Happy New Year
New Year's Eve is just round the corner, so it's time to write some kind of summary of the previous year and peek into upcoming year. And I'm going to this with my left hand. It's pretty hard as I'm dedicated user of my right hand, which now is packed in plastic bag due to severe burn - it's very silly to pour boiling coffee on your hand!
Anyhow, left or right 2007 comes to an end. For me it isn't really end, this is just a check point people set up - time doesn't exist, our clocks don't measure something independent of the universe. Clocks doesn't measure time at all. New Year's Eve and resolutions are just the way of dealing with unpredictable and endless universe.
2007 was a year of Facebook. People went crazy not only with opening accounts but sending messages and creating applications. The number of third-party apps. available on Facebook has hit the 10,000 mark, but less than 20 Facebook apps. that are used on a daily basis by more than 25% of users who install them (via Marketing Vox). Social media were big this year and they will keep on growing, however they are still not mainstream. Mainstream level is reached when your grandfather and marketers get it, but it is not the case yet, but it is getting closer and closer. Marketers begin to look into and we can see more interesting examples of commercial activities that are build upon understanding of humans' needs and behavior.
2007 brought me also a great iPhone experience. I've got my iPhone and it convinced me the mobile will rise from ashes of previous predictions and finally become "the killer device". The phones like iPhone offering multifunctional within one thumb click and giving access anytime and anywhere are the future. Mobile phone are already ubiquitous, we carry and use them 24/7. iPhone adds a couple of steroids to our mobile experience. And I know there are many who will say that there are more phones that have more features and are powerful than iPhone....yes, it is true but they lack two crucial elements: total user centric design (you can access anything on iPhone within one click and it feels so nice to hold iPhone) and being social objects of social desire. I wait also for the next big news about GPhone, it will be exciting to see Google's next move towards taking world over.
My favorite viral video in 2007 was Cadbury's Gorilla. It is simple and cool. And it destroyed for me Phil Collins' song. Every time I hear it, I can see gorilla in front of my eyes.
My favorite and inspirational blogs: Herd and Punk Planning. Thanks for inspiration and keep on doing great job. You are one of those who make a difference.
T
he best quote in 2007: "Advertising is a tax you pay for unremarkable thinking." Johnny Vulkan.
The biggest chock and disappointment I've experienced in 2007 was when I was called for being to creative and consumer centric....hmm. Apparently flowcharts and GRPs levels are still crucial to media planning. I must have missed something.
What about 2008? Social media saga will continue, mobile will slowly rise and we will keep on living in hype culture where the new things, social media, applications and devices become hypes and achieve status of desirable social objects - like Facebook. Just a few will be able to reach the critical mass and become mainstream. They last until the new hype arrives and steals people CPA (continous partial attention).
The focus on GREEN will be increasing, more talking but also more action - Radiohead's initiative to reduce carbon output of their tours will find followers. Being Green will become the way to demonstrate you are wealthy in Western countries.
Besides the world will carry on, TV will still be there and radio and Facebook. We will forget to turn of the lights and buy lots of unnecessary things. We will make lots of resolution but we will remain who we are :-) - herd animals.
I wish you all wonderful New Year and great year 2008, filled with great ideas and three resolutions:
1) be more green by doing the small things, don't try to save the world but make the change to happen locally - turn off the lights when you leave the office, recycle, reduce the amount of printing, etc.
2) reduce spending on the things, you don't really need and give the money to those who need them. Owning another bag or another pair of shoes will not make any difference for you, but it can change someone's life.
3) be nice to people, smile makes life more bearable :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tags: 2008 trends, 2007, Happy New Year, Advertising, Media, IPhone, Facebook, Social Media
