After the schlepping and changing and mammoth upheavals in 2008 - everything from job security, to consumer spending to the reorganization of K Street and beyond - we’d be forgiven for thinking that 2009 will be all about the end of the world as we know it.
Actually, it might be. In this year of the Ox, a different world order is already shaping the country. Consumers’ spending habits are changing, largely through necessity, and businesses are having to adjust quickly - or perish. Companies are being forced to rethink their strategy and justify their existence. What worked for marketers in 2007-2008 is no longer indication of success in 2009. To the contrary; sticking to outdated and less effective ways of reaching consumers may actually land businesses right where they don’t want to be.
In this year of immense change - one that will be defined by cost-effectiveness and value - marketers and businesses will be seeking better ways to develop, optimize and hang on to relationships with their customers. They’ll be forced to think beyond the traditional - to go social, to go mobile, to think more marketing pull and less advertising push.
And they’ll be looking for a new reality to lead the way, with compelling ideas to reach consumers through emerging mediums, and embrace change head on.
We don’t have a crystal ball this year but for us, 2009 is a year of great opportunity (although it might not look that way right now). We’re going to remain cautiously optimistic. We believe this year marks the start of another era in marketing - the era of choice, consumer preference and new [respectful/engaging] media.
At SmartReply, the following is our take on how the marketing landscape will play out through the year, and what businesses and marketers - regardless of their industry - should be thinking about to see it through another New Year. Read the full release below.
Mobile Mobile in My Hand, What’s the Best Way of Marketing in the Land?