Fearless Forecast - eReader Predictions For 2010

Strong and exciting the e-reader market is holding steady in the 2nd month of year. It has shown nothing but changes. From companies competing fiercely for a market share, and retailers and publishers hashing it out over the new agency model, the ebb and flow isn't calming anytime soon. Here are some predictions for the rest of 2010.

The Apple iPad hit the gadget market, and the e-reader niche will continually see multi-gadget releases. They are in demand, and netbooks and mobile phones will change to include dual E-ink/LCD screens. This shift will force manufacturers to create new accommodating software and revamp their marketing tactics to come up with the latest and greatest multi-tasking gadget.

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Will color come soon? By the end of the year, Amazon will rid the Kindle of the cumbersome keyboard, and release the next generation to include a colored touch screen and get rid of the glass back pane. This will prevent breakage, give the consumer more flexibility.

E-Ink might lose its market share to up and coming technology. Appreciated and crisp, consumers are ready for color, and E-ink may be replaced by cheaper versions or even different technology. This may include transflective LCD or OLED.

Barnes & Noble set themselves up for a strong 2010. In 2009 the company bought Fictionwise and launched an eBookstore. They saw record sales with the Nook, which by the way sold out. Consumers found reading apps for mobile phones and PCs. Amazon may feel a slight dent because of B & N, but will hold their position in the market. Sony will also stay close behind with new products, better buying experiences and software updates.

With the huge crowd around the Kindle DX, and promises of e-textbooks, the student still might be waiting in line at the bookstore. Northwestern and Suffolk University students complained about shortcomings of the Kindle DX and lack of content during a marketing trial test. They admitted that they would pull out money for an e-reader that will hold e-textbooks, but still might have to wait due to publisher's indecisiveness on how to sell and display the content.

American's will be the biggest contributors to the e-reader market, but there is hope that the international market will grow. It will be exciting to see how the e-reader market will evolve, and how publishers will go about maintaining control on e-books.

Fearless Forecast - eReader Predictions For 2010

Website Design Predictions For 2011

The web design industry is abuzz with new specifications such as HTML5 and CSS3, and cutting-edge frontiers like the mobile web which would consolidate in the Year 2011. Professional networking on the web is also expected to gain steam in the year. Find out what the design pundits predict for the year.

2010 was a happening year for web Development when we saw the emergence of several new technologies such as HTML5 and CSS3. Year 2011 is predicted to be a consolidate of emerging technologies which would enable designers to design flexible websites which can be successfully served on any type of media including the tablets and mobiles. The year would also see the emergence of professional online networking enabling people to network with fellow professionals as well as prospective or existing clients. The trend would particularly benefit tech-savvy professionals in the field like dentistry, law, architecture, fashion designing and creative writing.

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Emergence of HTML 5 and CSS3

HTML5 is a major revision of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) while CSS 3 (currently under Development) is a Cascading Style Sheet presentation semantics. These technologies are used to create web pages. You would see wider adoption of HTML5 and CSS3 in 2011, both by web designers and developers as well as browsers. Web giants like Google and Facebook have already started implementing HTML5 standards, and the rest can be expected to follow the suite. This would help developers build Web apps that do things which could previously be done only by desktop Applications.

Sophisticated Website Platforms

The days when people surfed the Internet only on desktops are gone. Now, people can visit your website on laptops, netbooks, palmtops and smartphones. The devices on which the Internet can be accessed are only expected to get more sophisticated. The web designers would have to ensure in 2011 that the sites designed by them conform to all platforms.

Flexibility

Flexibility will be the mantra of any successful website design. Sites would be designed in such a manner that they would serve several media (conventional browser, iPhone, iPad, mobiles etc.) purposes successfully. The trend right now is to utilize CSS to serve device based multiple layouts and screen dimensions so that the website is displayed properly. Developing technology would make it possible to design websites that would be served successfully across browsing platforms.

