It’s really tough to tell the difference between a trend and a fad, most pundits get it wrong a majority of the time. And it might sometimes seem in the world of online marketing and social media is the ultimate environment for chasing the latest fad. No one can truly predict the future, but  Mary Meeker's annual Internet Trend report gives us some insight in the world of online marketing. 

Let’s take a look at some trends that matter to your dealership from this report:

1. The SuperWeb

Google Fiber promises to offer Internet speeds up to 100 times faster than what is currently available today, it may enable new competitors to your business that were previously impossible. With speeds this fast, any data from the cloud will be instantly accessible. That means any information about your dealership that has been published anywhere at any time will be instantly available from any device. As a result, your reputation online will mean everything.

2. Top Level Domains

Content curation is a trend that will continue to rise, and new Top Level Domains (TLDs) are one sign of this transformation. Essentially, instead of having your web address at a .com or a .org, you could have it at a more descriptive ".anything" depending on the domains that get created and funded.  

3. Paid Niche Channels

Earlier this year, YouTube announced that it would be creating a series of paid channels for content that users could subscribe to--for $1.99. Imagine the possibility for reaching your customers directly with your message for a fraction of the cost of TV advertising. And you could drive them directly to your digital showroom!

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What do you think of these trends? Is your dealership already prepared for them? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below and as always follow @activengage for updates and auto dealer chat tips!