7 Marketing Predictions for Midsize Businesses in 2014

Are you wondering what 2014 might look like for marketing?

How will marketing impact midsize businesses in 2014?

What if you had a glimpse into the future?

To give you a glimpse of what I think midsize businesses can expect in the next year. I’ve decided to tap my deep knowledge and expertise.

Here are my 7 marketing predictions for midsize businesses in 2014:

1. Customers Trust Customers.  This is nothing new, but will be more of a focus. Customers referred products and services to each other before the Internet existed. The most recent study on the topic, showed 70% of consumers trusted consumer ratings and reviews. Are you getting customers to share their experience, rate your product or service or even write a review?
2. Exceed Customer Expectations.  Provide remarkable service in real life (or however you interact with prospects and customers.) Nothing beats remarkable, amazing, wow service for generating positive word of mouth. Midsize companies must commit to massively exceeding customer expectations. After all, the praise you earn online almost always comes from real actions offline.
3. Continued Empowerment of the Consumer.  Time to give consumers the key to the car. Empowered consumers reward you with loyalty. I’m a huge advocate of any way we can use generosity and information to build businesses, sell products and support our economy. Becoming a trusted informational provider, makes the purchasing process easier and more fun, and is the reason I see the information-empowered consumer as a huge growth trend in 2014.
4. Real-Time Problem Solving.  Midsize businesses will move to agile marketing and real-time thinking. With communication being impacted by the internet, disgruntled customers expect answers faster through social media channels. This calls for midsize businesses need to master the art of opportunistic marketing and the art of real-time response.  For that, midsize businesses need the right infrastructure and agile processes that will allow them to   intuitively and immediately pick up on the marketing opportunities. They also need strategic partnerships that can adapt, react and support them in real-time as well.
5. Fewer channels.  In 2014, I think midsize businesses will have a nuts-and-bolts focus on getting the most out of the channels that fit their business. They will  focus on fewer channels , and they’ll want to  go deep in them instead of being diluted across all channels . The adage of “deep not wide” will ring true for the midsize companies that stay focused.
6. Customer Engagement . In 2014 engagement strategies will be at the top of the list for midsize businesses.  Making marketing activities and interactions worth participating in will be the goal. I foresee the use of different communication channels for celebrating customers by giving them a chance in the spotlight, connecting them with customer service sessions, giveaways and contests, and free product demos.
7. Customize Service.  Last, but certainly not least, I see customize service being something that’s a huge marketing play in 2014. Having customize service not only deepens the relationship with customers but also means that customers are also investing in the relationship. Plus this creates a lock-in effect.

So, that’s my list of 2014 marketing predictions. Do you Agree? Disagree?

What’s your 2014 marketing predication for midsize businesses?