Measurement of Websites

You can measure the performance of your websites with the data rich analytics. With the number of online competitors growing, this year you may have to learn how to best utilize analytics data. You will have to find out what is working for you and how you can take care of shortcomings. Analyze where your best visitors came from and which campaigns worked well for you. Put in your resources in the areas where you have performed well.

Professional Networking

2011 will be the year of professional networking on the Internet. For instance, a dentist could become part of an online network of dentistry professionals. Such a network would enable him/her to connect with co-workers, other professionals in the region, and prospective or existing clients. People with common interests in the field of medicine can be part of such networks. Such networking system would allow one to increase exposure in the community by sharing stories and information. Such kind of professional networking would become effective for strengthening web presence and increasing the web traffic.

Simple Aesthetics

Web designers would forsake complex visuals and overdone design techniques. Clean and simple web designs with high attention to detail would be preferred. There would be a greater emphasis on typography, with the open web font format (WOFF) specifications being implemented. Stronger interaction design would help users to get richer and more captivating experiences. Simple aesthetics means better experience on mobile devices as Internet connectivity is less reliable on mobiles in comparison with the traditional broadband connection. For professions such as dentistry, simple website design suits better.

Whether you are a business person or a professional such as dentist, you can tap the potential of the web by adapting the design of your website to the emerging trends. Choose a trusted dentist web design firm which can incorporate the latest features in your site and help you score over your peers.

Website Design Predictions For 2011

Ten Trends and Predictions for Successful Marketing in 2009

Companies face an interesting start to the 2009 calendar year. Many major organizations have recently elected to rescind or completely forgo forecasting their fourth-quarter 2008 and first and second quarters of 2009 due to highly uncertain conditions. Following are ten trends, observations and predictions for the coming year that all marketers should account for in their planning process to help navigate through the uncertain economic conditions.

Marketers apply lessons from the 2008 Presidential campaign. The millions of online-activated volunteers that supported the 2008 Presidential campaigns have come to expect a level of transparency, accessibility and community that most businesses have yet to attain. More marketers than ever will pursue digital and social media as a means to connect with customers. Marketers will measure absolutely everything. A recent report on CNBC from a major marketer on their newfound need to "accurately measure the value of their sponsorship and advertising activities" highlights the "show me the money" approach that we should have had all along to our marketing spend. Return on Investment will be all that matters to marketers in 2009, and they'll find more creative ways that ever to measure it. Insurgent marketers will win big market share. Innovative underdog organizations thrive in economic downturns. In fact, some of the best companies of the last half-decade, like Google Netflix, Ryanair, and the University of Phoenix all surged following the dot-com bubble and the September 11 terrorist attacks. Marketers that take an insurgent or underdog position and innovate in 2009 will see strong growth during the recovery. Customer data will be the most precious marketing resource.Rich customer data will allow marketers to learn, adapt and profit from their customer base in tough times. Successful marketers will develop an analysis competence and target customers with precise offers to sustain profitability. Everyone becomes a marketer.Companies may struggle with how to control who says what to whom, but they will increasingly realize that the marketer muscle they need starts with their employees and loyal customers. Successful marketers will train everyone on the marketing tools they need to turn their front line into customer magnets. Marketers focus on targeting. Marketing 101 teaches us that STP - segmenting, targeting and positioning are key to marketing success. In good times, marketers often broaden their segments and targets without rigorous discipline. Successful marketers in 2009 will dig deeper into their existing data to become more vertically focused and then target that type of customer horizontally across segments. Watch for the word "vertizontal" to appear. Consumers expect feedback loops; companies respond. It's been called "Feedback 3.0" by some of the trend watching think tanks. In 2009, consumers will get used to contributing their ideas for corporate improvement on sites like My Starbucks Idea (www.mystarbucksidea.com) and companies will seek to engage in those same conversations or risk alienating customers. Mobile and location really begin to matter. The buzz on mobile phone marketing has been alive for some time, but with the iPhone and other smart phones that are GPS enabled and that support 3rd-party Applications, be on the lookout for small business opportunities to add value with mobile Applications and to benefit from the existing mobile apps. Update your particulars in places like Google Maps. Geo-locating mobile apps usually use free data sources like those to find your business. Tactics will still lead before strategy.It sounds like blasphemy, but in a world where we're inundated with so many 'tactical' options for taking our message to market, we'll continue to see marketers infected with the 'bright shiny object syndrome' (BSOS) which has them chasing after yet another new, unproven tactical approach in the absence of strategy. Look for 2010 to be the year that 'strategy' makes a comeback! B2B Marketers will increasingly seek a 'thought leadership' based approach. With the threat of constant price promotion, successful marketers will try to change the game and shift to an industry thought leadership position based on competencies and being useful to customers, rather than compete only on the price game. Get your leadership on board, because this will take work to execute.

