A lot of folks would have you believe that the inauguration of Obama heralds the dawn of a new Age. Fiddlesticks. I’ll tell you what hearkens to a new age – the global financial meltdown. With gasoline here in Amarillo hovering at $1.65 a gallon for the last week or so (and likely to head lower, if you believe the forecasts), financial markets in turmoil, and the stock market circling the drain, it’s a Brave New World out there. So what’s a marketer to do?

Frankly, like everybody else, I’m feeling my way here. But I can give you some insight as to what’s changed, so with a tip ‘o the Captain Digital helmet to Wired Magazine, here’s a guide to what’s in and what’s out:

So what does this mean to your marketing? Depends on the client. If you’re a marketer, it’s your job to start helping your clients realize that it’s a new world out there, and you can’t think “business as usual” – if they expect to survive. If you’re into retail, start emphasizing Lay-a-way over credit. If you’re in the luxury goods biz, start thinking about bolstering your lower end lines. If you’re in a market that’s sporting a trend, follow it.

That’s my advice. I’m sure there are other trends out there I haven’t touched on, but I think you get the idea. Keep your heads low, your eyes and ears open, and keep those track shoes on. You’re gonna need ‘em.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm and is filed under marketing, Random Stuff.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.