Prediction: The Biggest Thing of 2005

[AussieWebmaster]

Okay first day of the new year is a great time to predict what will be the biggest thing in the industry this year.
The battle between Google and MSN?
A new search engine or existing one emerging to vie for prominence?
Ad Agencies buying up SEM firms?

Personally I see the push of international internet marketing will be the big thing this year. As search numbers start to level in the US and English language search - more and more companies will embrace the international markets. Translation services will be a niche that will have huge growth as will any company related to this area.
Our recent successes in Japanese, Chinese and Spanish have made us very aware that you need to look at langauges as a great find for solid converting traffic.

[GlobalSEO]

AussieWebmaster,

I agree with your prediction that international will bubble to the top this year. Ironically, it was this time in 1995 when I made that same prediction after finishing my MBA thesis on Using the Internet to Reach Overseas Markets. It took a while for the rest of the world to get the memo but it is coming fast. :confused:

In 2004 I was in 22 countries working on various projects and speaking at conferences on search and internet marketing. Unless you have been to some of these countries recently you can't imagine the growth online. Now, not all of them are going to flock to the US sites to buy. They are going to do it on their own terms and in their own languages and purchasing methods. Those who can cater to them in these terms will reap the rewards.

The country I was most surprised with was Estonia. I visited there after SES Stockholm and I think it has to be one of the fastest growing online countries after China. The last stat I read, showed 3/4 of the population are using online banking. The country is currently rated #2 in terms of online banking and 3rd for e-government. You can do just about anything with state services online. All of the traditional forms can be submitted and digitally signed. I even noticed URLs on the police cars in Tallinn. All this is even more surprising given most of the population did not even have a phone in 1991.

In the Financial Times a few months back, eBay, Amazon and a number of big online players indicated that they are close to reaching saturation in the US and the future growth is in non-US online markets. Currently 60% of Google searches are done in a language other than English.

My resolution for 2005 was to share some of my experiences and insights with the forum by posing more about how people can take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.

[seobook]

The Biggest Thing of 2005

even non cunning people start picking up on cunning plans...
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=3551

[AussieWebmaster]

The Biggest Thing of 2005

even non cunning people start picking up on cunning plans...
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=3551
True, true mate... hey everyone occasionally sees a brilliant idea early in its development - the smart ones get involved....

[AussieWebmaster]

AussieWebmaster,

I agree with your prediction that international will bubble to the top this year. Ironically, it was this time in 1995 when I made that same prediction after finishing my MBA thesis on Using the Internet to Reach Overseas Markets. It took a while for the rest of the world to get the memo but it is coming fast. :confused:

In 2004 I was in 22 countries working on various projects and speaking at conferences on search and internet marketing. Unless you have been to some of these countries recently you can't imagine the growth online. Now, not all of them are going to flock to the US sites to buy. They are going to do it on their own terms and in their own languages and purchasing methods. Those who can cater to them in these terms will reap the rewards.

The country I was most surprised with was Estonia. I visited there after SES Stockholm and I think it has to be one of the fastest growing online countries after China. The last stat I read, showed 3/4 of the population are using online banking. The country is currently rated #2 in terms of online banking and 3rd for e-government. You can do just about anything with state services online. All of the traditional forms can be submitted and digitally signed. I even noticed URLs on the police cars in Tallinn. All this is even more surprising given most of the population did not even have a phone in 1991.

In the Financial Times a few months back, eBay, Amazon and a number of big online players indicated that they are close to reaching saturation in the US and the future growth is in non-US online markets. Currently 60% of Google searches are done in a language other than English.

My resolution for 2005 was to share some of my experiences and insights with the forum by posing more about how people can take advantage of this tremendous opportunity.
Great... its seems like pulling teeth to get you to post (joking)... but with that screenname I would hope you could impart some knowledge in this area.