It is actually so common that bloggers often create new articles by linking various other bloggers’ opinions and predictions of the New Year into a single article of their own to either support his predictions or rubbish the predictions of others who are in disagreement. (Mouthful, isn’t it?)

The reason for this is simple: it creates the perfect platform three months down the line for when their own ideas start drying up (commonly known as writer’s blog) to publish a number of “I-told-you-so” articles.

I didn’t do that this year. Not because I’m clever, arrogant, special or different, but simply because I’m mostly still enjoying my holidays back then and only by the time people start debating the various predictions I come out of hibernation and start getting into gear for the New Year. I’m a bit slow that way – it prevents midyear burnout

So now that the dust has settled, let’s go and have a look at some of the predictions that were made for the year of 2009.

People in the know reckon:

1. …crowd sourcing will be huge in 2009!
Crowd sourcing is pretty much when you throw an idea into the public and the masses then come up with a solution. In business terms, it is quite an effective and cheap way to garner the best strategies. We have seen some good examples of this locally too.
2. …leveraging offline connections with online will be big too.
Yes, it does make sense. In 2006 and 2007 online were still in its infancy and tried its best to establish itself as a channel able to hold its own. Of course we’ve all grown up and became a little bit smarter and realized that it is convergence that is key.
3. …mobile, and the dreaded iPhone, will continue to make massive strides in user numbers and application growth.
It has taken developers eight months since the launch of the iPhone to create more applications for the iPhone than for any other phone in history (roughly 9 years). With super phones being released left, right and centre, we really did see that coming.
4. …video driven communities will take off in 2009.
Quite frankly, video has been huge in the US pretty much the whole of 2008 already, but from personal experience I have witnessed a dramatic increase in intent locally. We also do have a number of players doing a sterling job with hosting, but I fear we have yet to see the creativity of a Gary Vaynerchuk who has made wine video his own. (If you know of any, please post a link in the comments section below)
5. …monetization will aim to alleviate some pressing headaches that have been clouding the sensational rise of social media will stop companies such as five-year all Facebook and the titillating Twitter.
These companies have enormous valuations and have all enjoyed a couple of rounds of multi-million-dollar investments. Sooner or later someone will probably want to see a return on investment.
6. …e-mail as we know it will die!
Nah, just kidding. In 2009 we will send more e-mails, waste more time working through spam and see more dough drop on the floor because of that. Technology companies will however find more meaningful ways to utilize e-mail to deliver critical communications and permission-based marketing messages to its recipient base.

It is time, if you haven’t already, to figure out what the role of these predictions is inside of your business.

If you’re a social network, how will you go about securing revenue?

If you’re a regular run-of-the-mill business, how will you leverage social media to gain the competitive advantage in a very crowded and opinionated market?

The Apple Iphone 3G, Samsung Omnia, Blackberry Storm and Nokia N96/97 all come standard with touch screen capabilities, wireless networking, RSS reading, 3G connectivity (some even more) and full internet browsing, of course including features like e-mail, Bluetooth and video calling, officially making it the long discussed complete computing alternative.

This goes to show that mobile computing has actually arrived. And this will have a dramatic impact on the thinking around marketing. It’s the “always on, always close by” personal communication device. And if you’re thinking it’s only for the elite businessmen and -women, think again.

Our society, especially the younger generation, lives in a time where their desired location demands connectivity. If you own a coffee shop, you better have a wireless connection, preferably free, because your competitor round the corner has.

If you’re thinking that this generation is not your critical target market, you’ll be in for a surprise too. Today’s youth is tomorrow’s business leaders. And they’re growing up fast. One only needs to browse the internet to find these twenty-somethings, sharing ideas, creating businesses with virtual partners and labeling themselves entrepreneurs. And you’ll find corporate companies foaming by the mouth in anticipation of buying in on these ideas.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social / business communities already have mobile platforms, all of them shortcuts on my phone, and guaranteed on most of my peers’. When I require ideas, resources or opinions, you’d better know that I’m not waiting for my laptop to fire up or until I’m at the office tomorrow morning. I want it now. And I can have it now.

So, whether you’re a product or service provider, have you paid thought to how the dynamics around your target audience have (have, not will) changed? Have you figured out a way to address your market in a manner that is non-obtrusive, permission based and in actual fact welcomed by them?

If you’re firing off push sms campaigns to random databases, you haven’t. Trust me. Smart companies have built mobile applications bridging the brand gap between desktop and mobile computing and extended their brand reach. I buy my electricity with my phone. I read my daily news on my phone whenever I feel like it.

If your cash register is not ticking over at your brick and mortar store, just pop onto the internet and check out your competitor’s website. His newfound transparent ways of doing business will reveal his successes since integrating with web and mobile.

Mobile marketing has opened up the doors to limitless branding and marketing opportunities. It is somewhat trickier, but once you get it, you will reap the rewards.

Mobile is the new black. And as it is in the fashion industry, it’s not why you wear it, but that you wear it.

[Image Source: Nerdmag.co.za]