Online Marketing '08: Techniques of the Future

According to a recently published piece from the Center for Media Research here are the top five prediction trends of online advertising for 2008 (in no particular order).

1. Taking database marketing to the next level - We've managed to wrap our heads around the do's and don'ts of keeping a clean database, now its time we really leverage the information gathered and deliver on the promise of a true 1:1 marketing experience

2. UGC no longer labeled inappropriate for most brands - revered for being super affordable, marketers are now exploring ways to incorporate UGC in a more brand-safe way while still reaching precise target audiences.

3. Local advertising - no seriously, local at its finest. Local users on national sites will be shown ads for local businesses relevant to their interests in turn creating more applicable results for the user and more affordable options for advertisers on sites that were normally out of their budget.

4. Metrics galore - whether your justifying a spend to your boss or trying to decide your future media budget, check metrics beyond just clicks to help decipher how to best influence your customer and appeal to their emotions to coax them through the sales funnel.

5. Virtual worlds - expected to become more populated as people begin to focus on specialty worlds associated with their personal interests. Can you say effortless precision targeting?