[2012 trends] My hem, your hem, mayhem!

[Terry Levin] Looking for trends to follow in 2012? Why not just invent one and then get as many people as possible to subscribe to it via as many media and devious means as you can dream up to get it trending? Voila, instant trend! Call it Like-ness... or the year of rampant individualism. 24 Jan 2012 15:15

[2012 trends] Setting the scene for search-based marketing

[Peter Stewart] Search-based marketing may be broken down into conversion, search engine optimisation (SEO), paid search and performance email information. In setting the scene for the rest of 2012, here are various trends per category. 24 Jan 2012 14:37

[2012 trends] Brand purpose to take lead in brand strategy

[Travis Spence] A critical juncture in brand marketing has arrived. It is led by the internet and the technology changes this brings, along with consumers - who, as we all know, have changed forever. The brand now needs not only to represent its product but the people behind the product and why they do what they do for that product's success. 24 Jan 2012 12:26

[2012 trends] The year of short-term commitments

[Agnes Barnard] As the world gets hotter and we become more connected, and brand interaction is now a conversation and no longer a monologue, the trend we are seeing coming through loud and clear are those of "short-term" commitments. 23 Jan 2012 15:17

[2012 trends] The way to customers' hearts is through their phones

[Vanessa Clark] Never before have people had such a love affair with a communications medium as they have with their mobile phones. Now, marketers aren't communicating with consumers via an impersonal one-way device; rather, they are communicating with them through a device people happily carry around 24/7. Here are my top 12 trends for the mobile world in 2012. 23 Jan 2012 14:53

[2012 trends] Generation Y Not

[Jason Levin & Jessica Oosthuizen] South Africa's young consumers are more savvy and demanding than ever before. Not surprisingly, marketers have to work harder and smarter to make their brands compelling to kids, teens and young adults. 2012 stands for pace, progress, challenge and increased 'prosumer' power. Here are 10 whats and hows, ending with some of the hottest youth brands to look out for this year. 23 Jan 2012 13:32

[2012 trends] Strong and continued growth for social media

[John Beale & Heike Meyburgh] With 2011 in the rearview mirror, we expect a strong and continued growth on various social media platforms in 2012. The increased online penetration and a strong drive from mobile operators to connect more people to the internet through smartphones or dongles will undoubtedly lead to more people joining social networks. 23 Jan 2012 12:26

[2012 trends] Whoosh! The year in which nothing happens

[Walter Pike] In 2012, things will stay the same. Everyone still believes that marketing has not changed and that social is a channel. Yes they are starting to understand how important channel is but they have not and will not grasp just how much. 20 Jan 2012 14:18

[2012 trends] Email marketing trends shaping the year ahead

[Warren Moss] Despite what the doomsday predictions say, email will not become irrelevant due to the rise of social media. As one of the most cost-effective and efficient eMarketing service offerings, email marketing is expected to continue to be a crucial part of the digital marketing mix in 2012. 20 Jan 2012 13:52

[2012 trends] A ratcheting up of existing trends

[Janice Spark] Looking forward, we can expect a ratcheting up of existing trends throughout 2012. Whether you're a politician, an executive or a consumer, the odds are strong you're going to need to hang firmly onto your hat. 20 Jan 2012 12:56

[2012 trends] The new frontiers of market research

[Leanne Freeman] I think 2012 will be a fascinating year for market research in South Africa, as more specialist tools and techniques are increasingly absorbed into mainstream methodologies. New technology will be a key driver, but this will be carefully balanced by efforts to really understand consumer behaviour by directly engaging respondents. 20 Jan 2012 12:08

Li Edelkoort back with two-part trend seminar in Cape Town, Joburg

Li Edelkoort will be in Cape Town on Saturday, 3 March 2012, and in Johannesburg on Monday 5 March to present a two-part trend seminar, titled "Summer 13 'Bliss'" and "House of Textile". 20 Jan 2012 08:54

[2012 trends] Occupy 2012

[Charl Thom] The past year will go down in history as a time of unexpected political regime change, social unrest and civil protest, from the bloody end to Muammar Gaddafi's 41-year rule in Libya to the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York that spread very quickly around the world. Such conditions make for interesting and exciting times, because they bring change. Lots of change. 19 Jan 2012 15:44

[2012 trends] Your friend is literally the trend

[Anice Hassim] 2012 will bring fundamental tectonic shifts to the balance of power in technology choices. Many of these will be driven by the people and for the people - in 2012 the trend, literally, is your friend. Smart enterprise will embrace this change but big business will very quickly have to learn to shut up and listen to what the consumer wants. 19 Jan 2012 15:18