As the Customer Obsessed Digital Agency®, Tenthwave wanted to take our customer-centric approach with our 2016 Trend Report. The information in this report should be used to help you identify opportunities in the marketplace that your marketing teams can use to develop things that matter to your customers. This report identifies and explores the 16 nascent marketing trends that will impact the marketing landscape in the upcoming year.
This report outlines 10 of the most compelling macro trends identified today—trends whose impact will be felt in 2015 and beyond as they continue to unfold, the ones shaping societal mood, behaviors and attitudes. This report explores where these trends stand now and where they’re headed, with insights gleaned from a J. Walter Thompson MEA survey of consumers across six key regional markets and a spectrum of industry experts and innovators.
The key consumer trends and insights influencing the Shopping sector in 2018 – based on consumer research and analysis from behavioural insights practice Canvas8.
The Future 100 - trends and change to watch in 2016; cultural shifts that affect businesses and consumers alike, by the J. Walter Thompson Intelligence.
TODAY, SIMPLICITY IS MORE THAN JUST A TREND,
IT IS A NECESSITY !
As we redefine our priorities and seek to enjoy life to the maximum, simplicity removes daily stress and counterbalances the complexity of our modern lifestyles.
This report outlines 10 of the most compelling macro trends identified today—trends whose impact will be felt in 2015 and beyond as they continue to unfold, the ones shaping societal mood, behaviors and attitudes. This report explores where these trends stand now and where they’re headed, with insights gleaned from a J. Walter Thompson MEA survey of consumers across six key regional markets and a spectrum of industry experts and innovators.
The key consumer trends and insights influencing the Shopping sector in 2018 – based on consumer research and analysis from behavioural insights practice Canvas8.
The Future 100 - trends and change to watch in 2016; cultural shifts that affect businesses and consumers alike, by the J. Walter Thompson Intelligence.
TODAY, SIMPLICITY IS MORE THAN JUST A TREND,
IT IS A NECESSITY !
As we redefine our priorities and seek to enjoy life to the maximum, simplicity removes daily stress and counterbalances the complexity of our modern lifestyles.
How can brands celebrate culture? // Five behavioural shifts underpinning the...Canvas8
The 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity brings together some of the world’s most innovative advertisers to recognise the best campaigns from the year. Canvas8 examines the winning campaigns to identify the five key behavioural shifts underpinning this year’s Grand Prix winners and the opportunities they present for brands.
Natural is back—As anxious consumers reject an industrial system that appears increasingly toxic and damaging to health, they are turning toward natural products as a solution. Raised on digital culture, they no longer see nature and technology as mutually exclusive, and are combining the best aspects of both to build New Natural lifestyles.
JWT: The Future 100 - Trends and changesFilipp Paster
The Future 100 takes a snapshot of emerging trends for 2017, spanning culture, tech and innovation, travel and hospitality, brands and marketing, food and drink, beauty, retail, health, lifestyle, and luxury.
As we look ahead to 2017, markets are confident, even though assumptions have been questioned and narratives overturned. Amid the massive shifts that are sure to follow, there’s never been a more important time for brands to keep tabs on forecasts and emerging consumer behaviors.
Last year, we presented the top, must-know, culturally relevant trends for 2015 and our predictions were 83% accurate!
To help the “curious class” stay relevant in 2016, we’ve assembled an A-Z glossary of what trends we predict to be 100 must-know terms and concepts of 2016.
We hope this cultural crib sheet will help prepare you for the year ahead!
A primer on youth culture and commerce in an era of converged media and transformation shaking the foundation of every industry by young adults not conditioned to conform to institutionalized thought.
National Student Advertising Competition 2016 - Snapple
Hayley served as the Public Relations Director on Ohio University's NSAC team. She led the production of four public relations promotions and two partnerships (detailed on pages 10-15) which were awarded best promotions in AAF District 5.
As a director, she was also a contributing team member to all other aspects of the campaign including research, media and creative.
More DISRUPTION on https://www.techingrocery.com/
'Dried vegetables, protein-rich yogurt, burger without beef. These products are not only the core of organic shops, they become alternatives increasingly popular with consumers who aspire to a generally healthier diet … even if sugary is still a venial sin assumed. Overview of these food trends observed in Europe with Innova Market and Nielsen insights.
More DISRUPTION on https://www.techingrocery.com/
Top 5 Content Marketing Trends - ad:tech AustraliaRyan Bonnici
Marketing is a fast-moving industry by nature. Like most years, a whole lot has happened in the marketing world in 2015 – and we’re already seeing new trends emerge for 2016.
Not only is content marketing is becoming more localised and more personalised – new channels are revolutionising the way customers experience your brand. For example, Snapchat has exceeded many marketers’ expectations, now getting 4 billion video views per day — the same number as Facebook. We’re seeing a rise in wearable tech, which is giving marketers much more consumer data to work with.
It’s time to put these changes into perspective as we enter 2016. Join HubSpot marketing director Ryan Bonnici as he shares his insights around inbound marketing, and the top 5 content marketing trends he’s seeing in Australia.
Key Takeaways will include:
- How to create a killer on-page and off-page content strategy that can increase your quality website traffic by 3x.
- How personalised content can increase your traffic to lead conversion rate by 500%.
- How to nurture leads with real time content that can increase your average sale price, and decreases the length of your sales cycle.
8 Trends that Will Define the Future of Email MarketingLitmus
Email marketing has experienced great shifts in recent years, and is poised to undergo dramatic changes before the end of the decade.
We explored the future of the channel in our recent “Email Marketing in 2020” report, where we asked 20 experts to share their vision for how email will change over the next several years. Their thought-provoking predictions touch on the subscriber experience, inbox functionality, deliverability, design and coding, the technology provider landscape, and much more.
In this presentation, we discuss 8 major themes from “Email Marketing in 2020”: (1) Channel Stability, (2) A Single View of the Customer, (3) Hyper-personalization, (4) Machine Learning & Automation, (5) Inbox Landscape & Functionality, (6) Interactivity, (7) Minimalism, and (8) Compliance & Privacy.
Along the way, we’ll share the perspective of our amazing contributors, whose advice will help you get ready for the changes ahead. Justine and I will also share the results from our surveys of thousands of consumers and marketers about key trends. Join us to get a head start on preparing for the future of email marketing!
Web Design 2016: Top 10 Trends to Attract New CustomersAIS Media, Inc.
What drives change in web design? Users. Your website shouldn’t make users think. It should make them act.
2016 will be a very exciting year for web design. It’s no secret that web design is fast-paced and ever evolving. It’s more important than ever for marketers to stay ahead of the curve.
In this presentation, you’ll learn how to take your current website and turn it into a well-oiled machine to attract, engage and convert new customers better than ever before.
How can brands celebrate culture? // Five behavioural shifts underpinning the...Canvas8
The 2019 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity brings together some of the world’s most innovative advertisers to recognise the best campaigns from the year. Canvas8 examines the winning campaigns to identify the five key behavioural shifts underpinning this year’s Grand Prix winners and the opportunities they present for brands.
Natural is back—As anxious consumers reject an industrial system that appears increasingly toxic and damaging to health, they are turning toward natural products as a solution. Raised on digital culture, they no longer see nature and technology as mutually exclusive, and are combining the best aspects of both to build New Natural lifestyles.
JWT: The Future 100 - Trends and changesFilipp Paster
The Future 100 takes a snapshot of emerging trends for 2017, spanning culture, tech and innovation, travel and hospitality, brands and marketing, food and drink, beauty, retail, health, lifestyle, and luxury.
As we look ahead to 2017, markets are confident, even though assumptions have been questioned and narratives overturned. Amid the massive shifts that are sure to follow, there’s never been a more important time for brands to keep tabs on forecasts and emerging consumer behaviors.
Last year, we presented the top, must-know, culturally relevant trends for 2015 and our predictions were 83% accurate!
To help the “curious class” stay relevant in 2016, we’ve assembled an A-Z glossary of what trends we predict to be 100 must-know terms and concepts of 2016.
We hope this cultural crib sheet will help prepare you for the year ahead!
A primer on youth culture and commerce in an era of converged media and transformation shaking the foundation of every industry by young adults not conditioned to conform to institutionalized thought.
National Student Advertising Competition 2016 - Snapple
Hayley served as the Public Relations Director on Ohio University's NSAC team. She led the production of four public relations promotions and two partnerships (detailed on pages 10-15) which were awarded best promotions in AAF District 5.
As a director, she was also a contributing team member to all other aspects of the campaign including research, media and creative.
More DISRUPTION on https://www.techingrocery.com/
'Dried vegetables, protein-rich yogurt, burger without beef. These products are not only the core of organic shops, they become alternatives increasingly popular with consumers who aspire to a generally healthier diet … even if sugary is still a venial sin assumed. Overview of these food trends observed in Europe with Innova Market and Nielsen insights.
More DISRUPTION on https://www.techingrocery.com/
Top 5 Content Marketing Trends - ad:tech AustraliaRyan Bonnici
Marketing is a fast-moving industry by nature. Like most years, a whole lot has happened in the marketing world in 2015 – and we’re already seeing new trends emerge for 2016.
Not only is content marketing is becoming more localised and more personalised – new channels are revolutionising the way customers experience your brand. For example, Snapchat has exceeded many marketers’ expectations, now getting 4 billion video views per day — the same number as Facebook. We’re seeing a rise in wearable tech, which is giving marketers much more consumer data to work with.
It’s time to put these changes into perspective as we enter 2016. Join HubSpot marketing director Ryan Bonnici as he shares his insights around inbound marketing, and the top 5 content marketing trends he’s seeing in Australia.
