IS 462 Reflection

The future of marketing is interactivity. We are heading into a direction where the marketing messages that individuals see, are for that individual. They relate to that individuals interests, hobbies, habits, etc. The target audiences for these marketing messages will be complex because they will be very specific; they will incorporate many variables. Currently, technologies individuals use and rely on are able gather data about individuals so that they could be marketed to in a more effective manner. In the future these technologies will make it easier to gather data about individuals so they can be marketed to in an even more effective manner.  The marketing messages will also be interesting because consumers will be able to interact with them. The Xbox Kinect is an example of a technology that allows consumers to interact with marketing messages they run across on their Xbox.

Social media plays a key role in the marketing and production of businesses. The more active businesses are with social media, the more their business booms. Consumers want to be heard, and social media allows them to be heard in a very convenient way. Social media sites such as YouTube have opened endless possibilities for creativity and interactivity for businesses. Social media sites such as Facebook, and Twitter can really empower businesses to listen to their consumers, make adjustments, resolve complaints, offer help, etc. At the same time, social media enables businesses with the ability to promote themselves.

Mobile technologies are becoming increasingly important. Consumers are moving towards mobile technologies in a rapid way. I was surprised to hear that Apple has sold more iPads in recent years than the amount of Macs ever sold. I think that there is a lot of potential in the mobile technology market for a lot of businesses out there.  Mobile websites and applications should be a main focus of businesses that want to gain an edge in their markets.

It is very interesting to see how fast technology is changing the world. Looking back just 10 years, technology has dramatically improved and changed things. It continues to improve and change things at a fast pace. Businesses should make the most of these technologies when marketing. Otherwise, they may be left behind and become irrelevant. Businesses must be ready for the changes in technologies and adjust accordingly.