Comments on: 5 Marketing Predictions for 2009

By: Travis Campbell

Travis Campbell — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:24:32 +0000

Amanda-

Many are in a unique position of already having established offline marketing programs, and are looking pioneer, or to be more aggressive online. These are not separate, they can and should be brought together so that the online marketing grows as a result of strong ties with offline marketing campaigns.

Have you considered leveraging your word of mouth customers to bring in new customers through quotes, testimonials, and success stories?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:54:39 +0000

Travis,
I recently started my own small technology company and for the first year and a half we were able to sustain “life” just by word of mouth. However, as times get tougher we have been brainstorming ways to bring more clients in the door. I decided to hop online and see what was being said about the differences between online and offline marketing. Your article nailed the subject on the head. Thank you so much for solidfying a few of the thoughts I had running through my head. I’m looking forward to future posts helping those of us new to the online marketing world!! Much appreciated!

By: Travis Campbell

Travis Campbell — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:03:43 +0000

David-

Indeed, there are many new modalities to speak with your market, prospects, and customers that some have forgotten about legacy approaches altogether. Coupled correctly, it can bring firepower to any marketing plan.

By: David

David — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:40:40 +0000

You are so right – The divisions between offline and online marketing are definitely closing. I recently received an invitation to an Internet Marketing seminar… by snail mail. Yes, I opened it, read it, and attended the seminar. The marketers learned of me online and used that information to send me a personalized invitation. It even included a map from my house to the meeting site. Very slick, very professional, very compelling.
The flip side is: Most of the catalogs I receive via snail mail are ones I requested online.
Those of us who live, breathe, work and play online need to remember that there is an entire “other” world out there that we can tap into to boost our online visibility and profits.

By: Travis Campbell

Travis Campbell — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:33:35 +0000

@Liz excellent point. The economic pressure will force social media folk to validate their place in the market by becoming financially sustainable…which may go nicely with businesses which are already financially viable, yet seeking inroads in social media.

@Andrea Well stated. I was never in a fraternity in college, but I was an event photographer at all the parties (shhhh). I was friendly as I took photos, and as it ended up was the best selling photographer in the company. The greek community would request I come back because they said they enjoyed me and loved the photos. Imagine! :-)

@Anita Great question. I don’t think campaign management is more complex than before. From my vantage point the returns aren’t what they were 12 months ago, and nowhere near what it was 24 months ago. One doesn’t have the discretionary funds to throw at PPC as they did in the past, there is more competition, many can no longer afford going without metrics for their campaigns. If they don’t know how to measure and make it profitable, the only other option is to kill the campaign. In short, those campaigns that are offering a return, are sticking around, others are not.

What are others finding with PPC campaigns?

By: Anita Campbell

Anita Campbell — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:52:00 +0000

Hi Travis, thanks for sharing your list of marketing predictions.

Question for you: are you (or clients) getting good results in PPC advertising? IT strikes me it is becoming more complex to put together and carry out campaigns.

Your thoughts on that?

Anita

By: Andrea Kalli

Andrea Kalli — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:25:04 +0000

I believe in 2009 people will be fine-tuning what they’ve learned in 2008. They’ll get into a better flow with social networking and begin to stretch themselves in that area. Those that are dragging their feet may even decide to jump in. I still feel there are many people not understanding what the purpose of social marketing really is, and that it’s not necessarily a place to make money. It’s a stepping stone to making money.

A recent video I watched from Perry Belcher mentioned that it’s like going to a party. It’s a place to let others get to know you. I thought it was a great way to describe it! Understanding is the first step to accepting.

Andrea Kalli

By: Liz Strauss

Liz Strauss — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:02:28 +0000

I think more importantly the digital divide between offline and online will start closing — because of the economy. Mainstream folks will start exploring and understanding what’s happening. Social media people will have to stop talking and apply what they know to earn a living. Just sayin’

By: Travis Campbell

Travis Campbell — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:02:13 +0000

I agree… it is great for the consumer, and the best will rise to the top.

As for GotAccess, I still am unclear what they do, and why I should signup…I have looked at their site a couple times now, and I don’t get it.

For sure, those who balk at social media in 2009 will have a tough hill to climb later on.

By: Ruth Stewart

Ruth Stewart — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:51:28 +0000

Interesting stuff, your predictions. We are more and more accountable to our clients as all the web 2.0 (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter) continues to grow. Which is good, because it forces us to raise our standards right up!

I wonder if this is the year that web 3.0 will become more popular with programmes like http://www.gotaccess.com around?

It will be interesting to watch and find out!

Best wishes,

Ruth Stewart