Key Takeaways will include:
- How to create a killer on-page and off-page content strategy that can increase your quality website traffic by 3x.
- How personalised content can increase your traffic to lead conversion rate by 500%.
- How to nurture leads with real time content that can increase your average sale price, and decreases the length of your sales cycle.
8 Trends that Will Define the Future of Email MarketingLitmus
Email marketing has experienced great shifts in recent years, and is poised to undergo dramatic changes before the end of the decade.
We explored the future of the channel in our recent “Email Marketing in 2020” report, where we asked 20 experts to share their vision for how email will change over the next several years. Their thought-provoking predictions touch on the subscriber experience, inbox functionality, deliverability, design and coding, the technology provider landscape, and much more.
In this presentation, we discuss 8 major themes from “Email Marketing in 2020”: (1) Channel Stability, (2) A Single View of the Customer, (3) Hyper-personalization, (4) Machine Learning & Automation, (5) Inbox Landscape & Functionality, (6) Interactivity, (7) Minimalism, and (8) Compliance & Privacy.
Along the way, we’ll share the perspective of our amazing contributors, whose advice will help you get ready for the changes ahead. Justine and I will also share the results from our surveys of thousands of consumers and marketers about key trends. Join us to get a head start on preparing for the future of email marketing!
Web Design 2016: Top 10 Trends to Attract New CustomersAIS Media, Inc.
What drives change in web design? Users. Your website shouldn’t make users think. It should make them act.
2016 will be a very exciting year for web design. It’s no secret that web design is fast-paced and ever evolving. It’s more important than ever for marketers to stay ahead of the curve.
In this presentation, you’ll learn how to take your current website and turn it into a well-oiled machine to attract, engage and convert new customers better than ever before.
Email Marketing Tips, Tricks and Trends From Brands Winning In the InboxEmma Email Marketing
A presentation jam-packed with the latest stats and examples about email marketing best practices for segmentation, automation, video in email and more!
What the next wave of results-focused content marketing looks like for the coming year.
This year is squarely focused on driving measurable business value from content marketing.
A few of the 2016 trends you need to know:
- Addressing increased content performance and ROI pressure
- Breaking through content clutter for sustainable attention
- Repurposing content through function rather than format
- Increasing lead quantity and quality from content
- Increasing velocity and relevance in the buyer’s journey
Impact your content marketing results in 2016.
Dental Marketing Online - Trends And Best Practice In Online Marketing (ADX16)Carolyn S Dean
There is a lot of discussion about online marketing, social media and search engine marketing for businesses. Some dental practices are already engaging in online marketing while other dental practices have an intuitive hunch that there is something to online word-of-mouth marketing, but they’re just not sure yet what it is.
This talk covers the most common forms of online marketing and why and when you should use them. From this talk you will discover the 9 steps to online dental marketing success; know what online strategies are right for your practice; learn the secrets to a great website; understand how to structure your online presence for maximum conversion; know what social media platforms you should be using and why; hear why you need to use Google My Business; understand why you need to start blogging; identify which Search Engine Marketing strategy is right for your practice; hear why it is critical to watch your online reputation; evaluate if video marketing is right for your practice; and learn to reactivate existing clients with the use of email marketing.
Are you sick of meaningless advertising / social media / marketing trends that make no sense to you or your business? So are we. That's why we've created our Anti Trend Report, to cut through the BS and help you focus on what counts – using digital and social to actually grow your brand.
Today’s consumer is raising their voice on social platforms and testing the limits of individual influence. They are empowered and enabled, and on a mission to matter. They’re no longer just complaining – they’re flexing social muscle to force brands to change. Whether an individual is campaigning for a cause, or on a quest for influence, or joining a rage-in on social media they can cause irreparable damage to a brand.
We are in a brutal cultural moment when the good, bad and ugly are indistinguishable to a call-out culture that can seem to care very little for the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’. Whether a brand has made an honest mistake or taken an ill-judged decision, social media enables and amplifies cycles of cruelty. To survive in the call-out culture world, brands need to think differently about how they react when they’re put under the spotlight, and how to make their brands less likely to be called out in the first place.
Over the past couple of weeks, MTM’s Cultural Insights team have been putting together their 12 Trends of Christmas, covering areas as varied as social media, gaming, wellness and content. We've now collated all of the trends into one handy, accessible report.
Mtm 12 trends of christmas - december 2021Hannah441543
It’s MTM’s ‘12 Trends of Christmas’, which covers trends that our Cultural Insights team has been identifying across sectors like media, branding, gaming and technology.
Brand Orbits - A New Language for Marketing in a Non-Linear WorldMark Bonchek
What does it take to create loyalty in an age of channel proliferation and fleeting differentiation? The secret is building Brand ORBITS - Ongoing Relationships Beyond Individual Transactions.
Introducing our 2015 FMCG trend report. We have looked at all the recent global and local trends on the FMCG category across the Consumer and Food Services industry. Enjoy!
We have launched our new winter insight report, “Rip it up and start again” to inspire businesses to think differently about how to create change 2014. It’s full of provocations, ideas and inspiring examples of businesses bringing their energy, flair and innovation to bear on a range of issues from an ageing population through to reducing wasteful consumption. So as the winter days darken, here’s something to shine a light on what your business could do differently next year.
This presentation highlights what I believe are the top trends to look out for and to apply in your 2015 marketing and advertising strategies. It is compiled after extensive research into almost all of the 2015 Trend reports, and summarizes the overlaps and over arching major themes into one theme: The Brand of Me.The 6 sub trends that form under this are the 6 areas that deserve the most focus this upcoming year.
Presentation given at the Food & Beverage Conference in Athens, November 2008. Based on insights research done in Greece, we present 10 topics to (make you) think about, with a focus on customer centric marketing and innovation.
You can download this presentation over at www.slideshare.net/futurelab
I am available for speeches and presentations at your event.
Consumers buy on autopilot. What does this mean for your brand? A New Market...BrandHook
A year long investigation into the role of rituals, routines and habits and ways in which products and services, through an understanding of habit formation, can become part of the consumer habit
Similar to Tenthwave 2016 Spring Trend Report (20)
Monthly Social Media News Update May 2024Andy Lambert
TL;DR. These are the three themes that stood out to us over the course of last month.
1️⃣ Social media is becoming increasingly significant for brand discovery. Marketers are now understanding the impact of social and budgets are shifting accordingly.
2️⃣ Instagram’s new algorithm and latest guidance will help us maintain organic growth. Instagram continues to evolve, but Reels remains the most crucial tool for growth.
3️⃣ Collaboration will help us unlock growth. Who we work with will define how fast we grow. Meta continues to evolve their Creator Marketplace and now TikTok are beginning to push ‘collabs’ more too.
SMM Cheap - No. 1 SMM panel in the worldsmmpanel567
Boost your social media marketing with our SMM Panel services offering SMM Cheap services! Get cost-effective services for your business and increase followers, likes, and engagement across all social media platforms. Get affordable services perfect for businesses and influencers looking to increase their social proof. See how cheap SMM strategies can help improve your social media presence and be a pro at the social media game.
The session includes a brief history of the evolution of search before diving into the roles technology, content, and links play in developing a powerful SEO strategy in a world of Generative AI and social search. Discover how to optimize for TikTok searches, Google's Gemini, and Search Generative Experience while developing a powerful arsenal of tools and templates to help maximize the effectiveness of your SEO initiatives.
Key Takeaways:
Understand how search engines work
Be able to find out where your users search
Know what is required for each discipline of SEO
Feel confident creating an SEO Plan
Confidently measure SEO performance
Digital marketing is the art and science of promoting products or services using digital channels to reach and engage with potential customers. It encompasses a wide range of online tactics and strategies aimed at increasing brand visibility, driving website traffic, generating leads, and ultimately, converting those leads into customers.
https://nidmindia.com/
Top 3 Ways to Align Sales and Marketing Teams for Rapid GrowthDemandbase
In this session, Demandbase’s Stephanie Quinn, Sr. Director of Integrated and Digital Marketing, Devin Rosenberg, Director of Sales, and Kevin Rooney, Senior Director of Sales Development will share how sales and marketing shapes their day-to-day and what key areas are needed for true alignment.
Unleash the power of UK SEO with Brand Highlighters! Our guide delves into the unique search landscape of Britain, equipping you with targeted strategies to dominate UK search engine results. Discover local SEO tactics, keyword magic for UK audiences, and mobile optimization secrets. Get your website seen by the right people and propel your brand to the top of UK searches.
To learn more: https://brandhighlighters.co.uk/blog/top-seo-agencies-uk/
It's another new era of digital and marketers are faced with making big bets on their digital strategy. If you are looking at modernizing your tech stack to support your digital evolution, there are a few can't miss (often overlooked) areas that should be part of every conversation. We'll cover setting your vision, avoiding siloes, adding a democratized approach to data strategy, localization, creating critical governance requirements and more. Attendees will walk away with actions they can take into initiatives they are running today and consider for the future.
When most people in the industry talk about online or digital reputation management, what they're really saying is Google search and PPC. And it's usually reactive, left dealing with the aftermath of negative information published somewhere online. That's outdated. It leaves executives, organizations and other high-profile individuals at a high risk of a digital reputation attack that spans channels and tactics. But the tools needed to safeguard against an attack are more cybersecurity-oriented than most marketing and communications professionals can manage. Business leaders Leaders grasp the importance; 83% of executives place reputation in their top five areas of risk, yet only 23% are confident in their ability to address it. To succeed in 2024 and beyond, you need to turn online reputation on its axis and think like an attacker.
