Fact is 2009 is going to be a tough year no doubt, with the grim global and local economic outlook taking centre stage.

However, an offset of these circumstances is that 2009 has a couple of things we can look forward to – specifically within the digital environment in South Africa…

1. Results. It’s crunch-time and there will be little tolerance for hyped-up buzz-words and flaky delivery. Rather decisions and delivery will focus on things such as ROI, profitability, value, accountability and measurability…i.e. results.
2. Innovation. When forced out of one’s comfort zone, innovation and creativity comes to the for. Companies will re-evaluate their communications internally as well as to their customers - so, expect to see an exciting application of digital channels combined with well thought-out, creative messaging.
3. Relationships. 2009 will see companies, individuals and brands cherish relationships, current and new, more than ever. We can thus look forward to more time being spent on nurturing and growing relationships. The use of appropriate digital strategies and technologies to improve on CRM systems and procedures will thus be prominent this year.
4. More of WWC. World Wide Creative has kicked off this year with some really awesome projects of which we will start unveiling the curtain from March onwards and start shouting from the hilltops!! We have also made a concerted effort to increase our exposure exponentially in 2009 - so, expect to see and hear a lot more of the Heavy Chefs during the next couple of months!

As a side note, you can also view these presentations I found from the guys at TrendsSpotting on ‘Influencers Predictions’ for Online Marketing and Social Media in 2009 – A well summarized piece of work on what key figures on the web are expecting for the new year.

Here’s to a spectacular 2009 to all!

Read more posts by LouisJvR

Louis is the Johannesburg manager of web marketing firm World Wide Creative. Louis is also known as the ‘Case Study Guy’ with an encyclopaedic knowledge of research resources to support the strategic initiatives he is involved in. In between organising Heavy Chef Sessions in the Gauteng region, Louis happens to have a mean sidestep on the rugby field. With his silky skills, dashing good looks, Colgate smile and cunning wit, Louis is the high school quarterback of the World Wide Creative marketing team.

Related posts:

1. Happy New Year!
2. December Heavy Chef Session: What To Expect in 2009
3. World Wide Creative, the web marketing company bubbling under Biz-Community
4. Marketers, Get Your Digital Shift Together!
5. A new year, a new website.