Successful Marketing Trends for 2011

More of the same with a couple new twists is the trend for marketing in 2011 according to the experts in the field.

Taking some of their leads, here are my predictions for advertising and marketing in 2011.

First of all we will see more integration of traditional media and interactive media. They are much more powerful when they work together. According to David Cooperstein (Forrester Research), "there's a big distinction between multichannel marketing and integrated marketing. One is everybody's doing the same thing. The other is actually planned to be unique but with the same brand message."

Second, we will see the return of direct mail advertising as a strong media partner. I recently saw a statistic from Alloy Media and Marketing that within the tweens, direct mail has a significant impact because they don't get anything tactile anymore. To get something in the mail that is personalized to them and customized has a lot of impact. As people find the white noise of the internet overwhelming they look forward to the touch and feel of direct mail. We will find the best way to use it is in conjunction with other media.

Third, video will grow in popularity for website conversions and other marketing venues. YouTube is the second most popular search engine next to Google so it just makes sense. We love to be entertained and watch what's happening.

Fourth, we will be paying more attention to data and market segments. Buyers expect us to know all about their preferences and we will get to know them even better in 2011. Therefore, data collection and management will play a huge role.

Fifth, Mobile marketing will come of age in 2011 with the I-Phone and Android operating systems we will see an increase in the use of specialized, worthwhile mobile marketing applications.

Sixth, social media will continue to be a key player but will go through a metamorphosis changing the way we connect with direct marketing. The world of Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter will adjust and find ways that move beyond just branding to measurable ROI. We will also see the need for SM Management to increase in 2011.

Seventh, direct marketing thinking and experimentation with tired and true testing across all media will once again be the winners in 2011.

So more of the same: test, test, test and find the most effective strategy and approach for your company.