Key Takeaways:
- New framework for examining and safeguarding an online reputation
- Tools and techniques to keep you a step ahead
- Practical examples that demonstrate when to act, how to act and how to recover
Mastering Local SEO for Service Businesses in the AI Era is tailored specifically for local service providers like plumbers, dentists, and others seeking to dominate their local search landscape. This session delves into leveraging AI advancements to enhance your online visibility and search rankings through the Content Factory model, designed for creating high-impact, SEO-driven content. Discover the Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy, a cost-effective approach to boost your local SEO efforts and attract more customers with minimal investment. Gain practical insights on optimizing your online presence to meet the specific needs of local service seekers, ensuring your business not only appears but stands out in local searches. This concise, action-oriented workshop is your roadmap to navigating the complexities of digital marketing in the AI age, driving more leads, conversions, and ultimately, success for your local service business.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace AI for Local SEO: Learn to harness the power of AI technologies to optimize your website and content for local search. Understand the pivotal role AI plays in analyzing search trends and consumer behavior, enabling you to tailor your SEO strategies to meet the specific demands of your target local audience. Leverage the Content Factory Model: Discover the step-by-step process of creating SEO-optimized content at scale. This approach ensures a steady stream of high-quality content that engages local customers and boosts your search rankings. Get an action guide on implementing this model, complete with templates and scheduling strategies to maintain a consistent online presence. Maximize ROI with Dollar-a-Day Advertising: Dive into the cost-effective Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy that amplifies your visibility in local searches without breaking the bank. Learn how to strategically allocate your budget across platforms to target potential local customers effectively. The session includes an action guide on setting up, monitoring, and optimizing your ad campaigns to ensure maximum impact with minimal investment.
Most small businesses struggle to see marketing results. In this session, we will eliminate any confusion about what to do next, solving your marketing problems so your business can thrive. You’ll learn how to create a foundational marketing OS (operating system) based on neuroscience and backed by real-world results. You’ll be taught how to develop deep customer connections, and how to have your CRM dynamically segment and sell at any stage in the customer’s journey. By the end of the session, you’ll remove confusion and chaos and replace it with clarity and confidence for long-term marketing success.
Key Takeaways:
• Uncover the power of a foundational marketing system that dynamically communicates with prospects and customers on autopilot.
• Harness neuroscience and Tribal Alignment to transform your communication strategies, turning potential clients into fans and those fans into loyal customers.
• Discover the art of automated segmentation, pinpointing your most lucrative customers and identifying the optimal moments for successful conversions.
• Streamline your business with a content production plan that eliminates guesswork, wasted time, and money.
Digital Commerce Lecture for Advanced Digital & Social Media Strategy at UCLA...Valters Lauzums
E-commerce in 2024 is characterized by a dynamic blend of opportunities and significant challenges. Supply chain disruptions and inventory shortages are critical issues, leading to increased shipping delays and rising costs, which impact timely delivery and squeeze profit margins. Efficient logistics management is essential, yet it is often hampered by these external factors. Payment processing, while needing to ensure security and user convenience, grapples with preventing fraud and integrating diverse payment methods, adding another layer of complexity. Furthermore, fulfillment operations require a streamlined approach to handle volume spikes and maintain accuracy in order picking, packing, and shipping, all while meeting customers' heightened expectations for faster delivery times.
Amid these operational challenges, customer data has emerged as an important strategy. By focusing on personalization and enhancing customer experience from historical behavior, businesses can deliver improved website and brand experienced, better product recommendations, optimal promotions, and content to meet individual preferences. Better data analytics can also help in effectively creating marketing campaigns, improving customer retention, and driving product development and inventory management.
Innovative formats such as social commerce and live shopping are beginning to impact the digital commerce landscape, offering new ways to engage with customers and drive sales, and may provide opportunity for brands that have been priced out or seen a downturn with post-pandemic shopping behavior. Social commerce integrates shopping experiences directly into social media platforms, tapping into the massive user bases of these networks to increase reach and engagement. Live shopping, on the other hand, combines entertainment and real-time interaction, providing a dynamic platform for showcasing products and encouraging immediate purchases. These innovations not only enhance customer engagement but also provide valuable data for businesses to refine their strategies and deliver superior shopping experiences.
The e-commerce sector is evolving rapidly, and businesses that effectively manage operational challenges and implement innovative strategies are best positioned for long-term success.
Financial curveballs sent many American families reeling in 2023. Household budgets were squeezed by rising interest rates, surging prices on everyday goods, and a stagnating housing market. Consumers were feeling strapped. That sentiment, however, appears to be waning. The question is, to what extent?
To take the pulse of consumers’ feelings about their financial well-being ahead of a highly anticipated election, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey. The survey highlights consumers’ hopes and anxieties as we move into 2024. Let's unpack the key findings to gain insights about where we stand.
For too many years marketing and sales have operated in silos...while in some forward thinking companies, the two organizations work together to drive new opportunity development and revenue. This session will explore the lessons learned in that beautiful dance that can occur when marketing and sales work together...to drive new opportunity development, account expansion and customer satisfaction.
No, this is not a conversation about MQLs and SQLs. Instead we will focus on a framework that allows the two organizations to drive company success together.
AI-Powered Personalization: Principles, Use Cases, and Its Impact on CROVWO
In today’s era of AI, personalization is more than just a trend—it’s a fundamental strategy that unlocks numerous opportunities.
When done effectively, personalization builds trust, loyalty, and satisfaction among your users—key factors for business success. However, relying solely on AI capabilities isn’t enough. You need to anchor your approach in solid principles, understand your users’ context, and master the art of persuasion.
Join us as Sarjak Patel and Naitry Saggu from 3rd Eye Consulting unveil a transformative framework. This approach seamlessly integrates your unique context, consumer insights, and conversion goals, paving the way for unparalleled success in personalization.
The What, Why & How of 3D and AR in Digital CommercePushON Ltd
Vladimir Mulhem has over 20 years of experience in commercialising cutting edge creative technology across construction, marketing and retail.
Previously the founder and Tech and Innovation Director of Creative Content Works working with the likes of Next, John Lewis and JD Sport, he now helps retailers, brands and agencies solve challenges of applying the emerging technologies 3D, AR, VR and Gen AI to real-world problems.
In this webinar, Vladimir will be covering the following topics:
Applications of 3D and AR in Digital Commerce,
Benefits of 3D and AR,
Tools to create, manage and publish 3D and AR in Digital Commerce.
The What, Why & How of 3D and AR in Digital Commerce
Tenthwave 2016 Spring Trend Report
1. TENTHWAVE TREND REPORT
BY ANNA LAI, RACHEL HITZIG, AND SARAH SCHNEEBAUM
OUR STRATEGY,
& CUSTOMER
INTELLIGENCE
DEPARTMENTS
PRESENT…
What Every
Brand Manager
Should Know
for 2016
2. Table of Contents
FOREWORD
CULTURE
1. Cutting The BS
2. Fracturing Gender Walls
3. Let’s Be Real
4. Better Together
5. Don’t Just Show Me, Move Me
SOCIAL
1. The Hotel California Effect
2. Customer Service Model
3. Conversing Differently
4. Social Advertising Flourishes
5. E/M-Commerce
TECHNOLOGY
1. Look Above!
2. Convenience
3. Knowing Where You Are
4. Virtually Unrecognizable
5. Wearables
BE MORE HUMAN 2
3
7
8
12
16
20
24
27
28
32
35
39
42
46
47
50
54
57
60
63
3. We don’t doubt that there’s already been a plethora of 2016 trend reports hitting your feeds. We know all
about them — we’ve combed through them to produce this one for you. With 2016 already in full swing, a
whole new set of trends has emerged that will impact marketers and advertisers throughout the year.
Everything in the media world has become fragmented, spurred by innovations and dramatic shifts in
behaviors. This, in turn, is changing the marketing playbook.
Today, consumers more so than advertisers, choose what, how, and when they consume information and
messages. The information overload has caused what Larry Kramer calls the “old purchase funnel” to
crack. Established methods of advertising and building brands are being disrupted by new cultural shifts,
new innovations in tech, and continuous granular changes to social platforms. We pulled together
everything that has manifested throughout 2015 and sorted them into the big buckets of Culture, Social
and Tech to produce five macro-trends in each one. We explored the concepts and common themes that
contributed to these potential macro-trends of 2016 by taking a look at how they’ve developed and
gauging the impact on you, your brand and your advertising.
foreword
3
4. Culture: A person’s mindset represents what is important to them right now. To understand
why it is important, we explore the trends that are instigating changes in lifestyle, behavior, attitude and values.
Social: We know that social media is an ever-changing landscape and we are constantly trying to stay ahead of
the curve. But how are these smaller changes contributing to an evolving perception of social media? Here, we
discuss the future of social and the best ways for your brand to adapt.
Tech: Technology is the ringleader when it comes to provoking consumer trends. Many of the trends we explore
here are driven by changing behavior of people as we adapt to an environment that is totally comfortable with
technology influencing almost every aspect of their lives.
Pay attention to these trends—they will influence your approach to strategic decisions for effective advertising.
For us, effective advertising meets three criteria:
1. It is distinctive and easily recognizable.
2. It evokes emotion and appeals to the implicit mind.
3. It drives contagion and generates talk value.
As the Customer Obsessed Digital Agency®, Tenthwave applied our customer-centric approach to our 2016
Trend Report. By examining these trends with an eye towards what you are delivering your customers, you can
begin to understand the influences effecting your them and how they will start to play themselves out in the
real world.
foreword
4
5. When it comes to bananas, they fall on a scale from being very unripe to overripe.
Green = an unripe banana, one that probably isn’t ready to eat as they’re extremely bitter in
taste.
