Last week, I gave you my prediction that 2010 will be the "Year of the content network" (read it over here).  Then, I invited you to give your predictions.  In exchange, if we could get 10 comments, 1 person would receive a free copy of my latest tool called, "AdText Image Creator 2.0."  If we got 25 comments, I’d give-out 3 copies to the best responses.

Well, we got exactly 25 comments and all of the posts were great.  You all put a good amount of thought into your predictions.  Thank you to everyone for your contributions.

Here are some key ideas a lot of you predicted and my responses (though this list is far from all of the good ideas you talked about):

• Mobile marketing will rise in importance.  

Yes!  I think this is a great prediction.  People are transitioning from browsing the web on their computers to being able access information on-the-fly with mobile.  With new innovations and folks upgrading their phones as their contracts expires, this is getting very exciting.

• Mixed views on how Google will run it’s customer service and rule its marketplace.

More folks seemed to agree that Google is not going to change anytime soon and it will lead to an increase in the use of competition.

A couple of you seemed to think that Google may be forced to see the light and change and improve customer service.

Which route do I think?  I am more inclined to agree with the first assessment and the latter down the road.

• Local search will continue to grow in importance.  Yes, local businesses are finally starting to get it (at least a lot more than in the past).  They are seeing that folks no longer are finding them as much in the overpriced phone book… and are now looking online.  On top of this, there has been an explosion in Internet marketers catering to these offline folks.  When you combine these two ingredients together, local search will be a hot topic in 2010.

• PPV advertising and other paid traffic sources will continue to rise in importance.

Yes, I agree.  Google’s reach is massive, but so is the web.  There are a LOT of other ways to reach your target market on it.

• The divide will continue to grow between those that have the tools and know what they’re doing versus those that don’t.

I couldn’t agree more.  To keep-up, folks will either need the knowledge or tools and do it themselves… OR have to find a management service who knows what they’re doing.   Personally, I just do not see how anybody could find the time to keep-up with customers of AdText Image Creator 2.0, unless they have somebody doing it for them.

Overall, a lot of folks predict that we’re in store for a massive amount of change this next year.  I hope you will stick around to discuss these new trends and changes throughout 2010 and beyond.  Again, thank you to everyone who participated.

Since this "experiment" was a success, we’ll try to have more in the future.  So, if you didn’t win, there will likely be more opportunities to win other tools and services in the future.

In addition, you can also pick-up a copy of AdText Image Creator 2.0 when it’s released in the next couple weeks at: http://www.AdTextImageCreator.com.  Go-ahead and sign-up for the announcement list to get notified when doors open.

Now, for the winners (picked at random because there were so many great ones)…

Post numbers:  1, 9, 23:

Wayne Hairston

Gary

and Brian

The finishing touches are still being put on AdText Image Creator 2.0.  If you’re a winner, send an email to amkhan AT amkhan.com.  You will get it when it’s finished and before it is open to everyone else.  We’ll also try to get in touch with you via any email addresses you left when it’s ready if you have not already contacted us by then.

Predicting Google is tough.

It seems like every other week, they advance the game…

And often it’s done by surprise.  

You have no way of knowing what to expect.

This is why I was delighted when I recently posed the question to a Google Representative, "What can we expect from AdWords in 2010?"

The response was one word:

"Re-targeting"

What the heck is that, you ask?

Well, if you’re a marketer, then you know the power of following-up with your prospects.

They may not be ready to buy from you the first time they hear from you..

But, by the 7th time, they’re ready to buy.

Well, this is what re-targeting brings to the table.

Imagine a visitor reading their favorite site.  He or she sees your ad and clicks…BUT does not buy.

Then, a few minutes later, the same visitor goes to another website… and whaddya’ know, your ad appears again… then on a third site… a fourth… until your message finally hits home.

You get the click and the sale.  

It’s as though your ads "Follow" your prospects.

As you can imagine, this is a major breakthrough and will change the game big time.

Forget the search network when there is so much cheap, targeted traffic on the content.

So, here’s my big prediction for 2010 you can take to the bank,  "2010 will be the year of the content network."

You see, right now, there’s a massive amount of quality cheap ad space.  But, there’s just one catch.  Tapping into the content network is not like it is with search.

You need to use solid direct-response style ads to make it profitable.  Your ads need to stop prospects in their tracks, get them to click, and set them-up for what’s to come.

Listen, if you’re only using text ads on the content network, you’re barely scratching the surface of what there is to offer.  You need to be using all of the sizes of image ads.

Most advertisers are too lazy to create and then optimize their image ads.  As a result, it’s easy for you come-in and dominate IF you take the content network seriously.

After all, there is LOADS more traffic here than in search.

Of course, I am a little biased in this prediction.  Though, I firmly believe you’re going to be hearing about the content network non-stop in 2010, in a few weeks I am launching version 2.0 of AdText Image Creator…

A tool that allows you effortlessly create killer image ads with a few clicks of your mouse and then upload them to Google in tight ad groups.

The test results I’ve been getting so far in clients’ campaigns have been phenomenal (if you own version 1.0, you ain’t seen nothing yet).

And here’s what I am going to do to thank you for being a loyal reader or customer and celebrate the new year.  I want you to leave your prediction of what you think will happen in 2010 in AdWords or search marketing in general if you prefer.  What do you think 2010 will be the year of?

If we can get at least 10 predictions, then I will choose the best one to get a free copy of AdText Image Creator 2.0 when it’s ready and before it goes on the market.  If we can get at least 25 comments, then I will choose 3 of the best responses.

If all of the responses are great, then we’ll toss your name into a hat and choose at random.

So, go-ahead and participate to get your chance to win.  This tool will not be cheap and we are seriously considering capping the amount of copies that are sold in order to give owners a major advantage.  

I look forward to hearing about what you see in the future…