10 Predictions for 2011

The mind-snapping pace of digital innovation makes at least one prediction certain. What the trend -watchers are predicting today, will be totally eclipsed well before this time next year.

Still, here’s our take on the possible shape of the digital, social and experiential landscape in 2011.

1. We’ll see the resolution of the debate over the real impact of 3D TV.

2. Android will bite deeper into Apple’s once impregnable brand fortress.

3. High action games will see no let up. (Call of Duty – Black Ops has already hit $1 Billion in sales since its release late this year.)

4. Too cool for school graphic design will be refined in line with the demand for uncomplicated useability.

5. Analytics will be increasingly used to answer the cynics presently challenging the real brand worth of “Tweets” and Facebook “Likes”.

6. Competing technology will rapidly approach parity; creating the demand for even smarter brand thinking.

7. Smaller closed, or far more selective, social networks will play a far bigger part in the lives of key influencers.

8. Expect far stricter controls and compliance protocols – especially in the mobile area.

9. Twitter will gain an even louder brand voice, as it pursues the dream of reaching Facebook’s figure of 1 Billion users.

10. More brands will create their own social enterprise sites to maintain corporate integrity and confidentiality.

Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Media Year.

2011 – The Year of Analytics?

The pre – New Year stats suggest an ongoing stratospheric rise of New Media.

*Gorillaz has just created the band’s 15-track album “The Fall” on iPad using 20 Apps  -each App under $20.

*Windows Phone 7 Marketplace already tops 5,000 Apps.  Recently adding 1,000 Apps in just over two weeks.

*Latest reports suggest Android already has over 200,000 Apps available.

*Facebook beat Google to the post on Christmas Day in the UK. Claiming 10.5% of all UK social networking internet visits. Google recording 9.77%.

*Facebook’s value leaps by 56% to $41.2 billion- according to securities firm Nyppex. 

Figures apart.

Beyond question is the increasing significance of digital, social, mobile & experiential channels. Answering what the stats really mean in these areas will define the true change makers.

Here are a few thought starters

Does mega quantity equal quality response?

Does a first impression really last? (And for how long?)

How does brand dominance translate into consumer relevance?

How do global figures indicate local impact?