Iphone Application

It seems that marketing always finds itself in challenging times. If it's not the economy, it's competition, growth, product launches or something else. The most successful marketers keep a constant eye on trends and keep their ear to the ground to learn what's new and afoot in the marketplace.

Ten Trends and Predictions for Successful Marketing in 2009

Top 10 Internet Trends and Predictions for 2011

Internet Trends and Green Web Hosting

Many economists say the "great recession" ended over a year ago. But unemployment is still high, and consumer spending is still sluggish. This does not mean companies should sit and wait for things to improve. Instead, upgrade your strategy for the economy that exists today and grow your business, even in a tough economy.

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10 trends and predictions for 2011

This can serve as a guide for online businesses as places to start to prepare for and gain market growth.

1. Local Social media

Companies have moved toward social media in an effort to build their brand and convert visitors into shoppers. The trend toward social media marketing is no surprise because in the last few years, social media has seen explosive growth. But one new trend that is moving toward the front-line in social media is local social media. When you follow the recent rise of location-based services like Foursquare or Tripit, it is clear that people want to connect with others by location, as well as share experiences and seek recommendations by those who are well informed.

Many shoppers are looking for websites that they can trust. In the past, online shoppers purchased from websites and companies from anywhere around the globe and location was not really an issue, but with the tight economy, shoppers have become more savvy. Trends have shown that building visitor trust is an important method of shaping your brand and engaging visitors. People will begin to use more local services, therefore, expect location-based search to bloom as well.

What to do?

Build visitor trust on your website and cater to local search.

2. Mobile - the Next Frontier for Brand Engagement

Retailers are scrambling to implement mobile websites so that shoppers can use their smart phones to purchase their products. Top brands are investing a large segment of their advertising budget on slick, interactive and stylish iPhone apps and mobile websites.

As the social web evolves, attention is shifting away from destinations and migrating towards micro experiences. Mobile websites are self-contained environments and delivered directly to individuals where their attention is focused. Whereas websites alone served this function since the 90s, mobile websites will grow in popularity and cater to the Internet users' appetite for consumption. Smart business owners can capitalize by developing and maintaining a website that is mobile ready.

What to do?

Top web hosting providers offer Joomla for free on every web hosting plan. Joomla is an easy-to-use content management system with unlimited free modules and plugins. Use MobileJoomla to turn your website into a mobile website, instantly.

3. mCommerce

Users are opening their wallets while on-the-go now more than ever before. Mobile websites and eCommerce stores are becoming more popular and mCommerce - the term for eCommerce stores geared towards mobile users - are becoming more commonplace for the simple fact that people are now shopping while on their smart phones. People tend to buy products as an impulse decision while mobile more than while on a desktop computer. By building a mobile website and selling a product that is "liked" and that visitors trust, shoppers will likely come back for more.

What to do?

Develop a mobile website. Build your brand. Blog and develop quality content on your website. This will help to build visitor loyalty and establish your company as an industry expert.

4. Email Marketing

Yes, email, the apparently forgotten indigent stepchild of social media. But email is alive and well and living in everyone's in box. According to ShareThis, 46% of people share content by email - larger than any other social platform. And, according to StrongMail, nearly 37% share by email, with 21% sharing by embedded badges.

What to do?

