2010 Advertising Trends

Developers are constantly trying to enhance or create products to attract those in the social space. Although advances in technology are beneficial, great minds tend to think alike. In 2010 advertising trends must be acknowledged in order to have a successful product due to the rising number of competitors out there. How can one effectively advertise and distinguish their product from the competition?

First we must define the objectives of social media. Social online experiences aim to shift ideas or products from consumable to sharable. The whole purpose of advertising something online is to increase awareness. In the past advertisers used bold, flashy ads whereas now they are communicating their brand through small ads on social networking sites. The most effective of these ads are said to involve real people, have an actual message and the ability to be implemented in the real world. Consumers often refer to the social space for recommendations. Sites such as Linkedin or Twitter allow people to interact with others in niche categories; hence advertisements on these sites should be more specific in communicating the brand message Social networking goes beyond just friendship considering the many capabilities of networking sites. People are not only joining virtual communities to reconnect with old friends. The social space consists of influencers, friends and communities. Influencers such as bloggers are able to promote or reinforce, friends are able to spread the word and communities are able to relate to the discussion. Advertisers must consider the importance of delivering a message that communities can identify with because it is the communities that are most effective on a larger scale. Lastly,real time must be considered. The Internet allows for immediate communication, if not live communication. Someone can read a restaurant review upon entering the restaurant; if the reviews negative the restaurant goer may leave and bring their business elsewhere causing that restaurant to lose business. By monitoring live communication, advertisers can eliminate any negative feedback of their brand along with leverage positive endorsements.

The social space offers great opportunity if the right advertising techniques are implemented. It is important to keep up with the changing environment and identify brand names with messages the virtual community can relate to.