Over the past few days, I’ve been reading predictions or emerging trends for social media heading into 2010. No one knows what tomorrow holds for the social space, so I think it’s foolish to try to predict what 2010 will hold. Instead, here’s what I hope to see in 2010.
1. Focus on credibility – Arik Hanson and I were having a conversation the other day about the “talkers” and the “walkers”. Arik tends to think we’ll see some major changes across the conferences and speaking stage, and I tend to agree. I hope that social users stop focusing on attending conferences and speaking engagements simply because they want to here “X” talk. Or simply attending in attempts to schmooze it up with so-called “social celebrities”. Instead, I hope that we start focusing on those who are actually on the front lines and actually going to battle each day. How many of the people you are paying money to listen to are actually doing what they preach?
2. Increase in video – I’ve preached here before about the value and impact video can bring to your organization. It brings that human touch, it brings visual, it brings something unique. In 2010, I hope more individuals and organizations start to implement more video – both on their blogs and Web sites, as well as in their community conversations.
3. Focus on mobile – The mobile space holds an abundance of potential for organizations. Will we see a product or organization develop a site specifically for mobile use? I wrote a brief post on why I feel SMS is not social, but the mobile platform does provide other resources for the social space. We’ll obviously see an increase trend toward the smartphone, we’re not quite there. Organizations need to keep this in mind when developing their mobile strategy.
4. Local approach to social media – If someone asked you to name a brand that’s found success in the social space, what would your response be? It would probably consist of: Ford, Dell, Zappos or Comcast. Am I right? For 2010, I hope that we’ll see a trend toward a more local approach to social success. I think it’s time that small businesses and local organizations step up their efforts and show the true value of social media. I hope my local hardware shop down the street starts tweeting. I hope Punch Pizza continues its social efforts. I hope the backbone of our economy finally “gets it”.
5. Regulated industry usage – Highly regulated industries will continue to follow the foundation that Lee Aase at Mayo Clinic and Allan Schoenberg at CME Group paved. A lot of financial institutions and hospitals are online, but very few are gaining the traction that these two have. I hope 2010 is the year that we finally stop using regulation as an excuse and start engaging and turning our customers into our communities.
These are just a few of what I hope to see in 2010. It’s an exciting time to be involved with the social landscape. What are you hoping to see in 2010? What do you think will be emerging trends?
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