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Top 5 Marketing Trends of 2006 by David Frey

I was asked by a marketing friend of mine to share with him what I thought were the top 5 marketing trends in 2006. So I thought I would share them with you as well.

Trend # 1 - Advertising agencies moving to direct response.

More and more companies are demanding that agencies show them an ROI on their marketing spend.

They are tired of spending gazillions of dollars on campaigns that don't show results so they are testing more direct response methods of selling.

Trend # 2 - Ad dollars moving into the Internet marketing space

Companies are just now starting to realize how to use the internet and how they can receive a measurable return on their marketing spend.

The Internet is the new frontier for marketers and the search marketing and pay-per-action marketing industry is booming.

Trend # 3 - Education-based marketing is becoming more popular

Businesses are beginning to realize that "in your face advertising" is not getting the return it once did and so now they are turning to a more suttle, but just as effective marketing approach by educating their prospects with follow up soft-sell messages, magalogs, infomercials and white papers.

Trend # 4 - Large businesses are using more small business guerilla marketing tactics

This is another sign that large businesses are requiring a return for their marketing dollar and so they are getting smarter about the way they bring their products and services to market.

One example of this is the new guerilla tactics large businesses are using to spread word-of-mouth marketing, viral marketing and buzz about their products. (Heck, even a "Word-Of-Mouth Marketing Association" was recently formed.

Trend # 5 - International expansion of marketing products and services

The Internet has brought our disperse global economy into one large community. The Internet has been the catalyst for new and amazing marketing overseas opportunities.

International opportunities and relationships have been popping up like crazy because of the Internet.

There's never been an easier time to marketing your products and services internationally, and a lot of marketers are catching on to that opportunity.

David Frey is the author of the best-selling manual, "The Small Business Marketing Bible" and the Senior Editor of the "Small Business Marketing Best Practices Newsletter." To get your free lifetime subscription visit http://www.MarketingBestPractices.com