Five things to watch in 2008

I have been inspired to try and predict a few trends for 2008 – I have it down to five that I see for 2008.

1. The growth of virtual advertising. More and more ads are created that are not focused on our client; candidates or those we even bother to run in the media. Still, they look nice and win awards.
2. Media and creative continue to be planned with little thought for the other. Just because they are consumed together it does not mean we need to think about how they work with each other. The gamble makes it a little bit more exciting.
3. A number becomes CEO of an agency. With all the CTR, ROI and benchmarks flying around people forget that numbers do not think and people do. All original thought is lost.
4. Bonus schemes are cut. Even thought 2008 ends up a bumper year for profit and turnover we all earn less. Shareholders love a good recession.
5. Digital media planner wages cause inflation. Gordon Brown steps in and ends up giving up his job as prime minister to move into media planning. Everyone has a price.

Who knows what will happen in the year ahead – but I am feeling confident about the above.

Comments

[Gareth]

I think your time would be better find some new points to discuss John. Your point about virtual ads is now very old and very, very boring.

I enjoy the other authors though.

[John Whitehurst]

A comment was made about point one - but it seems to have been deleted now (chicken). But to clear this up - IT IS NOTHING TO DO WITH VIRTUAL WORLDS.

[Alex]

Five things to watch in 2008?

1. The new Batman or Indiana Jones movie (don't get out much nowadays, so it's probably one or the other- which likely means Indiana Jones as the Mrs will never go for Batman).

2. Spooks (series 7 - did Adam really end Jo's torment?)

3. StarWars (all of them - just 'cos it needs to be done and I haven't yet)

4. the Welsh Rugby team showing some promise and then not really delivering (or else delivering this year only to fall flat next year)

5. more Cbeebies than is healthy.

:-)

[Jamie Leonard]

Jon your comments sadden me. A once enthusiastic and optimistic young lad has turned into a pessimist. Is this what self employment does to you and what I have to look forward to? But if we’re bitching I'll take:

- At least 6 new newspaper driven generic sites that have as many unique qualities as I have fitness DVD’s.
- At least 2 more agencies claim to “go digital” and somehow manage to spend less online in 2008 than they did in 2007.
- The lack of talented sales people increases even more whilst the demand also increases; leaving hugely average sales people being paid ridicules money for an average job.
- Every public sector site rubs there hands and claims “this will be the year” again!
- HM Revenues & Customs finally admit “Maybe we should have gone recorded delivery”.

[John Whitehurst]

Jamie - thanks for calling me young (that does not happen much).

Also ... I have always been a grumpy person about the recruitment industry.