Yellow = a perfectly ripe banana with that perfectly yellow skin color, firm bite, and just the right
amount of sweetness.
Brown = an over-ripened banana, that is too mushy and squishy to enjoy (aka time to throw
away).
Why are we even talking about bananas?
Similarly to bananas, trends can fall on the same kind of “ripe” scale — trends can be unripe, ripe, and
overripe. Enter the Banana-O-Meter: throughout this trend report you’ll find three different kinds of
bananas rating the ripeness of each trend. The Banana-O-Meter methodology gives you a sense of how
ripe a trend is so you can discern its impact within the context of your advertising goals.
WATCH OUT FOR THE bananas…
5
6. A ripe trend.
The streaming service
is starting to really take
off, disrupting the
digital music game
with potential
opportunities in the
video world in the
upcoming year.
An overripe trend.
Napster was hot,
arguably driving a
trend in digitally
shared music. Faced
with legal issues, it
cooled off and died
in 2000.
how it works
An unripe trend.
There’s potential this
trend could have
some minor
implications in 2016.
Keep one eye on this
trend, but don’t jump
in too quickly.
An overripe trend.
Interest has waned and
this trend has already
maximized its
influences. If you’re
trying to capitalize on
this trend, you’re
probably already too
late to the game.
A ripe trend.
Expect this trend to
blow up. Don’t just
watch it evolve from
the stands, find ways
to attach yourself to
the trend in order to
reap the benefits.
What does this look like in the real world? Consider The Evolution of Digital Music:
6
An unripe trend.
Apple Music has yet to really
take off or find a way to
challenge other free
streaming services. But don’t
expect it go away that fast, it’s
owned by Apple after all. Let’s
see what happens in 2016.
8. Tidying, cleaning, and decluttering are everyday activities — from packing away
the dishes after dinner, to the big spring clean, to throwing away junk from your
past. In 2015, we saw people “tidy” outside of their pantry or closet: consumers
now have a ravenous appetite to tidy up their lives. One of the biggest symptoms
of this trend is the worldwide adoption of the “KonMari Method” in the #1 New
York Times best-selling guidebook, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”
The art of “decluttering” has transpired into a new cultural context, driving a need
for brands to find a way to not be categorized as clutter, but take a cue and
appeal to this newfound simplicity and shift from being brash and abrasive to
understated and bold.
Cutting the BS
8
1.
9. a.
We’ve all heard the phrase “less is more”.
Minimalism embodies this idea: the notion that it’s
vital to make room for what’s important by getting
rid of the excess. In a world where we are hounded
with endless streams of information and constant
notifications, people just want to focus on what
matters, hence why the “less is more” mantra is a
very welcome change.
Articles from Huffington Post and Bustle, publishers
that cover topics on culture and lifestyles, reflected
this Minimalist trend with articles like: “The
Ultimate Guide to Realistic Minimalism” and “8
Things You Need To Know If You're Interested In
Minimalism.” Even further, early into 2016,
Pinterest found that pins celebrating a minimalist
lifestyle increased by 19% since late December,
while those about decluttering rose by 35%.
Minimalism will continue to shape consumer
mindsets by simplifying and eliminating chaos.
We’ll see a focus on what you need instead of
letting gluttony dictate your lifestyle.
Natural Living is about becoming aware of how
your choices affect you and your environment. The
shift is perpetuated by people choosing foods that
allow for indulgence without guilt, by looking for
sustainable solutions, and by seeking out
seemingly natural solutions for health problems. As
they say, it’s time to treat your body like a temple.
The non-GMO product sales reached $200 billion in
late 2015 (U.S) and is a clear sign of a great
demand for natural products. The search ranking of
natural-based diets, such as paleo or gluten-free,
continue to sharply rise in popularity with each
year, reflecting what lifestyle people are looking to
adopt. Not only are these diets staying in the
spotlight, but people are also creating new ways to
cleanse their lifestyle with the rise of awareness for
‘gut health’ and ‘flexitarian’ (a flexible vegetarian).
Even further, people are going beyond changing
their diets for their health, with the rise of natural
products such as women’s menstrual cups and
period panties, all in a bid to produce a little less
waste and be a part of a sustainable solution.
b.
Minimalism Natural Living
9
CUTTING THE BS:
10. IntroversionIntroverts bear the characteristics of being quiet
and solitary, seeking out refuge from the loud and
bustling world. As the world is becoming busier,
people are finding it easier to relate to the side of
introversion.
Introversion is taking a firmer grip on the younger
generation as we see 42% of 14-24 year olds
taking a break from the fragmented 140 character
world and spending one day per week alone to
binge-watch on Netflix. As people get “busier”, they
struggle to commit to a rigid TV schedule, and here
is where a preference emerges: people prefer TV
shows to be released all at once and have the
option of watching at their own pace.
The “quiet revolution” is also seen in travel where
companies, such as the Sacred Introvert, are
offering solo traveling tours. The push for solo
exploration and discovery is manifesting with
social influencers and in turn spreading
“introversion” as an aspiration for many.
c.
10
CUTTING THE BS:
11. Brands need to focus on the user
experience and on creating ads
that are unobtrusive and drive talk
value. Create something that
consumers yearn to seek out.
The TakeawayPeople are looking to adopt a “cleaner” lifestyle in many ways, shapes, and forms. We are already seeing
juggernaut brands react to this cultural shift with Google, Verizon and McDonald’s redesigning their logos and
products to reflect a modern and cleaner look. On the food side of things, Hershey’s products went GMO-free and
Nestlé removed artificial coloring and flavoring. Coca-Cola also introduced their first new product since 2006,
Coca-Cola Life into the market to represent a healthier option in their range.
In 2016, we’ll be seeing a heavy focus on pared-down elements and singular, clear messaging. We’ll see brands
continue to transform into a “natural” image to cater to the evolving consumer.
CUTTING THE BS:
11
12. Blue is for boys and pink is for girls — these color symbols are just one example of the
culturally constructed gender norms we as a society live by. How did this come to be?
Sociologist Philip Cohen thinks they are, essentially, the outcome of marketing. "Being
'gender normal' is very important to us, and as a marketing technique, if retailers can
convince you that being gender normal means you need to buy a certain product —
cosmetics, plastic surgery, blue or pink clothing, etc. — it just makes sense from a
production or mass marketing perspective," Cohen told Life's Little Mysteries.
In the past few years, people have been questioning these deeply integrated gender norms
perpetuated by the media, marketing, and stereotypes passed down by generations. This is
driving a need for brands to react by helping to challenge conventional gender roles and
break down gender specific products.
Fracturing
Gender Walls
12
2.
13. Womanhood Prevailing2015 gave way to a new kind of fresh and powerful form of Feminism that
embraced the the oddities of womanhood and all the things that make
women, well women. Think: less focus on the scantily clad and the male
gaze, more of a focus on body hair and periods. We’re seeing a real pivot in
the cultural sentiment towards celebrating womanhood and bringing equal
pay and body image issues to the forefront of the conversation.
Fueling this shift was the likes of Amy Schumer's inappropriate jokes,
Jennifer Lawrence’s public vilification of the wage gap between men and
women, Thinx period underwear ads plastered all over NYC streets, the
Pirelli calendar that showcased women based on their achievements (like
Fran Lebowitz) rather than their exterior, and Playboy’s divisive decision to
end nudity in its pages. Coupled with these examples, transgender women,
like Caitlyn Jenner, began to demand that society re-conceptualize what it
even means to be a woman.
Good news: this shift is already playing out this year. Barbie, a brand known
for sporting an unrealistic depiction of women with thin waists, thin legs,
and large breasts, finally found a new body. This was a big move to say the
least, as these dolls have long faced criticism as irresponsible toys, feeding
into a society that is plagued with body issues and eating disorders.
a.
13
FRACTURING GENDER WALLS:
14. Shedding Away MasculinityThe conventional constructs of masculinity, once represented by images like the
Marlboro man, are being torn down and reshaped. Men are facing a lot of
complex, convoluted ideas of masculinity within our progressive, open-minded
culture.
Masculinity is being uprooted in numerous ways: more women than men are
going to college, more men are staying at home and taking care of the kids, and
the economy is shifting away from typical masculine jobs. Gender attitudes have
shifted, tearing down notions of what it means to be a man. Forget “dominant,”
“power,” “alpha,” “macho.” In the fashion arena, Jaden Smith became the face of
Louis Vuitton’s womenswear. Dove released evocative fatherhood ads that
portrayed the ways fathers have influenced their children’s lives. This was based
on research which found that 82% of men believe that having a child changes the
way they think about being a man. Similarly, Honeymaid released an ad that
portrayed the new diverse forms of modern fatherhood featuring ads with gay
parents, a punk dad, and interracial parents.
We’re already seeing this mindset carry onwards into 2016. This year, Axe, a brand
known for their hyperbolic images of masculinity, aligned with this new cultural
shift by releasing an ad that welcomes one's individual sense of manhood.
b.
14
FRACTURING GENDER WALLS:
15. The TakeawayConventional definitions of femininity and masculinity were challenged in 2015. We’re seeing a Genderless
theme arise, representing a breakdown of societal expectations about what it means to be a man or woman.
Advertising has been more than just revenue of mass produced media — it acts as a mirror of cultural shifts.
