I've been doing some research with Justin Levy from the Inbound Marketing Summit ( save 50% by using code EBOOK50 ), which included surveying 19 of the marketing experts who will be speaking at the event. Today we are releasing a free ebook and webinar of the results of our inbound marketing research.
Today, 80% of the inbound marketing experts see Google or Facebook as the most important website for marketers to use.
But 3 years from now, the importance of both Google and Facebook decline, and over 25% of the inbound marketing experts think something new ("other") will be the most important website for marketers.
Here is the complete ebook as a presentation, or you can get your own copy and watch the webinar .
What do you think the "Other" thing will be? What has the potential to be more important then Google and Facebook in 3 years for marketers? Leave a comment below.
Free Webinar & eBook: 19 Marketing Experts Share Tips and Insights
Marketing Insights from 19 Keynote Speakers
Receive a 20+ page eBook with marketing insights from experts speaking at the IMS, including Chris Brogan, David Meerman Scott, Dharmesh Shah, Christine Perkett, Steve Garfield and more!
Catarina Miller 10:08 AM on September 17, 2010
Kinda of hilarious really that the "experts" simply believe in "change" as the constant.
I assume that when asked individually they will have an inkling of what kind of "other" they are thinking of. Good teaser for the Summit, I guess.
Steve Early 10:14 AM on September 17, 2010
Phooey!
Scott M. Stolz 10:15 AM on September 17, 2010
That is the cool thing about the internet. It's always changing; always evolving. Google and Facebook will be major players, of course, but something new will catch people's eyes and get all the buzz. Meanwhile, Google and Facebook and MySpace and others will plug on with their millions of users. Just because a site is not getting all the buzz/fame/publicity/popularity, does not mean it can't have millions of users and make money.
Alex 10:30 AM on September 17, 2010
I don't think this is very accurate. It takes a very long time for something new to become mainstream/useful. Think about the day that you decided google was the search engine to use, but your parents continued to use MSN and yahoo for another 5+ years.
I personally joined facebook when you had to have a .edu e-mail address. 7 years later, most of my older (45+) friends have facebook, but few of them have profile pictures or really even know how to use it.
Using my logic, the 2013 hot service has to be something that exists and is growing today. It also has to do something better than facebook and google can come up with or buy.
Its also hard to compare "google" to other services since "google" is: search, advertising, e-mail, reviews, blogs, forums, news, android, latitude, chat, a browser, video and much more.
So is facebook.
So is Microsoft.
In saying that, what will it be? Microsoft/Yahoo, Google, or Facebook?
Kathy Meyer 10:48 AM on September 17, 2010
I'm already tired of Facebook. Reminds me of old-time radio shows, where everyone called in to gossip and try to get a bit of business done. But, hey, I'm a PR lady. I get distracted easily.
Cristian Gonzales 10:55 AM on September 17, 2010
Heck, anything is possible in the digital landscape we live in today. Things change and evolve even quicker than before. However, I think three years time is a bit too quick. I'd say it's going to be at least 5 years before we see any major changes to the big game players: Google & Facebook. They are here to stay...at least for awhile.
Michael Balkind 10:58 AM on September 17, 2010
Change can be great but keeping up with it at today's lightning speed can get more than a little confusing. by the time you get used to something it's already out of date.
So when are you going to reveal what's the next "best" marketing tool? (or maybe gimmick of the moment)
Roy 11:14 AM on September 17, 2010
Already getting tired of Facebook and I have closed all accounts except LinkedIn for pure contact purpose.
The novelty of the new mode of communication wears off and the next "thing" comes along.
I wonder how things will shape especially when the dependence on touch screen systems will give rise to the need of more smart, savy and less word oriented systems.
Also, it is noticed that kids 9-14 year olds are getting hooked off fb and similar sites as they find it too predictable and boring.
Google, well they need to keep reinventing themselves or else soon they would become Microsoft...essential but not trendy to stick in.
sam roach 11:38 AM on September 17, 2010
Facebook will most likely go the way of mySpace and Google may surprise some folks by developing "other". Anyone's guess at this point.
Rabab Khan 12:30 PM on September 17, 2010
I believe Linkedin could be one important contender for this. However, they would have to make some additions to rival google and facebook.
John moore 12:50 PM on September 17, 2010
Looking into my personal crystal ball...
I see the landscape changing, it always does. The great mall of the internet is where people go to shop, price, compare and find ways to make money.
Ease of use and simplified shopping alternatives will insure that commerce will flourish.
Cost and technology barriers to internet commerce are falling and a local to global community is emerging and expanding the brick and mortar paradigm. GPS type services and mobile technology will drive the new shopping and advertising services.
