20 Small Business Trends For 2009
Small Business Trends recently published loads of trends for 2009. This is not my most favorite of sites, and I don’t particularly agree with many trends that they predict. But they do get some right, and it’s always smart to check it out and decide for yourself.
Interestingly enough, they have .mobi listed as a global trend to watch for in 2009. However I don’t think they did their homework about our industry; this is what they said:
DotMobi is a top-level domain approved by ICANN (www.icann.org) and managed by the mTLD global registry and dedicated to delivering the Internet to mobile devices via the Mobile Web. According to Infoplease.com, there are more than 2 billion cell phones in use worldwide and that number continues to grow because many folks cannot afford a laptop. For a lot of people in emerging markets, the mobile phone will be the primary way to access the Internet. Learn more at, “Mobile Web Remains a Mystery to Most”
Now, I agree 100% in that the mobile web has a bright and exciting future. The one thing I disagree on is that it’s with the .mobi extension (and I know I’m not alone on this). I’m thinking that perhaps they are just assuming that .mobi must be used on mobile devices, and therefore must have a great 2009 ahead of it. I’ll chalk this one up to a reporter not researching properly.
Do check out their articles though, as they offer some comments on each trend I have listed here:
Top 10 global trends for small businesses for 2009:
- Disruptive innovation will be both the coolest and hottest new growth strategy in 2009 because it will transcend all boundaries and transform businesses.
- dotMobi will take global root in 2009.
- Diverse global business partnerships will shine and outperform those businesses that don’t make these critical alliances.
- Exporting (from the USA) will prevail in the first quarter of ‘09 and might start to strengthen later in the year.
- Twitter will replace the “call me” statement with “Twitter me” due to technology, convenience and time constraints.
- Entrepreneurs and small businesses will learn, if they haven’t already, everything there is to know about how to take a business global.
- Optimism will fuel global small businesses that have the guts to press on, even in the face of insurmountable obstacles.
- Women entrepreneurs will rule the global marketplace.
- Trusted crowds will become profitable clouds.
- Green and global are a marriage made in heaven because everyone wants to save the world.
Top 10 small business marketing trends for 2009:
- Authenticity
- Do-it-yourself marketing
- Tech-driven word-of-mouth marketing
- Eco and social responsibility
- Bootstrapping and simplicity
- Marketing to the “buy button”
- Paid memberships
- Mobility
- Wisdom of crowds
- Personal Branding
I’m becoming a big fan of the personal branding thing. If done correctly, it can do wonders for what you are trying to accomplish. A good example is Chef Patrick. I think he’s done a great job finding a catchy and easy-to-remember personal brand. What’s cooking in the domain world? Ask Chef Patrick! Combine that with a nicely designed site and good content and he has a winner. Good job, sir.
Neil Voron mentioned this trend back in my mega-post where domainers predicted trends for 2009. This is a great trend and it should strongly be considered if you are building a blog or niche site.
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Related:Forbes: Info For Those New To Online Business
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2 Responses to “20 Small Business Trends For 2009”
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“they have .mobi listed as a global trend to watch for in 2009. However I don’t think they did their homework about our industry”
You’re absolutely right about the homework.
The article is dated January 21,2009.
The second trend:
“2. dotMobi will take global root in 2009.”
references a link to the MobiEnthusiast.mobi website that proclaims “Coca-Cola has joined the mobile internet with their flagship brand at Coke.mobi”
The author also says: “If Coke is on to it (.mobi), it’s already global”.
Unfortunately the author must not have done his homework.
I went to Coke.mobi.
This is what I found:
“Sorry. This service is no longer available”.
Apparently the site was up just for the
Christmas holiday.
“Unfortunately the author must not have done his homework.”
I didn’t do my homework.
The author is a She!