WEBBMEDIA GROUP NEWS

tl;dr Version:
We're making our coveted monthly digital trends list, previously only sent to clients and close friends, available to the public starting this month.

Context:
As you know, I spend a lot of time thinking about emerging technology and how it's going to affect us in the short term. At work, we identify near-future digital trends and apply data-driven ideas and innovations to solve our clients’ problems. Every month, Webbmedia Group makes a Digital Trends Kit available to our clients along with analysis, background information, key stakeholder connections and...a big trends list. Our clients have come to rely on the list as a sort of meta-cheat sheet to help brainstorm solutions, prepare for meetings and make decisions about investments and partnerships.

For example, just before Foursquare launched in the U.S., we were already tracking other geosocial startups in incubation and alpha stages, like Gowalla and SCVNGR. Then, while others were fixated on 4sq and its colorful badges, we were looking at the bigger picture and at consumer behavior changes. We were able to identify not just geosocial as a trend, but to advise our various clients on an impending shift in the mobile geo-based deals space. As a result, our clients were the first to partner with (and benefit from) geosocial. About a year ago, we challenged our clients to think beyond mobile phones and tablets as second screens, and to also focus on building strategies for wearable technology. Google Glass's Explorer program has just launched, and because of our groundwork many of our clients now have a big competitive advantage.

Beginning in April, we're making this monthly digital trends list available to the public, and you can now download a copy of it below. This list includes more than 20 of our obsessions for May 2013. These are the innovations, ideas and startups that, for many reasons, are captivating us right now. Using our internal tools and assessments, we’ve spotted patterns and trends that we find fascinating, and we think you will too. The list is grouped into those sections.

It isn’t a pretty document. I know that. That's because I didn't want slick graphics or mini-case studies detracting from what’s really important: substance. Topics are listed in no particular order, and we’re not providing much context for you in this public version. We hope this becomes great fodder for discussion both inside media/tech and in other fields. And of course, we'd like to be a part of that conversation. If you’d like to know more, I’d be happy to chat, as always.

-Amy

We've just released the fourth edition of our extremely popular infographic on content development and deployment for news and other organizations. We first released our Workflow in 2007 in response to the quick, uncomfortable transition to digital media that multiple industries were facing.

Since then, our Workflow has been translated in to five languages and has been published in academic texts. It’s also been included on numerous websites and in books about journalism, PR, communications and marketing.

>>> Download a high-res version of our Workflow here.

This fourth edition of the Workflow is our current editorial content production ideal, where collaboration is constant, numerous platforms are used and an open dialogue exists between consumers and creators.

Why is this thing hand-written? Because it reflects our vision of the editorial process, which we believe should be fluid, organic and extensible. We firmly believe in drawing boards, ideation and succeeding as fast as you fail. We hope this updated Workflow offers insights, strategies and great conversation fodder for you and your entire team!

This Webbmedia Group annual report reflects on the most inventive, interesting and emerging tech trends in the past year and then takes a look ahead.

In 2013, we expect to see widespread adoption of new interfaces, new digital marketplaces, a change in how content is delivered, the eruption of sensor networks and a whole bunch of video. This report includes 29 of the most important trends we expect to track in 2013. We also offer short summaries on the industries that we believe will soon face significant disruption.

Today, we launched a public database of all tech incubators, accelerators and labs who are currently working with startups. We're only including programs that have made investments or who've welcomed new startup classes in the past 12 months.

For those of you with great ideas, this should be a great resource. It currently includes 77 different programs. Please help us spread the word, and if you have any suggestions for additions, let us know!

In addition to our strategy and ideation work, we are pleased to now offer bespoke events and professional experiences.

What's a bespoke event, you're wondering? We've developed a proven methodology that produces truly amazing, memorable professional events. From large conferences to small executive gatherings, we're able to bring more visibility, a strong sense of community, a social amplification system and, if required, a longer-term, sustainable strategy plan. We always offer hyper-creative, signature components - experiences that enforce your mission and make people feel excited – and grateful – for having participated. We'll create a highly personalized, innovative event blueprint for your organization, one that can be executed by your events planning team.

Clients include:

• Large professional/ industry conferences
• Corporate boards
• Corporporate HR and professional development departments
• Universities
• Foundations

In addition to bespoke events, we're also now hosting a number of gatherings throughout the year, where we bring together small groups of brilliant thinkers and challenge them to work collectively on solving industry or professional problems. These invitation-only events help our friends connect and conspire. Our most recent event was our Big Idea Buffet focusing on digital challenges. 

We're absolutely thrilled about these new service offerings and we look forward to working with you!

Today, I gave away Webbmedia Group's secret sauce. I released, to the public, our trends strategy.

I was doing my annual Tech Trends forecast presentation at the Online News Association conference in San Francisco, and abruptly stopped after the second trend. This year, I offered attendees a special treat, one that we've never made available to the public. I explained how we look for and define changes in the digital ecosystem, showing each step of our process. 

You may be wondering why we're giving away our special formula. Webbmedia Group's goal is to empower everyone to do smarter, more creative, and ultimately better work. The more we can help news and other organizations identify disruptions in the digital ecosystem, the more they can take a proactive – rather than a constant reactive – approach towards innovation. Solving problems creatively and ushering an organization through its digital transformation is where Webbmedia Group shines. The more current and ready your company is, the better work we can do together!

Each participant got one of these folders, which included a detailed 10-page recipe for how Webbmedia Group views the digital landscape. It also included a highlight list of more than 50 trends we're tracking in Q4.

At the end of the session, we challenged attendees to apply our framework immediately. So we launched a Tech Trends Challenge on Tumblr. We want the folks who were at the conference...and you, too, if you're willing!...to forecast 10 trends that you think will affect the news and media space from now through the end of the year. We're going to pick the best entries and announce winners, who will be invited as our guests to our next Big Ideas Buffet.

You had to be at my ONA session in order to get a folder and handouts, but our tech trends Tumblr and contest is open to everyone, even non-Tumblr users. We can't wait to see what you predict!

--Amy Webb