I am not going to call these predictions. They are pretty much sure fire bets. These are my picks for top business trends upcoming in 2011.
1. iPad usage as interactive customer tool
We will see service based industries begin to hand their customers an iPad pre-set with their menu of options. This will create a stronger interactive brand experience for the consumer and help make the business more efficient. Around third quarter after the braver companies have vetted this as a tool, a surge of other companies will follow suit.
2. Surge of Mobile Websites
Many more companies will embrace the fact that an ever-growing number of consumers search with their phones. They use apps, search engines and mobile browsers to find where they want to go and what they want to do. As businesses choose to adapt to consumer trends a rush of businesses will develop mobile friendly websites to tout their offerings.
3. Strategic WiFi will be seen more
Although the number of places offering WiFi as a lure for the general public is constantly growing, we will see businesses become savvier with that amenity. We will see more places using their WiFi as a delivery method to connect their guests with their social media pages, special offers and their brand after they have left the building. In other words it will be used as an interactive marketing tool.
4. Location based tools will gain momentum
Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Places and more will grow even bigger this year. As they develop new apps, businesses will leverage them as loyalty tools. Creating promotions, contests and rewards for guests checking in will be trendy ways to get guests in the doors with frequency.
5. Social media will take precedence in budgets
The long and short of it is that social media is measurable, interactive and you can see a hyper-quick ROI. Traditional media does not offer these things in a marketing arena. Businesses will tip their marketing resources to make social media the vast bulk of their advertising efforts.
