Marketing Forecast from Ad-ology

Small business owners are hoping to engage customers in new ways in 2010. Twenty-eight percent of small business owners say they plan to spend more on online video in 2010, up 75% over last year’s plans. Twenty five percent say the same about social networking, while 21% plan to commit more resources to mobile advertising.

Earlier this month I highlight studies on how more consumers plan to be smarter when it comes to managing their own money and financial data as they dig out from the effects of the recession. Another survey on this topic, from First Command, finds that middle-income consumers, those earning at least $50,000 annually, realize that life insurance is an important component of a secure financial future.

Solar technology is predicted to comprise a measurable component of renewable energy programs in the U.S. but investment and installations are proceeding at a very slow pace. A recent study on this topic found that improved marketing initiatives will be required to grow consumer interest in solar energy. The Clean Energy Group is encouraging solar marketers to connect with consumers using marketing messages that emphasize the financial and value benefits of this alternative technology.

Does it pay to market to teens? If you advertise in a venue where teens spend a lot of time, they’ll notice your ads. The local mall has long been a mecca for this demographic and these days, teens are actively searching out information about stores, products and mall entertainment destinations. That’s one of the key findings from a study recently released by Scarborough Research.

At first glance, one of the CMO Council’s Marketing Outlook questions appears to deliver “Bad News” for a lot of hard working Ad Agencies. “What agency changes do you plan to make in 2009?”

Customer anxiety and cutbacks are the biggest factors influencing marketing budget allocation in 2009, reports the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council in its annual Marketing Outlook study. Despite a restrained economy, however, marketers see budgets holding up fairly well with dollars being stringently controlled and directed against growing and retaining market share.