Network, collect business cards, establish a LinkedIn account. Never purchase email lists. Instead, develop a list of quality leads to whom you can send emails in which you promote your recent products, services, or company announcements.

5. Blogging, Content Publishing and Distribution

A new trend in content publishing and distribution will continue to blossom from social media networks. Many bloggers are already extending their platforms from the blog to Twitter, Facebook, RSS feed readers, and other social networks. Sharing your content with others and letting them use relevant portions of your content can actually help you gain more visitors.

What to do?

Populate your site with good, free content.

6. iPhone Apps

iPhone apps will continue to grow into a more commonplace tool for brand recognition. A new startup, MobileRoadie, gives companies the ability to better interact with brands and personalities by helping small businesses create their own iPhone Apps. It is an incredibly sophisticated infrastructure that places the power of creating an iPhone app and marketing it through iTunes within reach of almost anyone.

What to do?

Consider developing an iPhone app to connect with and engage more customers.

7. Real Time

Many people have started to compare the increased popularity of the real-time trend to the Web 2.0 trend in 2007.

Google Wave is an excellent example as it is trying to be a combination of wiki, email, and instant messaging. While the utility of Google Wave has not become mainstream, or completely understood by many, it is an example of what many future technologies will look like.

What to do?

Consider establishing a Google Wave, Skype instant messaging account or installing a live chat on your website. If you are a frequent reader of design blog articles, you will see a trend in many bloggers' web design recommendations. Joomla is our design tool of preference, therefore, for a live chat, we direct visitors toward CMSFruit live chat for Joomla.

8. Video Search

Videos are becoming more and more commonplace and almost a requirement for building a business brand. As it stands today, videos are searched and sorted by meta tags, titles, and descriptions. In 2011, there is a good chance that technology will start to be released that can interpret what the content of the video actually is. This will make videos an even more powerful tool for building a brand and gaining recognition within a community. Google and Bing have already taken small steps towards this goal by adding image-recognition to their portfolio. In the long run, this will greatly affect what is being said in a video. The future of designing and scripting a video may very well follow the same guidelines as SEO content writers follow today.

What to do?

If you do not yet have videos on your website, Xtranormal is an easy way to create videos. Your company profile is not complete without a video tutorial or testimonial.

9. Eco Pods

As more web hosting companies scramble to become "green", the HP Eco-Pod will become more popular. The HP POD can be deployed within weeks instead of requiring months or even years to design. Aging data centers are forced to build new space, with high costs and long lead times. The HP POD is typically 20-40% more energy efficient than a typical data center, reducing energy cost and greenhouse gas emissions.

What do do?

Most small businesses do not have the budget to develop their own data center or purchase an eco pod in order to go green. Large corporate enterprises are moving to quickly upgrade or broaden the capacity of their physical infrastructure with the HP Eco Pod.

10. Website Facelift

If you've already spent the money to build a website, it may be time for a facelift. Rather than starting over completely, try designing some new fresh, landing-pages. Most website visitors come in through the back door and through blog posts. Be sure that your site is easy to read - not only for people browsing the web through their computers but accessing your site through their iPhones and Blackberries, too.

In this economy, it is more important than ever to avoid becoming a "me, too" brand. Low prices and quality service are no longer enough. Whether it's a YouTube video, an iPad app or a free event, offer something to make customers take notice. By re-vamping your company website, you can better communicate to your target audience and show them what separates you from the herd.

What to do?

Keep a very thorough list of company names and websites with design architecture that you admire. Browse the web and take notice of those that grab your attention and engage you as a consumer. These sites can serve as a model. Make your website original and never follow the lead of another company. Develop your own niche. A website re-design may be the perfect way to stand out from the crowd and launch your brand above your competitors.

Top 10 Internet Trends and Predictions for 2011

WWDC Final Predictions: iOS 5, iPhone 5, New Mac Pro

WWDC Final Predictions: iOS 5, iPhone 5, New Mac Pro Tube. Duration : 4.85 Mins.

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