Send your mind back to the launch of the iPhone. Although you may not recall the first App you downloaded – what you will remember is the ease of use or the purchase experience. It’s an experience that has led to the Apple’s Apps Store selling more than $200 million worth of apps every month and unleashing the new app economy.

For those of you still relying on fax machines or hiding behind the Berlin Wall of firewalls – Apps are small software applications designed to be used on Smartphones such as the Apple iPhone, the Blackberry or other mobile devices such as the Apple iPod. And now, the Apple iPad.

If you look past the games, juvenile beer drinking apps or childish farting programs (my 10 year old son loves this App) is a world of nifty little programs that are creating fortunes for entrepreneurs and changing the way we do and can do business.

The success of the Apple’s Apps Store has basically kick-started what is now called the Apps Economy with nearly every producer of smart technologies trying to copy Apple’s business model. This includes some the biggest companies in the world like Google, Nokia and Microsoft.

What’s more it has spawned virtually 100s of thousands of third-party software developers to create 100s of thousands of new Apps from games, social networking clients, navigation appliances, barcode scanners, online music players, online video streaming, image search, RSS readers, radio stations, local search, VOIP clients, e-readers, business productivity tools, recommendation app gizmos, communication software and list goes on and on…

Personally, I don’t use that many, but my favourite Apps are things like 37 Signals’ client and social networking clients Apps for Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare. If I’m on the road, I use the default Google Map App like a GPS (please don’t tell the cops).

The emergence of Smart Mobile Technologies and Apps has released people from their home and office desk. It has given people the ability to work and entertain myself anywhere and anytime. And I do this every day.

However, with the new IPTV’s coming on the market and the increase speed and capacity of broadband to your home – this will change the way we consume media via our TV sets (Flatscreen). Apps will be available through your IPTV.

The game changer is that your old desktop PC and software could be gone within a few years and replaced by Smart Mobile Devices like the Apple iPad with 10s of thousand of simple business productivity Apps. Some free. Some with a price tag attached.

John Herlihy, Vice-president of Global Ad Operations recently said “the future of computing was mobile and through the web browser.”

The brains trust at Google has also said “desktops will be ‘irrelevant’ within the next three years, as the focus of consumers and business switches to mobile devices.” And that this shift in technology will create new opportunities for new entrepreneurs to create new business models.

At this point, I can hear a few I.T. Techies grinding their teeth while reading this. Even the old monster Microsoft has come out the closet with the launch of the Microsoft Mobile App Store and is aiming to be the leader in cloud computing.

At this year’s CeBIT technology show in Hannover, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said “This is our coming out party at CeBIT to really kick start the idea that Microsoft is leading in the cloud.”

I’ve been talking to some senior marketers from some of Australia’s biggest brands – trying to work out whether Australia is entering the new App economy. A few are on the ball, but most are very much in the dark.

At least the Victorian government understands the opportunities by offering up to $100,000 to software developers in a contest to create applications out of 90 data sets on the data.vic.gov.au website.

The app economy or even the digital economy is not technical issue – it’s a marketing issue. It’s time for marketers to start thinking about how Apps will help improve their business.

Just look at this video on the Wired magazine App.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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In a recent article in B&T magazine, David Lindberg ANZ’s MD of Strategy, Marketing and Customer Segmentation was quoted as saying “The way I think of strategy is that marketing is an extension of strategy rather than a separate function.”

He was also quoted as saying “Most of my career, the line between strategy and marketing has been blurred.”

As a marketing strategist, David’s quote got me thinking about the main reasons why business and a sizeable portion of the marketing community still separate business strategy and marketing strategy.

I think marketing is a terribly misunderstood subject in business circles and in the public’s mind. I’m not saying that David is wrong or that he may have been misquoted. But the truth is marketing is too often confused with selling and advertising.

Even the Australia Marketing Institute wants to place marketing under the control of finance. Now that is barking mad…

So here is my question: Is David right? Is marketing just an extension of strategy?

Your thoughts please…

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The new director of BBC Global News, Peter Horrocks recently warned his staff that “it was important for editorial staff to make better use of social media and become more collaborative in producing stories.”

