Back to the January 2007 issue.

Trends to Watch in 2007

(by Craig Cooke, CEO)

2007 is going to be an interesting year indeed. 2006 brought Web 2.0 in full force, and user-generated content was king. Let’s examine some trends to watch for in the upcoming year.

Social networking will continue in high-growth mode. With the success of MySpace and YouTube, everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon. And marketers are paying attention since consumers are creating a high demand for this category. This is fueled by the ability for users to create content themselves. Look for new players focused on niche industries and marketing opportunities for your business through these sites.

Online video ads will gain traction as the year progresses. The success of YouTube just set the stage for this tool to be adopted on a large-scale basis. Spending on this medium should almost double this year.

Search marketing will continue to lead the way as the most widely adopted interactive marketing tool. However, as the space becomes more competitive, look for some innovations within the year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of integration of search within social networking sites.

Legitimate email should increase this year. As more marketers learn the proper use of the medium and contract with email service providers, consumers will receive emails they expect to receive. Overall, this will increase the effectiveness and ROI for this medium.

Advances in online metrics will surface throughout the year. With blogging, podcasting, online videos and more functional web applications, marketers will desire advanced reporting engines. This will allow for more behavioral targeting based on user-defined actions.

Overall, 2007 will prove to be an explosive year for interactive marketing. Web 2.0 is leading the charge for efficiency and effectiveness, which means people are making money this time around. Get set for a wild ride, as it’s just starting to take off again. Good luck in the year ahead!

For more information about strategic planning and how Rhythm Interactive can assist you in the process, please call us today at 949.215.1250!





Statistics Corner

According to a Forrester study, 79% of marketers have used or piloted a search marketing program.

Online spending reached approximately $670 million on December 12th, the busiest online shopping day of the holiday season according to comScore Networks.

According to JupiterResearch, online ad spending will reach $17.70 billion in 2007, an increase of 12.7% over 2006.

We respect your privacy!

We do not share the names and email addresses of our subscribers with any third party.

See our privacy statement for details about our policy.