30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
Google Trends for Tumblr, Digg and StumbleUpon
Last year I made about 30 predictions on Web trends for 2009. Many of them came true, others, of course, did not. Still even in those cases the ideas from the Web trends list were useful. Even those trends that disappeared from the radar or haven’t got main stream yet should be watched closely as they might pop up again sooner or later.
So I decided to make a new Web trends list, this time for 2010.
I started from scratch and asked my followers on Twitter to contribute. Most of the Web trends to watch in 2010 can be seen already on the Web so I’m really no prophet I just compiled a list. OK, also I chose those trends that I consider worth watching in 2010 and left out others. I think the following aspects of the Internet will have a major impact next year and beyond.
I divided the upcoming trends into several sections:
- social media
- business
- mobile
- marketing
- search
- SEO
- web design & development
- software
Social Media
- Twitter integration and apps were king in 2009 and are here to stay. Either you integrate or you perish
- Tumblr is successful and growing in the shadow of Twitter, when Twitter finally loses steam will Tumblr be the new darling?
- Market consolidation in social media leaving only a few major players on the scene: Twitter, Facebook and who else?
- Social news (Digg, Reddit) and bookmarking (Delicious) will become obsolete. Already the first wave of social media that is social news and bookmarking lose against Twitter.
- Social browsing (StumbleUpon etc.) is already dead. There were more than a dozen of social browsing services in 2008. Most of them are dead or on hiatus already. More to follow.
Business
- We’ll witness a demise or hiatus of most startups without critical mass of users as the money runs out
- We can expect a proliferation of premium and freemium business models as venture capital stays scarce
- Companies and brands will have to develop a social media strategy in 2010 to stay afloat
- With business accounts and data access selling like hotcakes and additional revenue sources Twitter will become profitable in 2010 already
Mobile
- We’ll see a smartphone systems death match as the market isn’t big enough for all the often incompatible systems we have right now.
- Apple will be losing market share. The iPhone still looks like years ago. They don’t even have a netbook yet. They can’t rely on cult tactics forever.
- Phones and calls for free thanks Google: Google prepares the real Google Phone combining Google Voice and Gizmo5 VoIP to offer free calls.
Marketing
- We’ll see less bullshit and more substance in the online marketing field. As the Web matures more and more people become too savvy to get fooled.
- Advertising replaced on the Web by “ad content” that is non promotional content about the brand, company or products: Less banners more reports.
Search
- Real time search will go prime time for everyone, not just the search geeks and early adopters
- Google and Bing will keep on copying each other in order to capitalize on the search advertising market
- Advanced personalization will lead to your own personal search results for most people rendering ranking checks useless
SEO
- SEO is becoming ubiquitous, everybody does it (BBC etc.) and in 2010 those who don’t will fail to compete
- More SEO experts will return underground again inspite of ubiquitous SEO due to wide spread prejudice of the ignorant against the trade
- Like it or not but we’ll see more jQuery pop ups due to their high conversion rate. Thanks to @rhyswynne for the suggestion
Web Design & Development
- Mobile apps will continue to boom and optimized web pages for mobile use will become common place finally
- HTML5 and CSS3 will allow web designers to offer extra features possible backed by graceful degradation in oder to support for older browsers
- YouTube censorship spawns an open source and DIY video embedding counter movement. We already witness it but in 2010 you’ll look like a noob using YouTube on your site
Blogging
- Blogs get even more authoritative and accepted, becoming the “old media” of the Web
- Quick and clean miniblogging (Tumblr, Posterous etc.) establish a lively sphere between Twitter-like microblogging and blogging. @richardbaxter of SEOGadget agrees about Posterous continuous growth
- Video content finally gets the importance we expected for years now with growing band width etc.
Software
- There will be more cloud computing and web based software or rather webware around and people will use it more often
- Most notably Google Docs will convince more users of the Microsoft Office desktop edition to switch
- At the same time Google Chrome OS will be competing successfully with Windows at least on netbooks
Thanks to Twitter user @thunderror for several suggestions I included in the software section.
Are there other trends to watch in 2010 you considered crucial? Did I forget to mention something that has to be brought to our readers? attention? Tell us in the comment section. The best contributions will be added to the actual list.
November 27th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Good list, although I think that to say that “Companies and brands will have to develop a social media strategy in 2010 to stay afloat” is too broad. It’s an edge they’ll lose, but I doubt it’ll be the only factor in a brand’s demise.
Oh, and the links to the 2008 list, and the DIY embedding are broken, hope it helps!
November 27th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
One blogger suggested foursquare would be the new social media darling in 2010. It’s not even in Alexa’s top 100, and there’s only 5 weeks until the end of the year.
Any thoughts on that?
Erick
November 27th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I agree with the vast majority of your predictions here. One thing I’d add though is that Office 2010 will also have online versions. I think that will help them a lot and having had a play around on the Beta it seems to work well. Google Docs just aren’t enough for business use. I think Google Docs will continue to increase in use for the average Joe though, particularly if Chrome OS takes off.
I personally can’t see Apple losing market share in the mobile world either. With the iPhone being released to more networks and in the case of the UK, even being sold in supermarkets, along with the inevitable 4th generation phone, I can only see iPhones becoming more common. I completely agree on the netbook front however.
From a search perspective, I’d also add something about news, with the whole Rupert Murdoch debacle something big will happen next year. I wouldn’t like to predict how it will all turn out however!
November 27th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
November 27th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
RT @seoptimise: 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
November 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
@mattcutts http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
November 27th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Ian, Erick, Richard: Thanks for the valuable feedback.
Btw. Ian: I have to fix the links each time manually as the SEOptimise WordPress always removes absolute links to seoptimise.com and changes them to relative ones breaking them this way upon publication. No idea how to fix the bug. Any suggestions?