“This isn’t just a kind of fad from someone who’s an enthusiast of technology. I’m afraid you’re not doing your job if you can’t do those things. It’s not discretionary.”

He also said ‘If you don’t like it, if you think that level of change or that different way of working isn’t right for me, then go and do something else, because it’s going to happen. You’re not going to be able to stop it.”

Strong words, but I feel his views reflect the new realities of the digital economy.

I’ve been talking to a lot of very senior marketing and advertising executives about social media and how it is affecting their industries. Surprisingly, most appear to be resisting or ignorant of social media. It’s like they have decided to opt-out.

A small number even express loathing towards users and advocates believing they are undermining their traditional marketing and advertising business models through shifts in the way people connect and use technology.

For professionals whose career supposedly depends on having a grasp of communicating with people, I find these attitudes strangely shocking.

Like in the industrial revolution will people opting out of social media suddenly find themselves unemployable since they can no longer compete with people with relatively less experience, but who are digital natives?

Your thoughts please…

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The question I get asked by fellow marketers more than any other is: what is inbound marketing? Simply, it’s completely the opposite to the long-established method of broadcast advertising.

Inbound marketing is focused on the idea of being found by people who are looking for you, your product or your service. It mainly consists of intelligent web design, search engine optimisation, social media and conversion strategies with the aim of drawing motivated people to you.

Whereas broadcast advertising is typically focused on trying to influence your buying behaviour and habits by means of commercials on television and radio, printed advertisements in newspapers and magazines and printed directories such as Yellow Pages.

So, rather than forcing yourself onto the poor unsuspecting masses, inbound marketing allows potential customers to find you when THEY are ready. Any time, any place. It delivers motivated, qualified consumers to your door (website) 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.

 And as more and more consumers use social networking sites to connect with trusted friends, relatives and co-workers, personal recommendations are becoming a lot more important for brands in the buying decision on everything from buying shoes to airline tickets.

For me, inbound marketing is all about:

1. Knowing the essence of marketing and digital marketing theory
2. Knowing your online communities (target audience online).
3. Knowing where and how people search for your product.
4. Knowing your brands keywords
5. Knowing how to produce and publish great content
6. Knowing how to optimise your website, landing pages and content for search (including social search)
7. Knowing how to implement effective online conversation strategies
8. Knowing how to measure, monitor and improve performance
9. Knowing how to integrate the offline world of traditional advertising with online inbound marketing strategies and tactics

For a marketer, results can be cost-efficient and totally measurable.

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Every week, I read and watch lots of business and marketing articles and videos. Most are just good opinions pieces, but every few weeks there is a real corker that I want to share with people.

And this video by Gary Vaynerchuck is a corker. So please enjoy:)

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Welcome to my first ‘Incomplete Guide to Newcastle’s New Influencers’ list for 2010. It’s populated with a lot more local Newie bloggers (including business blogs) and a few Newcastle expats.

But, I’m still on the look out for a local user-generated site (please help).

So, if you have time please go and visit as many of our new influencers as possible. And when you get there, don’t be afraid join the conversation. Make a comment.

Some write often. Some don’t. Some use images. Some use words. Some are on radio and most are not. But, they all look at the world in a very different way.

Life In General & Armchair Philosophy

Blackbird Corner, The Spice Rack, Crow’s Garage, pryorcommitment, the best of all possible worlds, Mitchell Davies Blog, My kid is too funny, Belinda-Jane,  Miss Kool, Killing Mind, Glen Evans, Puff Pieces, Adam Purcell.com, Whalen Flynn, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think, An Account of Social Commentary, Five Thumbs Down, That Ducati Guy, Lexxie Couper, The Rant-O-Matic, Tonight,Captain?, Miss Koolmeister, BryAntics, My Take On It,

Art, Technology, Design & Entertainment

eCommerce and Online Shopping Systems, Trends in Communication, Peter Bower, Just Creative Design, Deanjrobinson.com, RocksolidPR, Newcastle Music Directory, The Plastic Age, Matthew Packer, Deadly Bloody Serious, Ivan Vanderbyl, One fine Day, I’m With The Band, Newism, Zen Harris, Living Light, Steve Happ, Jacob Talbot, Hunter Arts Network

