As we wrap up 2012 and welcome a new year, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on our successes and consider how our progress may affect the future. Evaluating the needs of our clients and thinking outside the box gives Pyxl the creative upper hand to see industry demands and provide solutions. At Pyxl, we thrive on setting and achieving big goals and measuring results along the way. So what does 2013 have in store for our industry?

Check out what the Pyxl team has to say about the future of digital marketing in our compilation of 13 predictions for 2013! Do you agree, or have a prediction we missed? Post a comment to let us know your thoughts. 

Prediction #1: Cross platform and cross channel measurement is going to be huge in 2013. With more consumers using multiple devices, from smartphones to tablets to desktops, there will be more interest in how they are using their devices and for what purpose. Metrics, reporting and analytics will be used more heavily across the board to track campaigns, the sharing of conversation and awareness. Awareness is no longer what we simply generate on websites and ads; it’s what people are creating and sharing on their own as well. To better understand how a company is getting through to their customers, they need to take a step back and look at the big picture – web, social, mobile and beyond. Think Adwords meets Radian6 when adding in analytics and mentions from various channels.

Prediction #2: In 2013 we will see more companies begin to realize social media is important for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Companies will start to understand that SEO, content and social media are linked and more integrated than ever.

Prediction #3: The New Year will bring greater familiarity on the ROI social media has and how it plays a major role in company goals and objectives. Companies that understand the benefits of effective social media will help them acquire data to gain better insight into customers and prospects.

Prediction #4: Ads, Ads, and more Ads! We will see an increase in the amount of content that’s shifting away from ad-supported business models to pay-per-view or subscription-based models – Hopefully not!  Our minds are on overload with ads flashing before our eyes in every format everywhere we look, from videos to news feeds and between songs when listening to online radio outlets! The more simplified a site or announcement is, the easier it will be to pinpoint the importance of the message. 2013 will bring us simplicity, clean lines and white space with minimal content.

Prediction #5: The use of email marketing will become more strategic toward the individual. Segmented audiences and targeted messaging will allow businesses to further identify and meet the needs of consumers.

Prediction #6: Time spent on sites will decrease. In today’s fast paced world we see things in blips, skimming thousands of words each day. In digital marketing we are trained to filter through Tweets, posts, briefs, e-mails, info hovers, Google summaries and more! Give the facts, don’t add fluff, get straight to the point and keep my attention. The web is huge; if we get bored or information is not readily available, we move on and find it somewhere else. With people gravitating toward new simplistic web designs, it’s easier to find the information with less content, just the necessities. We are on fast-forward; we have things to do and need to do them quickly. You can either fork over the information fast or you’ll lose me.

Prediction #7: The development of Responsive/Parralax designs will become the new standard for traditional companies, a simple idea in which one design is compatible on all devices. With the rise of mobile and accessibility, the switch would make sense.

Prediction #8: Mobile will be a driving force in 2013! Businesses need to consider a mobile friendly version of their site if they don’t have a responsive site friendly for all devices. With more and more people on the go, and the ability to search websites on smartphones and tablets anywhere and everywhere, companies will need to get more creative with reaching their consumers, identifying a call to action.

Prediction #9: Mobile platforms will be created and used specifically to enhance your shopping experience by offering self-scanning of a product to obtain details, store location and check inventory. An interactive map that shows department store layouts and strip mall stores.

Prediction #10: 2013 will move website and application design toward a “flat” style and away from the rounded 3D (skeuomorphic design) styles that have been popular.

Prediction #11: The power of the Web! Cable companies will start losing subscribers to on-demand services like Netflix and Hulu as online content streaming demand rises.

Prediction #12: Video conferencing will become more popular. With features like FaceTime on Skype and the screen-share option, people easily stay connected and business can operate more collaboratively. Other platforms such as Google have a higher quality voice/video capability than Skype. In the future it would be great to see a collaborative, real-time editor plug-in that could be integrated into a program similar to Skype.  

Prediction #13: Drivers will have the option to speak to an AI (artificial intelligence) and have online content read to them while on a commute. Example: “Siri (or some other AI name) – go to CNN.com and read me the headlines” As the driver says “Select”, the AI continues to read the content and asks the driver if they want to continue or read supporting articles.