Here are the final five of a list of ten current trends that will affect how 2008 shapes up. I will continue this thread by writing a multi-part segment on how you can take advantage of each trend this year.

The World Continues To Flatten
In 2008, the trend of globalization will continue to garnish more than clever book titles.  Every day that passes, more and more communication barriers are eliminated and more and more tools are created that make going multinational or outsourcing labor easier.  It’s now possible for a start-up company with two employees in a basement in a small town in Iowa to pick up a supplier in China and market to Europe. As governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals continue adopting and adjusting their “global paradigm” look for continued “flattening” of the world as 2008 brings more people together across boundaries than ever before.

Group Think Is In
In a time where Americans are overwhelmed with national and local issues that need attention, we will band together in 2008 to speak up and take action on our issues.  Websites and traditional mediums will be used to speak up about issues as Americans find they can relate to one another better than ever when their neighbors down the street are losing their home equity too.  My prediction is social networks and websites like Squidoo will only make it easier for people to connect on an issue, discuss it, and then take action as a group.  With each day that passes, the voices of Americans have the potential to carry farther and farther with the power of the Internet.

The Green Life
In 2008, going green will continue to be as trendy as ever, but individuals will take a step back from the hype to determine how they really feel about the environment and what impact/difference they personally want to make.  This year, what started out as an impersonal movement of the masses will become something closer to home as individuals take the environment more personally.  The good news is it’s not just individuals that will be committed to the green life.  Companies will continue pushing for anything green and the barriers to entry will continue melting away as it becomes more and more affordable to make the change.  Look for more and more companies and websites to form around “going green” as what started with An Inconvenient Truth grows up into a full-scale personal movement.

Cell Phones (and how they’re used) Evolve
Most of us know that 2007 was the year of the iPhone.  The iPhone came to us as a beacon of light in the realm of boring business/productivity cell phones.  The shelves have been stocked with bulky, outdated phones and with the arrival of the iPhone the stakes are now much higher.  Cell phone companies are now finally improving their products and 2008 will enjoy an upcoming batch of business/productivity cell phones and corresponding mobile web and software improvements that are focused on providing power and a comprehensive feature set while being simple and sexy to boot.

Marketing Gets More Creative
According to Advertising Age, 2008 marks a year where making an impact on consumers through advertising will be as difficult as ever.  Individual disposable income continues to shrink as housing problems, the weak dollar, high gas prices, and tight credit continue gripping the pocket book of American consumers.  Consumers are also more distracted than ever, with media vying for our attention from every screen in our homes.  As a result, marketers and advertisers will strive to be as creative as ever in their ads, their mediums, and the ways in which they reach their audience.  The Internet will grow, but new mediums and ways of reaching audiences will be uncovered as a result of a need for effective, measurable, and affordable advertising continues.