If advertising is a reflection of our culture, we’re just now on the cusp of campaigns representing the very
progressive mindset on gender. Some examples of this shift include Target moving away from gendered signs
in-stores in departments such as Toys, Home, and Entertainment. BabyCenter reported that 2015 was the year
of “gender-neutral baby names,” as they occupied 20 spots of the top 100 list.
2016 will see fewer ads portraying men doing the typical manly things and fewer depictions of women
as sex objects.
People are still coming to terms with the
shifting definitions of gender, but it’s time for
brands to start considering ways to
participate in breaking down stereotypes and
instead represent the many different modern
dimensions of gender.
FRACTURING GENDER WALLS:
15
16. People often use their social media as a highlight reel of their life — it’s all about taking
the best bits and making it into a cohesive story. But we all know our lives are not always
an amazing sunset over a white sandy beach.
Whilst people are aware there’s always a level of dishonesty on the Internet—be it users
only showing their best self or a troll trying to win an argument—they are also looking for
indicators of honesty and genuine emotion. And it's not just on the internet. People are
seeking connections in their daily, physical lives.
Let’s Be Real
3.
16
17. Digital InfluencersThe sheer success of digital influencers, like YouTuber ‘PewDiePie’ earning $12 million last year, indicates
how much people crave and prefer to consume authentic content. Digital influencers are real people
creating real content to their own well-established audience. People appreciate the raw emotion behind
content such as Ingrid Nilsen (@Missglamorazzi) coming out as gay, Jen (@frmheadtotoe) announcing her
pregnancy or Em (@mypaleskinblog) documenting every bit of her acne struggle. These influencers, as
successful, beautiful, or funny as they are, show people that they also go through these real moments,
which makes their content riveting for their audience.
As they share seemingly every bit of their life, it’s only natural for people to get curious about life off
camera. This curiosity lead to some volatile discussion about life behind the camera in 2015 with articles
such as “Get rich or die vlogging: The sad economics of internet fame” or induced candid and transparent
conversations, down to the dollar and cent, about How Much YouTubers Get Paid. Even further, we saw the
breakdown of the social media façade many times with the exposure of Instagram Husbands, the men
(and women!) who are coaxed into taking endless ‘grams for their social media savvy significant other.
Young model Essena O’Neill made headlines herself for revealing what went into taking that photos of her
ideal life (e.g 100+ tries for the perfect bikini shot).
Digital Influencers are not afraid to be wholly committed to authenticity and reveal the stark reality of their
lives. Big players, like Hollywood, recognize that authenticity is key to generating all this buzz and are
beginning to capitalize on influencers; for example, this year Vine star Logan Paul signed with Creative
Artists Agency (CAA), bringing his content further into the mainstream media.
a.
17
LET’S BE REAL:
18. Come Out From
Behind The Camera
When you walk down the street, how many people do you
see glued to their phones? How many people are missing
the life happening around them?
A photo last year went viral on Twitter (pictured in the
upper right-hand corner), reminding people to stop living
and experiencing secondhand. Photographer Eric
Pickersgill commented on tech addiction by capturing
images of mundane situations, and removing the phones
that the subjects were so engrossed in. We're so used to
seeing phones everywhere that we don't notice whether
they're present or not. We are desensitized.
Brands have begun to actively partake in the
conversation. Durex released an ad claiming they had the
secret to boosting sex lives, all through one feature on
the smartphone. If you watch the whole three minutes,
you realize it’s nothing unique: just simply turn your
phone off when in bed with your significant other.
b.
18
LET’S BE REAL:
19. The TakeawayOur intertwined relationship with smartphones, digital devices, and social media has encouraged a culture of
distraction, a culture where we’re increasingly disconnected from the world and people around us.
2015 saw a significant backlash against anything that didn’t truly contain elements of humanity. Ideas,
products, and visuals that felt manufactured or produced were traded in for the raw, the ugly, and the natural.
Consumers have always craved things that would move them. In doing so, publishers and brands have
realized the value in eliciting the inclusion of powerful storytelling and captivating listeners. It’s all about
having emotional personal accounts, startling imagery, and uplifting soundtracks. We saw Android pulled at
our heartstrings with a spot of unlikely animal duos, racking up to over 22 million views. ExtraGum’s heartfelt
love story of Sarah and Juan was seen over 18 million times. In 2016 it is likely that consumers will make
more purchase decisions with their heart, and not with their head.
You’ve fallen behind if
you’re still using rational
advertising.
LET’S BE REAL:
19
20. Sharing is caring — this school playground saying gets thrown around all the time to
youngsters trying to exert their individual dominance. As we grow older, this saying doesn’t fade
away. We’ve seen the Millennial consumer turn this saying into something much bigger: sharing
with complete strangers. It has transpired into sharing more than just toys or food—it’s cars,
parking spaces, businesses, and homes. Sharing has become extremely ubiquitous. Consumers
expect brands to deliver a streamlined service that provides multilayered value and aid in the
sharing experience.
Better Together
4.
20
21. Sharing EconomyeBay was the first company to lay down the foundation for what we all refer to today as the sharing economy: an
economy built on the lack of ownership of goods. They pioneered the online peer-to-peer marketplace that, in the
last twenty years, has spurred the creation of some big-time sharing companies like Zipcar, Lyft, WeWork, Uber,
CitiBank Bikes, and Airbnb.
All of these sharing platforms are disrupting traditional industries and shaping a new kind of 21st century living.
Why stay at an expensive hotel when you can stay at an Airbnb? Why hail a taxi when you can digitally call an
Uber? According to a Havas study, 65% of respondents agree that “our society would be better off if people shared
more and owned less.” In 2015, sharing-based companies begin to face legal and political issues. For example,
San Francisco’s Proposition F (directly targeting Airbnb) aimed to put serious restrictions on private, short term
rentals. While growing pains certainly won’t go away this year, consumers’ desire to rent, share, and consume
collectively won’t either.
The sharing economy model continues to grow as consumers become more mindful of spending and waste. They
actively participate in strengthening this model by building connections and community.
a.
21
BETTER TOGETHER:
22. Retail DiningTo complement the rise of sharing, there’s an
evident desire to attain more than just one
“service” from a brand.
We’ve seen an increasing number of luxury
brands—Tommy Bahama, Burberry, Ralph
Lauren, Bergdorf Goodman, and Armani, just to
name a few—venturing into fine dining. This
venture may very well be inspired by millennials
and their desire for experience over material
goods. They are at the forefront of the retail
dining trend as they continue to come into their
buying power.
The luxury dining experience is also a reflection
of the growing desire for retailers to prolong a
consumer’s attention in their retail
environment. By creating a unique experience
they influence customers to immerse
themselves in the space without being
distracted by competitors.
b.
22
BETTER TOGETHER:
23. The TakeawayThis emerging collaborative consumption model will continue to upend traditional industries in 2016. There’s a
real focus on collaboration and sense of community over accumulation and a “that’s mine” attitude. This trend
is deeply transforming perceptions of ownership and the values to which we measure goods and services–
consumers are demanding more than just one direct service.
Brands need to try and seek out new
opportunities to collaborate to provide
convenience, personalization, and
sustainability in consumers’ lives.
BETTER TOGETHER:
23
24. It is impossible for people to consume all of the online content that is thrown in their line of
attention. For perspective, The Huffington Post publishes 1,200 pieces of editorial content per
day. Algorithms have already helped to sift through the sheer volume of content hitting
everyone’s newsfeed and then there’s the human step of simply picking and choosing what
content tickles your fancy. If something isn’t interesting then it does not exist. 2015 saw an
emoji become Word Of The Year and the fight against terrorism through Facebook profile
pictures — showing an urgent need to go beyond static images and written words and adapt to
our evolving ways of communicating.
Don’t Just Show
Me, Move Me
5.
24
25. Selling With
Your SensesThere is a shifting focus on engaging human
senses that have been left out of our common
user experience. We see a constant trickle of
projects, events, and products released with the
central focus on a particular sense, such as smell.
These include navigating the urban jungle of
major cities through “Smell Maps," an obscure
alarm clock by Oscar Mayer to help you wake up
to the smell of bacon, and Glade’s pop-up
“Museum of Feelings” in NYC — these are all
expansions into sensorial experiences. As
consumers become numb towards unmoving
content, they are looking to be engaged on higher
levels and for something they can wholeheartedly
react to.
a.
25
In advertising, it’s always been about capitalizing on
the latest format to tell a compelling story and
ultimately shift consumer behavior. Videos can show
more than any other content and therefore is the
most sensory rich content today. 2015 was the year of
video, with consumers viewing more videos than ever
before. Videos keep the viewer engaged and on the
platform for longer, trackable periods of time, thus
opening up monetization opportunities.
Platforms are taking advantage of this and are
continually rolling out new features and changes in
favor of video. We have Snapchat pushing advertisers
to produce vertical video content, Facebook’s 360° &
Live videos, Instagram introducing short-form videos
with Boomerang, Twitter breaking down barriers with
autoplay on Periscope videos and GIF integration
across major platforms. The immense focus on videos
only means that, in 2016, we can expect even more
marketers to find creative ways to use video as a
meaningful way to tell stories and move consumers.
Rise of Video
b.
DON’T JUST SHOW ME, MOVE ME:
26. The TakeawayThe cultural shift in what consumers respond powerfully to is forcing brands to be more creative to foster new
ways of engagement through high sensory content that is worth “feeling.” We are already seeing social
platforms shifting towards a heavy emphasis on video, making it simple for people to consume, access, and
create from their desktop and mobile devices.
Brands must use video and
activate senses to engage
consumers in the most
human way possible.