November 27th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I agree with a number of your predictions. Since I am from the search engine industry, I agree in particular that the search world is evolving very fast. Most people & companies are having trouble adjusting to the emerging new reality. I believe that, some years from now, we will look back at 2009 as the year web search got transformed in a big way. For example, a few of us have been working hard on a new kind of search for several years. Our creation TipTop at http://FeelTipTop.com, a real-time, semantic, social Twitter search engine, is now available in a beta version. Please give it a try. Just today, Black Friday here in the US, we have transformed comparison shopping as well at http://ftt.nu/shopping
November 28th, 2009 at 3:24 am
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November 28th, 2009 at 5:20 am
30 Web Trends for 2010 http://bit.ly/4DarlL. Looks interesting.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Interesting list. Can’t say I agree with this though:
‘Apple will be losing market share. The iPhone still looks like years ago. They don’t even have a netbook yet. They can’t rely on cult tactics forever.’
People are still fighting and scrambling to get hold of an iPhone. Once version 3 comes out in 2010 this will be even more so. Ask a classroom of 15 year olds what mobile phone they would like to have and 99% of them will say an iPhone.
Apple’s share of the technology market will only increase in 2010.
‘Social news (Digg, Reddit) and bookmarking (Delicious) will become obsolete. Already the first wave of social media that is social news and bookmarking lose against Twitter.’
They won’t become obsolete in 2010 but their stars are waning. The internet is such a fickle environment and I wonder if the pace of sites / services going out of fashion will increase…
November 28th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
“30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010″ – http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
November 29th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I agree with Ian Miller’s critique on the comment: “Companies and brands will have to develop a social media strategy in 2010 to stay afloat” This statement basically ignores all businesses and brands where ‘on demand’ information is very low on their food chain. There are, in fact, many businesses out there that will not suffer one iota without the (forgive the editorializing) holy touch of social media.
In my opinion, social media is (so far) ‘interesting’ but far from crucial. Correction – it is crucial to people trying to make money from it.
Just my $0.02
J
November 29th, 2009 at 7:15 am
print newspapers will be called “snailpapers” in 2010…. reflecting a trend
November 29th, 2009 at 11:09 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 > http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
November 29th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for the list! This will definately help me to keep up with the trends!
November 29th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I agree with a number of your predictions.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
November 29th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I agree with an earlier comment that print is dead. I have spent around $2500 dollars this year on well thought out print advertising only to get a 0 return.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:31 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://bit.ly/4DarlL
November 30th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Tad, it already got inoutted: re In 2010 newspapers will be called “snailpapers” …..reflecting a trend. see wikia wiki post on “snailpaper” definition
November 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am
This was the def on wiki page today: “A snailpaper is the print edition of a local daily newspaper.”
November 30th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010…
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010: “I think the following aspects of the Internet will have a major impact next year and beyond.”
…
November 30th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
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November 30th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I believe that social media will be taking to another level.As companies begin to embrace it and employ experts to handle brand reputation,demand for business social media applications will soar.Good compilation
November 30th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
November 30th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
RT @peternudo: 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
November 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 1st, 2009 at 11:08 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
December 1st, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Print is definitely not where you need to be spending money. If you are looking to advertise obviously PPC is great, and banner ads, but sponsored tweets are becoming increasingly popular and also, invest in making your site mobile. Huge benefits there.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:54 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
says http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3 (30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010) http://plurk.com/p/2u8sq8
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 am
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December 4th, 2009 at 8:26 am
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December 4th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Predictions for the next year http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 6th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010. http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
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December 8th, 2009 at 9:05 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 8th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Interesting article on 2010 web trends http://bit.ly/4DarlL
December 8th, 2009 at 10:12 am
RT @shilly13: Interesting article on 2010 web trends http://bit.ly/4DarlL
December 9th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
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December 18th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 | SEOptimise
December 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Some web trends for 2010 that we agree with… http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 20th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 20th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 21st, 2009 at 2:18 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010! an interesting read on what’s to come.. http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
December 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
RT @thebrandroom: 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010! an interesting read on what’s to come.. http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
December 21st, 2009 at 9:36 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://bit.ly/4DarlL
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
RT @thebrandroom: 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010! an interesting read on what’s to come.. http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
December 22nd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
December 30th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
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January 4th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
[...] 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 [...]
January 14th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Tad Chef ‘den 2010 un web trendleri yazısı
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
January 14th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
#webtrendscourse 30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 – http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
January 23rd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Nice summary and prediction, really good. I would personally like to see more details on trends in e-commerce and especially in fast growing m-commerce area.
I have recently read quite good article and prediction about the mobile commerce, seams that it will go very high in the next few years…
January 26th, 2010 at 11:40 am
One of the key things about any business – especially on the web, is it’s ability to adapt to market trends. With this is mind, I think we will see a lot of innovative features from the boards of some of the “waning stars”. I would be very hesitant to say that one innovation cannot breed more – thus creating a resurgence of popularity for some of the “old crowd”.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
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February 8th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
30 Webtrends for 2010: http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
February 8th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
http://tinyurl.com/ydazye3
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 | SEOptimise
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
30 #webtrends to watch in 2010 http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:08 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 ! http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
February 28th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://bit.ly/4DarlL
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:07 pm
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March 10th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Looking at 2010 web trends http://bit.ly/4DarlL Tumblr to become the “new darling”? Anyone using it?
March 15th, 2010 at 10:59 am
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April 26th, 2010 at 7:21 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010 http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
April 28th, 2010 at 5:38 am
30 web Trends to Watch , Good Info: http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html
May 29th, 2010 at 9:52 am
30 Web Trends to Watch in 2010
http://www.seoptimise.com/blog/2009/11/30-web-trends-to-watch-in-2010.html