Part 2, Wherein I again drag out my trusty Crystal Ball.
What can we predict for marketing in 2010? Assume (as I expect) a slow recovery continuing pretty much throughout the year.
First of all, we can expect that marketing will be king. In short, the companies that market smartly and agressively, IF they also have good products and services that people DO need and want, AND if they have really sharp customer service and/or tech support, THOSE are the companies that will thrive.
Really, all of these factors will be necessary. People still want to buy things. But in an economy such as this they don’t feel like they have to settle for anything less than great service.
People will spend money on frills, luxuries, wants rather than needs. Don’t think that isn’t the case.
But you’ve GOT to marketing sharply and agressively if you don’t want to just hang on by a thread – or maybe go down with the ship.
We aren’t done “culling the flock” so to speak. Many, many more weak businesses that made it to 2010 will be gone before 2011.
Companies that aren’t willing to change, adapt, take advantage of the different scene and its opportunities, will continue to be in trouble in 2010. It is NOT business as usual in the marketing world. And it won’t be again soon.
So what does it mean to market sharply and agressively? Stay tuned.