DON’T JUST SHOW ME, MOVE ME:
26
28. “Walled Gardens” is a term used to described web portals of the early 2000s. However, it’s making
a comeback as our digital media evolves into a “less open” environment reminiscent of the old
online hubs. A Walled Garden is essentially an ecosystem controlling a user’s content
consumption that links internally rather than to the rest of the world wide web. There’s now a
three-fold demand of ad-blocking, faster browsing experience when switching between sites and
apps, and longer audience retention. This has led to numerous platform changes aimed at
creating a seamless and undisturbed experience on each platform where you can check out
anytime you like, but you can never leave.
The Hotel
California Effect
1.
28
29. a.
Facebook upgraded their video viewing experience
to compete directly with YouTube and released
“Instant Articles,” which allows users to view
publisher content directly within the app instead of
being lead away.
In early 2016, the big blue launched a similar
feature to Twitter’s ‘Moments’ called Sports
Stadium, which curates highlights and up to the
minute news of the sports of the day as well as
Canvas, an immersive and expressive experience
for businesses to tell their stories and showcase
their products.
Instagram reimagined their “Explore” function
mid-2015 to give users an avenue to easily access
relevant and entertaining content that evolves
weekly.
Twitter introduced Moments to the wider audience in
the second half of 2015, showing users a curation of
the top and most relevant content in news, sports, and
entertainment in real-time. This features eliminates
the need for people to leave Twitter via external links.
Major partners and publishers, such as BuzzFeed, are
allowing their content to be accessible directly on
Twitter’s platform.
They’re also rumored to be eliminating the iconic 140
character-limit and expanding to a staggering 10,000
characters this year. This change addresses the way
people are using Twitter beyond the 140 characters,
e.g. using an external link for the remaining text or a
screenshot of a chunk of text.
b.facebook &
instagram
twitter
29
THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA EFFECT:
30. Google & YouTubee.
Google has added a few features to their
search pages, such as: answers appearing
within the search results so the user doesn’t
have to click into another link as well as
adding buy buttons for purchases to be made
directly from the search page.
YouTube expanded with their YouTube for Kids
App, a platform catered to kids with several
safety features. They also introduced YouTube
Red, which offers an undisturbed viewing
experience of original content.
uberf.
Uber expands into the meal delivery service
with “UberEats” launching in early 2016, after
testing the waters with a lunch-time only
service in 2015.
pinterestc.
Buyable Pins continue to garner interest
because of their convenience. They allow users
to purchase their aspirational products
directly on the platform.
snapchatd.
Snapchat Discover, a feature released in
partnership with major publishers, allows
people to enjoy third-party content without
ever having to log off the app.
30
THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA EFFECT:
31. The Takeaway
The platforms are building their “walled garden” to minimize the chances of their users “checking out”;
publishers have to be smarter and create content that fills all shapes and forms. We can expect the accelerated
evolutions of networks turn into full-blown advanced ecosystems. Twitter is no longer just a place to share
vapid 140-character updates, Facebook isn’t just about connecting with friends and families, Pinterest isn’t just
for discovery and ideation. Similar transformations can be seen across other networks as well; social media has
become a component of everything consumers do.
Brands need to adapt with speed to
keep up with how the major
platforms are evolving as they
undoubtedly impact the
effectiveness of creative content.
THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA EFFECT:
31
32. Social platforms have been an anomaly in terms of how they transform year over year. In the
beginning, it was a straightforward concept with each platform acting as an “online social hub”
only — now they're advanced social marketing hubs. We’re in an era where social media is an
extremely viable and profitable marketing channel, and some essence of social customer care is
expected. A study of the Top 500 U.S. retailers from customer engagement software provider Eptica
found only 20% of brands were able to answer questions sent via Twitter and 54% sent via
Facebook, showing the need for improvement in this area.
Customer
Service Model
2.
32
33. Twitter changed to foster more streamlined
communication between consumers and brands.
They installed unlimited characters for Direct
Messages as well as denounced the “mutual
follow” requirement for Direct Messages, enabling
brands and customers to contact one another
without requiring customers to follow the brand.
Facebook took big steps in becoming a customer
service hub. It launched a beta version of
Messenger Business, offering a new chat-based
avenue for companies to have real-time, personal
conversations with customers.
Hyatt was one of the first brands to use Messenger
as a primary customer service tool. Users could
easily make reservations and engage in live
conversations with the brand.
b.
a.
TWITTER
facebook
33
CUSTOMER SERVICE MODEL:
34. The Takeaway
Social platforms have become a valuable channel to listen to customers, a key ingredient to brand vitality on
social. With new features and updates for two-way communication, platforms began to recognize the value in
using brand pages as customer service hubs. Accessibility, fast service, and quick responses are components
that will continue to refine customer engagement on social platforms. This year will be a year that brands give a
higher priority to addressing customer needs in order to have a more direct impact on conversion rates.
Consumers expect brands
prioritize social customer
care. If you’re not there,
you’re already losing.
CUSTOMER SERVICE MODEL:
34
35. Our digital world evolves so quickly, if you’re just “keeping up,” you’re already falling behind.
Staying ahead of the curve means knowing the changing ways of how people converse and on
which hot, new platform. We are seeing people gravitate towards a spectrum of public and private
interactions live streaming and private messaging apps. The entire spectrum is fueled by the
overarching desire for more authentic, genuine, real-life interaction within the social space.
Conversing
Differently
3.
35
36. For a while, everyone was blasting their thoughts publicly to
the world with tweets and Facebook statuses. But people,
especially younger generations, are now turning to other
platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Kik, to revert back to
intimate and human interaction: a private chat.
Snapchat exposed an entirely overlooked market of
private photo messaging. Its users connect on a personal level
because their conversations are meant only for each other—
an exclusive exchange that no one really needs to know about.
As private messaging users grow rapidly (see chart), these
platforms have begun integrating ways to monetize the
“private chatting space.” WhatsApp started 2016 by nixing the
app’s subscription fee and allowing the app to be free for
every user. Like Kik and Snapchat, they will begin to integrate
brands into these private avenues of interaction with people,
which will only expand these platforms.
a.
Private Messaging
36
CONVERSING DIFFERENTLY:
37. b.
Live streaming has infiltrated social media as the next honest entertainment vehicle. People can now stream
every moment from their devices and interact with users in real-time, no matter where they are or what
they’re doing, adding a layer of reality to our increasingly made-up social media persona.
After Meerkat kicked off this trend, Twitter successfully released Periscope and integrated the live streaming
feature into Twitter’s algorithm. Snapchat also has their own form of live streaming with the introduction of
Live Stories. These stores are a curation of Snaps from around the world that while aren’t actually “live”
stories. They provide an authentic, user-filmed view into New York City, Panama, The Running of the Bulls,
Mardi Gras, etc. Most recently, Facebook has made Facebook Live available for all their users to stream.
A moving picture is not foreign to us at all, but live streaming is a new type of content altogether. The rise of
live streaming stems from the hunger for genuine entertainment and sincere social interactions. As it
becomes a part of our main consumption channels, it’ll be unavoidable in 2016.
Live Streaming
37
CONVERSING DIFFERENTLY:
38. The Takeaway
We’re beginning to see forms of digital communication that mimic real-life interactions. It’s a desire to rage
against the machine and interact in a meaningful way.
While live streaming brings strangers together, messengers might hold conversations between friends or
family. The common thread? Intimacy.
These portals of communication are disrupting the common conceptions of social media. Live streaming is
public, but there are elements of connections that run through a stream. You are authentically viewing the
world through someone else’s eyes. Messengers are private so you can chat without letting the whole world
know your business. Together, these platforms are fostering new social relationships.
The user count is there, and will
continue to grow. Brands need
to find ways to partake in aiding
in this relationship in ways like
never before.
CONVERSING DIFFERENTLY:
38
39. Social platforms have become a pay to play arena. As each social network grows its user base, the
feeds become more filled with advertising. Each platform has made strides to incorporate
advertising and build out more ad capabilities to coax advertisers and brands. We have a new
generation of social media ads that are targeted with increasing precision and relevance to users.
Companies ramped up social media advertising in 2015, increasing spend by 33.5% to nearly $24
billion—and to think in 2009 that number was virtually $0.
Social
Advertising
Flourishes
4.
39
40. facebooka.
The myriad of algorithmic changes to the
Facebook news feed have drastically shifted
the kind of content users are likely to see
when they log on. They continue to push out
brands whilst favoring publishers and friend
content.
The platform became a video mammoth last
year and, as of November, its users viewed 8
billion videos per day. Facebook has begun
seeking out ad budgets from big TV
advertisers. In 2016, you can can expect
versions of the 30-second TV spot to happen
on Facebook.
snapchatb.
Snapchat has yet to really prove its $16 billion valuation
as it had difficulty this past year selling its advertising
within Snapchat Stories and the Discover tab to turn a
profit.
The platform is now developing an API that makes it
easier for markets to purchase ads and target users.
According to Fortune, advertisers could build Snapchat
compatibility into the automated systems they currently
use to purchase ad units, which would mean the volume
of ads sold and displayed on Snapchat would increase.
With 100 million daily users who watch 6 billion videos
per day, you can expect the ad business to boom for
Snapchat in 2016.
instagramc.
Instagram reached 400 million monthly users
and opened its API to all advertisers in 2015.
