If New Year's resolutions for your business include increasing sales, market reach or brand profile, 2010 is the year to test some exciting new marketing tactics. Advances in technology combine with new ways to connect your message to customers' key drivers to buy in marketing's fastest-growing channels and trends:

1. Social Media

Social media marketing is one of the fastest growing marketing trends. No other marketing tool offers the combination of cost-effective implementation, highly track-able results and direct customer access. About 90% of online users (about 19 million Canadians) across the demographic spectrum engage with social networking sites on a monthly basis, so it's worthwhile to explore Twitter, blogs, Facebook and Linkedin this year and connect with customers and prospects in a whole new way.

Give your marketing global appeal

2. Multicultural Marketing

North America is diverse - is your customer base? With an estimated 5.4 million recent immigrants to Canada whose mother tongue is not English, traditional marketing may not always be enough. Explore targeted media outlets that reach different cultural markets, expand marketing materials to include additional languages and cultural references that engage audiences in ways that appeal to their unique heritage or language preferences.

3. Economic Messages

2009 will long be remembered for the economic recession: 2010 is a year of recovery for businesses and consumers alike. Invest now in marketing and customer retention initiatives to ensure that your business weathers the financial storm intact. Highlight value, quality and service to budget-conscious buyers while your competition lays low and stay top of mind. Find out how to take advantage of the current economic climate with Recession Marketing: A Historically Positive Pursuit.

4. Green Marketing

Green marketing is not a new phenomenon, but sustainable marketing tactics have a decidedly new feel in 2010. Companies are now recognizing the economic impact of marketing 'green' within a corporate social responsibility (CSR) model. Not only can you grow market share with products and initiatives with a green implication, companies that go green also realize internal cost savings and efficiencies. Learn how your business can harness the power of green with Marketing Sustainability: The Green Effect.

5. Mobile Marketing

Smart phones and Blackberries are enormously popular and companies now have unprecedented 24-hour access to their target audience. One-note campaigns are a thing of the past; add texts, e-blasts, articles, RSS feeds and other electronic means to reach customers on every level at every time of day. Be sure to optimize your current materials, including website, newsletter, and email to accommodate the changing viewing patterns of your audience.

As the New Year gets underway, take the time to review your marketing plan and ensure it not only responds to your current business needs and the economic climate but makes the most of the newest marketing opportunities. And, talk to 5th business - let us help you explore the possibilities!

4 Ways to Invest in Corporate Social Responsibility for Big Returns

The Green Effect: Profit Growth

Corporate social responsibility - the strategy of achieving commercial success while demonstrating values that nurture people, communities and the environment - is good business, especially for companies looking to differentiate from their competition.
The decision to implement a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program can be both philanthropic and strategic: CSR activities can be leveraged to build positive brand equity, acquire customers and attract exceptional people.
Get the most out of your CRS program with a planned approach designed to get results.

5th business' new in-depth report, Sustainable Marketing: The Green Effect, illustrates key business advantages gained by incorporating sustainability messaging and practices into business strategies. Independent research confirms that the integration of sustainability strategies can increase profits by up to 38% for large companies and 66% for small companies.

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