Random Acts of Kindness. Driven by

consumers’ need for realness and human touch, this trend is one of the most effective ways to connect with consumers in 2011. Utilize online social media as a way to discover your consumers’ moods, whereabouts or woes. Take a cue from Dutch Airline KLM which launched a“ How Happiness Spreads” Foursquare-based campaign to surprise passengers with personalized gifts. One traveler who tweeted he will miss a football game while in New York City( NYC) reportedly received a Lonely Planet guidebook— with NYC sports bars highlighted in blue!

Urbanomics. With urbanization on the rise and city-dwellers becoming more experienced and adventurous with their purchases and choices, customize your service, brand or experience packages according to the needs of your urban consumer. And since these types of consumers tend to gravitate towards city-based campaigns, infuse“ Urban Pride” by perhaps launching products or services that celebrate local culture.

Pricing Pandemonium.

Always-on connectivity— the ability among consumers to constantly and instantly access deals online— will continue to change both consumer spending habits( e. g. group buying through online social sites like Groupon and impulse expenses through flash sales) as well as entrepreneurs’ pricing and

marketing strategies( e. g. location-based discounts and dynamic pricing deals).

Made for China( If not BRIC).

Consumers in emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India and China( collectively referred to as BRIC) will con-

tinue to favor Western brands but also demand customization like local tailoring, exclusivity or recognition of lifestyle and cultural diversity.

Online Status Symbols. With more

and more consumers becoming tech-savvy, having the most number of friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter will no longer be enough to boost online status quo. One creative way to market to these types of consumers is to supply them with online badges, widgets or apps that display their online-smart( e. g. Bargain-hunter of the Day) or popularity( e. g. Spa Queen of the Week).

Wellthy. Think beyond fitness games like Wii and Playstation, instead along the lines of calorie-tracking WiFi wristbands or stroll meters. With an estimated 500 million people worldwide expected to use mobile health care applications by 2015( Source: Research2Guidance, November 2010), consumers will continue to invest on products and services with