Equipped with Facebook targeting, buy
buttons, and carousel ads, Instagram will have
a huge impact in the upcoming year. In 2016,
Instagram will catch up to its parent and
Twitter in the social ad world. 40
SOCIAL ADVERTISING FLOURISHES:
41. The Takeaway
Social platforms have become a pay to play arena. As each social network grows its user base, the feeds
become more filled with advertising. Each platform has made strides to incorporate advertising and build out
more ad capabilities to coax advertisers and brands. We have a new generation of social media ads that are
targeted with increasing precision and relevance to users.
Organic reach is
dead. Pay up.
SOCIAL ADVERTISING FLOURISHES:
41
42. People are becoming smarter, more efficient shoppers as our lives become more digitized and
mobile. Consumers are using their phones to compare prices, read reviews, find coupons, and make
informed purchases. In response to this elevated consumer control, retailers are making it easier for
consumers to make a quick purchase with just one-click. eMarketer estimates about $27.05 billion
at the end of the year in mobile sales—a testament to how fast E/M-Commerce is growing.
E/M-Commerce
5.
42
43. Smartphones are replacing our wallets. We can
now swipe a barcode from our phones for
everything from coupons to paying for an
expensive new toy.
The two main contenders in the mobile payment
sector would be Apple and Samsung Pay. Obvious
rivals, they allow their respective smartphone
users to pay with their phones rather than
fumbling with cards and cash.
New apps allowing consumers to send each other
money by linking their cards to the network are
making it all easier too. Forget your wallet at
home? Venmo has you covered—it allows you to
send or request money to your friends to avoid
having to pay people back if you’re cashless.
Despite some reservations, as we’ve seen with
Snapchat’s Snapcash and Payments on Facebook,
cashless spending is gradually entering our daily
lives.
Service apps are using real-time pricing based on
supply & demand. Retail and travel industries have
jumped onto the bandwagon to price their products
and tickets against competitors.
Uber is the leader in dynamic pricing, i.e. your ride
home from your favorite bar this Saturday night will
be less expensive than that same ride on New Year’s
Day, when everyone needs a ride home. Not only
does this mean they’re making money at a higher
margin, but they’re also encouraging drivers to get
out there to get a piece of the pie, thus promoting
both sides of their business.
Since Uber is laying out the framework for a
relatively successful idea (sans backlash involving
price hikes), in 2016, we will see more industries
utilize dynamic pricing in their products to optimize
revenue.
b.Mobile Wallets Dynamic Pricinga.
43
E/M - COMMERCE:
44. Sites like Pinterest and Amazon have introduced 1-
click buy buttons to allow users to order their hearts’
desire faster than ever. Buy Buttons will continue to
penetrate Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as the
year progresses. Marketers have forever tried to push
the purchase decision, to meet the consumer directly
when they’re thinking about buying. Now, the buy
button partially bridges that gap through a simple
suggestion.
Buttons appear on pins and posts right now, but are
appearing more frequently on Google’s search ads.
YouTube is also looking to roll out a functional buy
button so that consumers can watch their favorite
influencer’s curling iron tutorial and purchase it on
the spot. YouTube is also trying out a brand new
“Donate Now” card that verified nonprofits can attach
to videos they create.
Buy Buttonsc.
44
E/M - COMMERCE:
45. The Takeaway
Consumers are moving their finances from their wallets to their smartphones, and they’re continuously
searching and buying online. It’s not even a conscious decision at this point — consumers are just following
the path of least resistance when it comes to making a purchase.
What does a win look like for a brand then? Making the purchase funnel frictionless, convenient, and intuitive.
2016 will see more digital companies trying to keep you within the walls of their network, so it’s likely they will
try to incorporate financial services as well. Even further, you can expect social platforms to turn into digital
mall look-a-likes, which could eventually link up with accounts on Venmo or Apple Pay.
There are new, emerging
channels to the purchase
funnel, it’s no longer just a one
way path to convert buyers.
E/M - COMMERCE:
45
47. Over the past few years, as its tech has made its way into the commercial space, drones have
gone from pure fascination to a precursor to how efficient our future may be. When it comes
to unmanned vehicles, drones are a major tech innovation driving the industry. While
relatively new, it’s time for brands to learn how they can embrace tech that flies high.
LOOKABOVE!
1.
47
48. a.
In 2015, drones began to show us their potential:
• Two drones inadvertently prevented firefighters
from putting out a rapidly spreading California
wildfire.
• Automakers have been early adopters, with brands
like Acura and Nissan to using them to film moving
cars, chases and stunts.
• Brands like Patrón Tequila, Nike, Adidas and
American Express have also used drone footage in
ads.
• GE used a drone to stream directly to Periscope
capturing its vast fields of clean energy wind
turbines. The drones also toured GE testing
facilities and manufacturing plants across the
country.
• Let’s also not forget Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
famously announcing that Amazon in the future
will deliver packages via drones.
DRONES
48
LOOK ABOVE:
49. Drones were all over the CES in Vegas earlier this year. For brands, there lies enormous opportunity to provide
content that stands out. With Americans’ infatuation with video content, drones offer unexpected opportunities
to tell stories from a different perspective.
As it evolves, you can expect brands to view this emerging tech as a new platform to disseminate and enhance
messaging. Just a note: limitations have been put in place with The Federal Aviation Administration restricting
the number of commercial drones to fly below 200 feet. Along with regulation, there’s still an issue of trust
within consumer mindsets. Therefore it would be premature to call this year as the year of drones.
The industry is still very
nascent, and still has to
fully convince consumers
of their worth.
LOOK ABOVE:
THETAKEAWAY
49
50. Technology and convenience have always been intertwined as advancements in tech have always
enabled new levels of convenience. It’s all about doing things better, faster, cheaper, and easier.
We're now witnessing this idea being extended to an elevated personal level. There’s a constant
need to replicate human actions and to automate, so whatever need we are solving becomes more
convenient and fits seamlessly into our lives.
CONVENIENCE
2.
50
51. a.
Technology is continually advancing to emulate what
humans can do, e.g. recognize voices, identify genders
— visual recognition is simply the next step. A few
photo recognition-esque tools are already integrated
into platforms that we use on a daily basis. These
include:
• Facebook Messenger’s “Photo Magic” feature that
scans newly taken photos, recognizes your friends,
and helps to share the photos with them.
• Image recognition function advancing in Google
Photos.
• Continued integration of photo categorization and
recognition features in mobile operating systems,
e.g Moments/Collections in iOS.
In 2016, the idea of photo recognition will become less
foreign (or “creepy”) to the general public and we will
see further integration of visual recognition features
and consistent usage as they are implemented to social
media platforms.
Our mainstream technology may have reached its
highest peak of convenience for now, but we are
still tethered by wires. With 48% of Americans
living in landline free households, it appears that
we’re itching to “cut away.”
Brands we know and love are introducing “wireless”
living to our daily routine. We have Samsung taking
a hold of the mainstream market with wireless
charging pads for their devices as well as IKEA
integrating the convenience of wireless charging
into affordable furniture.
One of the most debatable topics on the tail of
2015 was the rumored elimination of the
headphones jack by Apple on their iPhones. While
wireless headphones are not by any means a new
product on the market, it speaks volume when a
tech giant chooses to rid of such a common item.
We’ll continue to see opportunities open up for
consumers to be mobile 24/7.
b.
RISEOFPHOTO
RECOGNITION
WIRELESS
51
CONVENIENCE:
52. c.
In 2015, there was a whole new range of Artificial Intelligence making its way to
you in the future. They are becoming more human, more personable and more
helpful to you than ever.
• Google released ‘Google Now’ as another aspect of Google Search, which
proactively delivers to users information that it predicts they may want.
• Siri is becoming more personable each day with Apple’s continuous upgrades
to the personal assistant. The media provides continual coverage on new
quirks and hidden talents of the AI (e.g beatboxing).
• Microsoft released ‘Cortana’ as a personal AI assistant for Windows 10.
• Amazon pairs their wireless speaker and two new products with companion
app ‘Alexa’, allowing you to manage your Echo from afar.
• Facebook reveals ‘M’ for the first time — it is a step beyond other AI-based
services in the market, M can actually complete tasks on your behalf. It can
purchase items, get gifts delivered to your loved ones, book restaurants,
travel arrangements, appointments, etc.
• Mark Zuckerberg also made his unconventional New Years resolution to build
his own AI and has committed to providing monthly updates, bringing the AI
conversation regularly to the forefront.
It’s no longer about giving commands and receiving a response, but how much
they can replicate the action of a human.
AREALLYPERSONALASSISTANT
52
CONVENIENCE:
53. Clearly, platforms and companies are adding layers of personalization to technology. We’re seeing the first
steps laying down the foundation for Artificial Intelligence to take off.
It’s still a while away, but brands are on the cusp of smarter technologies to elevate their services to
consumers. Even with all the progress, this market has yet to really make its way mainstream; the barrier to
growth lies in consumers embracing the “convenience” tech, as it’s still considered somewhat intrusive.
Brands should think about the
ways smarter, more human
technologies could elevate their
services to consumers.
CONVENIENCE:
THETAKEAWAY
53
54. Advertisers are looking for every piece of demographic information they can get their hands on—
with location at the forefront. Pinpointing a consumer’s location opens up opportunities for brands
to insert themselves in the conversation at the right time with the right people. Updated technology
and location services are on the rise, and it’s time for brands to learn how to harness it.
KNOWINGWHEREYOUARE
3.
54
55. a.
Beacons allow a brand, store, or marketer to connect
with a consumer based on their location. Think:
sending a coupon for a sale directly to a consumer’s
phone as they walk near your store.
Retail giants Macy’s and Lord & Taylor were among the
first to set up beacons in their stores. And for good
reason: Business Insider Intelligence reports that
beacons would drive $4 billion in retail sales this
year. Major League Baseball uses beacon tech to
connect with fans in stadiums to give them special
offers and updates.
