With a little over a week left in 2009, it’s time to turn our full attention to 2010 – the last year of the first decade of the 21st century.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll touch on what I believe are some of the trends to look for in business, marketing, the economy, and social dynamics – and how they may affect you.
But first 2009. Wow. Enough said?
I think most would agree that the economy was the story in so many ways. How many banks are there in the country now? 3 maybe? (ok there’s at least a dozen.)
Here in Albany, NY, we saw two democratic state senators switch to the other party – triggering the most embarrassing political fight I’ve ever seen or ever want to see – only to see them switch back and one of them raised to the leadership post. State government erupts while the cities, counties, and towns burn with unemployment and shrinking revenue.
Global warming / climate change takes center stage in Copenhagen and businesses worldwide do their best to wrap themselves in “green causes.”
2009 was also the year that social media supposedly came of age.
While foreign governments shut down the Internet in their countries, citizens ran through the streets and tweeted about what was going on with the help of surrogate computer users in other countries. Cameras showed our national leaders tweeting during the State of the Union.
Of course, 2009 was so much more – suffering and ecstasy. But there was more suffering I think.
What will 2010 bring? There will be a lifting of the economic haze that settled over our country during the last 2 – 3 years. Once that haze lifts off the ground, we shall see the new business landscape.
One topic will be demographics…the continued shift towards an overall older population…a relatively large younger generation raised online…and a shrinking middle class frightened by lots of things.
What else?
- Rising interest rates – but still no money to lend
- Trust first
- Conventional marketing comes back – but moves forward too
- And more…
2010 – ready or not, here it comes.
Posted by: Steve Banis