Hold on to your shopping cart it is not your mother's supermarket.
It is a global marketplace being built.
Jon 1:20 PM on September 17, 2010
Its dangerous being #1 whether a search engine or social media platform. Everyone's gunning for you. I agree with the findings to a point, yet at any moment either Google or Facebook can begin to tumble. From what I've noticed, the market share will be much more fragmented. I'm sure there's a pie chart from '07 with Myspace's share comparative to Facebook's today.
haroon almadhaji 2:45 PM on September 17, 2010
google and facebook getting an increase in the importance and users
how they will decline while facebook is studied as a science , is it a type of market competition or a better services will be introduce ??
Beth 3:45 PM on September 17, 2010
I think LinkedIn will need a little bit more credit in the future. For all we know, they could be devising a Pay-Per-Click Ad campaign right now --- they could easily target ads towards specific people, especially in a B2B perspective by targeting people who work for specific companies, even at different levels of management! While facebook may be somewhat B2C targeted, LinkedIn could be the next big thing for B2B PPC!
Rob Griggs 5:14 PM on September 17, 2010
Things change, that's the only constant!
There will be many new players over time for sure. In the next 3 years? Not so sure. There are rumours about Google Me but we will see.
I personally look at facebook and think what a crock of ****. I mean, it's ok, but I can't believe that one man has become so wealthy with such a poor product!
Lots of opportunities for businesses with budget, tech know how and marketing savvy to take some of the market share.
Scott M. Stolz 6:04 PM on September 17, 2010
I always find it funny when the trendy people start saying something is dead, yet whatever they are declaring dead still has 2 million people logging on everyday. I guess that means any website getting less than a million unique visitors must be really dead?
New stuff will always become trendy until the next trendy thing comes along. One thing is constant, and that is change.
Gabriele Maidecchi 11:05 AM on September 18, 2010
Seeing how things progress in this online-centered world, of course it's a no brainer to say "in 3 years something new will be important as well", like, duh.
However I find it kinda funny to see "experts" saying this, it seems to me like reading "experts believe it's important to drink water everyday".
The second part of it, Google and Facebook declining, well yes, no one can be king of the hill forever, and in particular Facebook reached the critical mass long ago, it surely cannot keep growing at this pace and eventually it will reach a stale and a decline.
Hasn't this always been true for anything online?
Paula Haggerty 4:47 PM on September 18, 2010
While I find Facebook and Twitter to be tedious and a time drain, right now at least, it appears to be a game you have to play to stay in the loop and in your customers minds. If they took the time to "friend" or "fan" you, how can you just drop it. On the other hand, I look forward to what's next!
MartinJohnPrice 1:23 AM on September 20, 2010
One thing is constant isn't it and that's change? We all just have to adapt to what's happening around us all the time to keep up. My marketing strategy changes every day when I see something else that could possibly assist.
Conversational Agent 1:37 AM on September 20, 2010
Nice insight. I think it will depend on the amount of people using a site, if Facebook still would have lots of users, may it can overcome the decline.
Lori-Jane Forrest 3:07 AM on September 20, 2010
I think there insight is most likely to be correct, businesses will maximize there marketing on facebook and then gradually as the new "fad" comes along, everyone will follow, and the cycle will probably repeat its self.
Meet The Boss TV 4:56 AM on September 20, 2010
The "other" thing in my mind would be something that encapsulates everything that Google and Facebook does but also incorporates online shopping like Amazon. 3 major Web factors all streamlined into 1 big Giant.
Toni Anicic 5:20 AM on September 20, 2010
Huh, I agree that eventually something new will become very important for the inbound marketers, however, I don't think 3 years is enough, considering the amount of time it took Facebook to reach this status, something that would be as important to marketers in 3 years as Facebook is today would already need to exist and should be on our radars, gaining significant amount of users every moment. :)
Perryn Olson, CPSM 10:24 AM on September 20, 2010
I see Twitter's demise in the 3-5 years as people retaliate against the uber-news and having to constantly keep up things. I do not see Google diminishing at all and Facebook's only demise being it becomes "uncool" for the younger generations as their parents take over.
Felicity Aldridge 8:41 PM on September 20, 2010
All I can say is that I am looking forward to change especially with facebook . Google I am not to sure it could take a little more time.
Ryan Malone 11:28 PM on September 21, 2010
Propaganda. I remember a decade ago, someone told me that Microsoft didn't matter. And then Apple didn't matter. And the land lines didn't matter. It's great marketing though, because FUD generates leads. Not saying things won't change, but...