Marketing, Media & Advertising

Bird in the Hand Zine Shop, Sunny Days, Carol Duncan, The Git, Media Hunter, GetSticky, Classy Marketing’s Blog, Trends In Communication, Tim Neve, SNOBS, Sunny Days, Newcastle on Hunter

Local News, Sport, Political & Business

surfwx.com.au, Wedbykez Newcastle Pub Crawl, Good Healthy Advice, Rob’s Flat White, Oz Atheist’s Weblog, Passmores Business & Management College News, Action Bites, Child of the Wind, The New Man Of Action, TopPunter, Hunter Central Coast Region Grapevine, We’re Listening,  Waxalyrical’s Blog, Sportsline, NCYC, Gen X Advisers, Eutopia, The Templar Group

Newcastle Expats

my life. on the internets., L’eggs Up And Laughing

If you know of any other bloggers or user-generated sites, please let me know below:

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Get Sticky. Now, get it on your iPhone. Yes, my friends the team at Sticky have launched our very first iPhone App.

Its totally free and a fun way for readers of our popular inbound marketing blog, Get Sticky to get the latest updates. Plus its allows our team to explore the mobile apps market.

To download our App search for Get Sticky on your iPhone app store or go to
http://itunes.apple.com/hk/app/get-sticky-inbound-marketing-blog/id350964188?mt=8

Its not going to be on iTunes Top Chart for Free Apps, but we hope corporate marketers will find it useful.

So, why not help a little Aussie team of inbound marketers and download your Get Sticky iPhone app today. And if you could give us a favourable rating in the iTunes score, we’ll love you even more.

Thanks in advance for your support. We appreciate it.

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Here’s a blatant promotion on my blog. If you are marketer or CEO who’s organization is struggling to come to terms with the digital revolution. Then, you ought to be interested in our latest news from Sticky Advertising. We’ve dropped the ‘Advertising.’

And, we’ve finally taken the plunge and repositioned the agency as digital with a focus on advanced digital strategies.

Why?  So we can take advantage of a growing need to manage the transition from a mainly offline business and marketing model to a growing digital and social business model. It also means higher profit margins and lower costs compared to advertising’s traditional cash cow of buying media which is now basically a commodity being sold by every Tom, Dick and Mary.

The process of change has been exciting, but at times scary especially for our principal, Craig (Media Hunter) Wilson – it’s his money we are playing with. However, Sticky has quickly scored some big goals by signing up a number of large national accounts. There is talk now of going International.

If you are interested you might want to see our new revamped Sticky and GetSticky sites…

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I don’t usually make New Year Resolutions, but for 2010 I’ve decide to conjure up a few resolutions to help me focus on my personal brand and not to get distracted.

And by the time you read this, I will almost surely have reneged on the first two. I hereby resolve…

1. to be kinder to those marketers and business people who just don’t get it. People are real, they have real feelings and always deserve respect (most of the time).

2. to be kinder to those laggards at the Australian Marketing Institute – this one is going to be hard.

3. to be kinder to Craig Wilson(@mediahunter) by making more of an effort to respond to his emails, document all our Inbound Marketing processes and contribute more to our corporate blogs.

4. to be kinder to my clients. I’m not actually cruel and I don’t ignore them, but I can always improve.

5. to be more creative with my blog content by producing and publishing more focused content on digital and marketing strategy. And start using my nice new Flip video.

6. to be ready to challenge all industry sacred cows.

7. to be more conversational by means of exchanging a few extra words.

8. to be more inquisitive of all things digital and marketing.

But occasionally, I’ll still throw a few snowballs from time to time…

What do you think?

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Google has revealed its new real-time search feature. Now people will be able to see real-time results coming from newly published blog posts, web pages, Tweets and updates from MySpace and Facebook.

Go to http://google.com/trends & click on any of the topics. Check out the demo video below.

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