Coupons aside, we are seeing beacon technology
used in new ways:
• Hotel chains are experimenting with beacon-
activated keys.
• Facebook to connect users to old friends nearby.
We’ll see more retailers and sites utilizing beacon
technology as it becomes more accessible and viable
for successful implementation.
BEACONTECHNOLOGY
55
KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE:
56. Location technology is disrupting the typical marketing notions of relevancy. Beacon tech, in conjunction with
surge in mobile usage, adds a new layer to advanced targeting.
This form of technology is not exactly something that the everyday consumer consciously thinks about, but it is
most certainly changing the way they interact with brands. It makes for a more holistic and seamless consumer
experience. Beacon based technology is expected to result in more than $4 billion in U.S. sales this year alone,
so you can certainly expect an impact on business results.
KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE:
THETAKEAWAY
Beacon technology will become
increasingly relevant to retail
brands and stores as they
become more personalized.
56
57. Countless sci-fi movies, sitcoms, and books have all toyed with the same idea: what if we could
live another life? Virtual Reality is now very much a reality. The headsets are just making their way
into the mainstream market and although they may not in be every American’s home by the end
of 2016, you can bet the early adopters will be quick to demonstrate the advantages of Virtual
Reality and all-encompassing video projects.
VIRTUALLY
UNRECOGNIZABLE
4.
57
58. a.
2016 is the year that breaks the video frame open
with the introduction of interactive 360° videos,
providing an immersive experience with an
unprecedented amount of viewer control.
Facebook quickly adopted 360° video and ‘do-good’
shoe brand Toms was one of the first to utilize 360°
video. Their 360° video brought us into the action,
allowing us to see exactly what happens when Toms
goes to give: everything from driving past the red
rocks of Peru to watching the interactions between the
children, often wearing the first pair of shoes they
have ever owned.
Eliciting an emotional response is a strong suit of
360° video, and brands are capitalizing on the
opportunity to make a deeper connection between
their brand, their initiative, and their consumers.
We’ve already seen brands leverage these kinds of
videos on Facebook. For example, Vanity Fair used
360° video to show a unique view of all the celebs
arriving to their infamous Oscars after party. Your
feeds are about to get a lot more interesting.
Whereas 360° video is more “virtual”, headsets take
it into “reality.” Placing your phone into a personal
Virtual Reality headset allows you to experience the
video by literally turning your head. Their
introduction last year has still not been widely
adopted; however, with Facebook’s Oculus Rift on
sale this year and the accessibility of Google
Cardboard, we can expect that 2016 will only find
further innovative uses for a virtual reality
experience.
VR tech is even beginning to save lives. Last
December, Dr. Redmond Burke, the chief of
cardiovascular surgery at Nicklaus Children’s
Hospital in Miami, performed a life-saving heart
surgery on a baby born without half of her heart.
After a faulty 3D printer left him and his team
solution-less, the utilization of Google Cardboard
allowed the surgeon to see baby Teegan’s heart.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for the potential of
Virtual Reality, and we can expect even more as it
begins to enter our regular lives.
b.
360°VIDEO VRHEADSETS
58
VIRTUALLY UNRECOGNIZABLE:
59. It will still take awhile for consumers to get used to wearing a headset and viewing the world without actually
tangibly being there. Virtual Reality lends its itself to brands looking to bridge the gap between emotion and
facts.
With VR, instead of just telling a story you can really employ empathy to amplify your story. As consumers
demand more experiences, VR will become an important tool for brands.
Where will advertisers be able to get their foot in? Maybe a buy button to book the resort on the spot, or airfare
to get to that museum. It’s hard enough to grab consumers’ attention in real life, so there will need to be some
serious creativity in order to translate ads and branded content into miscellaneous Virtual Reality experiences.
2016 will be somewhat of a
learning year as both content
creators and consumers will have
to adjust to dealing with a very
different kind of video format.
VIRTUALLY UNRECOGNIZABLE:
THETAKEAWAY
59
60. Not long ago the thought of wearables in our everyday lives seemed like a futuristic fantasy in a
parallel universe. It’s increasingly less foreign to us as we see well-known brands, such as Apple
Watch and Google Glass, make their way into the mainstream market. With wearable usage
growing by nearly 60% in 2015, compared to 2014, it is clear that these nifty gadgets will be
unavoidable in the near future.
WEARABLES
5.
60
61. As people grow towards a healthier mindset,
they are become more mindful of themselves
as emotional individuals and their level of
physical fitness. Everyone is constantly keeping
track of how many steps they’ve taken or
recording the quality of the sleep. The need for
“self-data” has created a large demand for
wearables and the value of self-data will only
increase as it continues to play a huge role in
changing the way consumers manage their
health.
Pricing of wearables is one of the major barriers
that is stopping people from mass adoption of
the technology. The industry is still trying to
“convince” consumers of the value of
wearables. On a smaller barrier scale, the
appearance of wearables is also hard to
integrate into the everyday style of many
people. However we can see brands challenging
this, notably seen by Apple Watch x Hermes and
FitBit x Tory Burch.
SELF-DATA
61
WEARABLES:
a.
62. Whilst wearable technology is growing rapidly, it is still very much trying to find its footing and has yet to
overcome the challenge of becoming a staple of our lives. We can see this industry challenge demonstrated by
FitBit: the company went from a market capitalization of over $10 billion in early 2015 to $3.7 billion today.
WEARABLES:
THETAKEAWAY
Brands will continue to break
down these barriers and make
wearables more affordable and
accessible through common
distribution channels.
62
64. Imagine an annoying, prepubescent boy vying for the undivided attention of his “dream girl.” He relentlessly texts,
messages, tweets and calls her. He jumps at every possible opportunity for a chance with this girl. He is everywhere.
She can’t escape him. Think of this as today’s advertising.
The emergence of 20th century media platforms has created opportunities to reach consumers at any time. It has
turned advertising into a ubiquitous industry whereby brands cram incessant messages at every juncture. In doing so,
advertising has begun to take on a pervasive form, prompting consumers to develop ad-avoidance strategies to filter
excess visual and auditory stimuli. This has never been more clear than it was in 2015:
Ad-blocking increased 41% from 2014 to 2015.
If ad-blocking has done one thing, it has thrust the role and value of user-experience to the forefront of the
conversation. In 2016, we’ll begin to see marketers confront the way they think about the people on the other side of
the screen. It will be a year where every single decision must meticulously attempt to add meaning through engrossing
and captivating stories. Why? Because it’s in our primal nature as humans, to seek out a good story.
Therefore, as brands approach marketing efforts this upcoming year, it will be their duty and obligation to be customer-
obsessed—to put the human being first. It’s time to grow up and mature. As Seth Godin once said, “Permission
Marketing is just like dating. It turns strangers into friends and friends into lifetime customers. Many of the rules of
dating apply, and so do many of the benefits.”
64
65. Here’s one final trend that will
have major implications in 2016
and beyond…
ONE FINAL TAKEAWAY:
THE GOLDEN BANANA
This year, marketers must ask themselves: in what ways can
we make our communications more meaningful and less
disruptive?
Instead of vying for undivided attention, be more sincere.
Instead of the relentless messaging, be more relevant.
By reducing people to mere purchase behavior, we’ve
eradicated the ability to humanize the actual people who we
ask to invest in our products. Think of these people as you
might think of yourself: as a human being.
65
66. spot all the bananas…?
66
Cutting The BS
Fracturing Gender Walls
Let’s Be Real
Better Together
Don’t Just Show Me, Move Me
The Hotel California Effect
Customer Service Model
Conversing Differently
Social Advertising Flourishes
E/M Commerce
Look Above!
Convenience
Knowing Where You Are
Virtually Unrecognizable
Wearables
Be More Human
67. Anna Lai
Social Interactions Manager
anna.lai@tenthwave.com
Rachel Hitzig
Associate Strategist
rachel.hitzig@tenthwave.com
Sarah Schneebaum
Associate Project Manager
sarah.schneebaum@tenthwave.com
Let’s Chat...
67
Tenthwave is an ultra-curious digital agency on a
mission to increase brands’ market share, launch
new products with a bang, and out-innovate the
competition. We dig deeper to find transformative
ideas that seduce the hearts and minds of customers.
Special thanks to Drew Rayman, Eric Schwamberger, Gunny
Scarfo, Ben Zeidler, Nat Thomson, Sheri Westfal, Luciano
Calvaruso, and Rebecca Beyer for all their help and contribution.
68. References
68
Larry Kramer, The C-Scape: Conquer the Forces Changing Business Today
Huffington Post: The Ultimate Guide to Realistic Minimalism (What You Need, What
You Don't, and How to Break the Cycle of Wanting)
Bustle: 8 Things You Need To Know If You Are Interested In Minimalism
Time: Oxford’s 2015 Word of the Year Is This Emoji
Warc: Carat's top 10 trends for 2016
Digiday: 2016 Year In Preview
Hotwire: Communications Trends Report 2016
eMarketer: 11 Key Digital Trends for 2016
eMarketer: US Social Trends for 2016
Landor: Landor’s 2016 Trend Forecast
JWT: The Future 100
Trend Watching: 5 Consumer Trends For 2016
CBS News: Which consumer tech trends will rise, fall in 2016?
ADWEEK: These Brands Broke The Internet in 2015
Digiday: 5 things we learned about Snapchat in 2015
TechCrunch: What We Talk About When We Talk About Ad Blocking
Mashable: 9 Technologies To Watch in 2016