and then brag to all their friends.

What they could do better:

• I didn't know about the give-a-way the first few times I shopped at the store.  If they added a sign at the checkout counter or if I was asked"paper, plastic or reusable bag" now that would have gotten my attention. 
• They do have a sign about the promotion but it is by the door on the way out so unless you are using the one checkout right in front of the door you won't see it.  Even then the sign is almost part of the wall.  Just make the sign stand out or place one by each register.
• Put a big sign and picture of last month's winner in the middle of the store.  That would get some attention.

You can make your business green by asking your customers to help out.  Whatever you do make sure your customers know about the effort and make it easy to participate.

If you have other examples please let me know via a comment.

Did you see my post a few months ago on the Trump Blog about Green Businesses?  Well if you did then you probably can tell I care about our environment.  Today we joined a social media movement that is trying to bring awareness to the issue across the internet.  If you have your own blog join us and hundreds of other bloggers who commit to writing one post October 15th about the environment and how it impacts their normal blog topic.  Join Blog Action Day!

If you don't have your own blog well then just read all about it but ask yourself why don't I have a blog?...

Green Marketing: this could be fun.

If you are an expert then you should create a Squidoo page.  These are basically one page websites that showcase your business or skills. Take a look at our Squidoo page and let us know what you think.  We are donating all profits generated from this page to the Squidoo charity fund.  We could use some extra traffic, feedback and votes to make the page better which will eventually help some worthy causes.  

If you are marketing a business, product or service then you are an expert in that area.  If you are an entrepreneur or real estate investor then you should tell the world about your business by creating a Squidoo page.  The pages are indexed by Google for search and the links you place back to your site help your own natural search results too.   Once you are on Squidoo people can find you.  If people can find you they can do business with you.  

It is also fun to say that you have a Squidoo page...

Enjoy.