Soon Online Dialogue is going to pay more attention to trends in our field, also in the form of event. What is happening in our field? What is the future going to offer us and how do we make sure we are ready for it when it comes? Our trends expert Maurice Beerthuyzen shares some trends in advance.

Bol.com, Amazon and Facebook. The retail market is in full swing. All are trying to renew,innovate, deepen. As a marketer, what can you do with that?

What's going on?

When superpowers like BOL, Amazon and Facebook start to stir, it means something for you as a business, too. The web shop of web shopping, Amazon, is going to set its sights on the Netherlands. With a large assortment and a cartload of know-how, online sellers have a formidable competitor on their hands.

BOL is definitely going to leave the primary path of books and CDs in part because of its merger with AHOLD. In addition, anyone - really anyone - at BOL can now open their own web store. Of course, supported with BOL's knowledge and technology. And it's guaranteed to get you traffic.

Facebook is developing a ‘want’ button. In addition, the advertising rate on Facebook is being ramped up considerably. Soon, unsolicited ads may start appearing in your news feed.

You can guess what happens: by using the ‘want’ button you build your own wish list that friends can use on your
birthday ( =handy), companies use the want list to make you appropriate offers or serve you relevant ads ( = smart).

What does that mean for me?

Do you have a large or small shop? Anyway, look into joining the new initiatives. If possible, open a branch at BOL. Later, see if the options around Facebook's want button can do anything for you, too. Don't wait too long. Dare to test!

Originally posted on September 25, 2012 at Trimmed.com