Some of my predictions:
- Web/tech Conference goers are tired (sooo tired) of seeing the same faces as panel speakers. We will see an insurgence of new voices and more women as panel speakers. I think conference producers would be wise to get panelists who actually use the technology versus business/tech experts ie. Bloggers/Publishers in fashion, sports, politics, health, food, celeb gossip versus the Arringtons, Oms, Roses, or Zuckerbergs. I think techies can learn so much more from the users, and users outside of tech subjects.

- Techies will finally figure out that you need to speak more Oprah than Geek speak in order to cross into the mainstream, and get the masses of non-techies to use their product/service. (This is my fantasy)

- We will see far more stories in traditional media about people making a living through blogging and social media.

Here’s a few of my predictions.

1) Businesses finally begin to make their marketing departments digital ready as they realize their customers are using media quite differently from what they were doing just five years ago. But they’ll find that there’s no easy answers as that media usage is now completely dispersed.

2) There will be at least three major social media marketing mistakes that will get major attention. One of them will likely involve a major political candidate or a major advocacy group.

3) Internet video phone services like oovoo (a client of mine) really begin to take off because they are now lightweight and easy to use. People will want to go beyond simple text of IM or just voice.

4)A company will create a suite of web-based social networking software that will include a blogging platform, photo editing, video producing and editing, podcasting, etc.

5)Speaking of elections, 2008 will be the (hopefully) last traditional broadcast-TV focused presidential election.
Despite some real breakthroughs, most political digital types have yet to be given a seat at the table. That’s because many campaign pros are pompous asses with big egos who are in fact terrified of doing anything new.

6) Women will be a major force in the success of social networking. More often than not, men are early adapters, while women are more cautious. But women seem to use the internet more for social reasons.

My list: 10 Predictions for 2008 In the World of Tech

1) Google Will Trump Both TechMeme and FeedHeads
2) Facebook Will Buy Digg in an All-Stock Transaction
3) eBay Will Sell StumbleUpon to Yahoo! or News Corporation
4) Twitter Will Add Video, Photography Support
5) Apple Boot Camp Will Morph to Be Like Parallels, VMWare Fusion
6) At Least One Major Browser Will Embed Ad-Blocking
7) Assetbar and FriendFeed Will Gain Early Adopter Audiences
8) Video Blogging Will Remain Unpopular, Unprofitable
9) iTunes Video Rentals Will Decimate Netflix, Blockbuster, Hurt Box Office
10) Fast Company Will be a Fast Stay for Robert Scoble

A new blog will take over the lead from Techcrunch as readers get feedup of the non startup related stuff.

Mobile will be huge by the end of the year(I say this every year).

MS will buy someone big…

Google will start to lose its lead as more people start to realise that the results returned have got worse and actaully using ask brings back what you wanted…

Facebook will be replaced by a forum and everyone will be happy.

MS’s MVC framework will be released and rule the .net development world for a couple of months…

I can only hope that we will see more speakers – I’d love to be one of them. Conference producers believe that the names you mention will put butts in seats. I’ve got one speaking engagement lined up but can’t blog about it until next week.

Happy new year!

#2 – IRT to #1 above, the companies that are just BS will close doors, but with regards to #3 / #4 below

#3 – Yup..

#4 – I see this getting bigger.

#5 – hehe… Are you referring to those that make blogging rough for the other people? We shall see how that goes, just remember the other people have opened up doors. Yes, I agree they could be more cordial, but whatever. They would be a$$holes whether they were pro bloggers or serving you fries at the burger king.

#6 – Stats. What is a true indication of your status or even your valuation online? Is this blog’s valuation closer to $1 million or $100? I think this battle goes on beyond 2008.

#7 – Apple is riding high. I do like their products, and lucky for me I haven’t had any issues yet like Dave did.