The year 2009 has drawn to a close and we are well into 2010. It is that time of the year again when we reflect on the past and look forward to what the future holds for us. Online businesses across the globe are busy looking into their crystal balls and making some bold forecasts.

The online arena is abuzz with the creme de la creme of online marketing making predictions of what lies in store for us. We figured out that a collection of their thoughts, dished out in black and white, would be great building blocks for making your own conjectures. So here they are.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

The face of SEO has undergone a sea of change over the past years and 2010 is not going to be an exception. As search engines work towards better indexing and even better search results, SEO professionals and online businesses are busy preparing to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

Personalized search, real time search and social search will change the facet of search engine result pages (SERPs) – rich snippets will enrich it all the more. With “Google Caffeine” kicking in, site performance will become an important ranking parameter. Not to forget, this year will see a phenomenal growth in structured web and use of Microformats.

What they say:

8 Predictions for SEO in 2010

White Coat SEO resolutions for the New Year

SEO Predictions for 2010

Three 2010 SEO Trends to Look Out For: Social Media, Onpage SEO & Link Diversity

5 New Year Resolutions for Search Marketers in 2010

SEO Trends in 2010: Search Engine Optimization Techniques for Online Marketers

SEO Trends to Watch for in 2010

20 SEO New Year’s Resolutions for 2010

6 New Years Resolutions For In-House SEMs

2010 : A New Age For Search Marketers

Paid Search Advertising (PPC):

With the recessionary phase behind us, it is all but natural that businesses will start investing more into search marketing, especially paid. The war of bids to get the coveted slots will result in CPC skyrocketing. Display and contextual advertising will witness a surge in demand in the wake of rising CPC and due to marketers searching for better ROI.

The combined Bing-Yahoo paid search advertising platform will find more takers; so will advertising on all available content networks. Conversion optimization and attribution will keep marketers glued to data and analytics.

What they say:

10 PPC Predictions for 2010

5 Pay-Per-Click Trends to Watch in 2010

5 PPC Resolutions for 2010

My PPC New Year Resolutions

Three PPC Predictions For 2010

My 3 PPC Resolutions – Why 2010 Will be Defined by Mobile, Facebook and the Website Optimizer

Think2010: Personalization and accountability

Local SEO & Mobile Search:

Location, location, location – the “3 Ls” of real estate business will very well define the landscape of local and mobile search this year. As Google treads the path of local search dominance, more organics results will give way to map (local) results.

Mobile will fuel local search growth all the more and businesses will be left with no option but to vie for local search presence.

What they say:

Local SEO Predictions 2010

Will 2010 Finally Be the Year of Location?

Location, Location, Location: 5 Big Predictions for 2010

Predictions For The Changing Local Search Landscape In 2010

Top 10 Wireless Predictions for 2010

Five Can’t-Miss Mobile Marketing Trends For 2010

Your Business & Yelp In 2010

Social Media Marketing/Optimization:

Social media grew exponentially in 2009, and with social and real time search now becoming reality, it will definitely outgrow all projections. Year 2010 is already being voiced as the year when social media will become bigger than search and go full steam.

Social media is evolving quickly and is now an integral part of the online world. For businesses, social media will graduate from being a part time affair to a full time devotion. After all, social media is all set to play a decisive role in identifying, nurturing, and managing customer relationship.

What they say:

2010: The year Social becomes bigger than Search?

Five Things We Should All Do In 2010

Facebook: 5 Predictions for 2010

Looking ahead to 2010 with Shiv Singh

Top Social Media Strategists to Watch in 2010

10 Ways Social Media Will Change In 2010

My Predictions for Social Media Marketing in 2010

Six Social Media Trends for 2010

6 More Social Media New Year’s Resolutions for 2010

22 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2010

11 B2B Social Media Predictions For 2010

12 Social Media New Year’s Resolutions For 2010

eMarketer Weighs In on 2010 Trends: Social Media & Paid Content

Search Engine and Online Marketing:

With signs of economic recovery clearly visible, it is a given that businesses will spend more on search marketing and marketing in general. As an aftermath, competition will grow manifolds. Online marketers will be hard pushed to deliver a better ROI amidst stiff competition.

With mobile and social media marketing becoming a part of the overall search marketing mix, along with other online channels, comprehending the contribution of each of these channels will become critical.

What they say:

Search Marketing 2010: Plan ahead by looking back

eMarketer Weighs In on 2010 Trends: Online Advertising & Usage

2010 Planning: 3 Tips To Improve Search Results Next Year

5 Online Marketing Resolutions for 2010

11 internet marketing trends to ignore in 2010

Disa Johnson's prediction of 2010

9 Digital Marketing Mistakes I Won't Make Next Year

Internet Marketing Tips for 2010

eMarketer Weighs In on 2010 Trends: UK & Europe

2010: The Year Marketing Dies...

Seven Predictions for 2010 from eMarketer’s CEO

10 Things Changing Marketing In 2010

43 Internet Marketing predictions for 2010

2010: Year of digital distraction?

Predictions 2010

2010: The Year of the Little Guy

10 Marketing Predictions for 2010

Other Notable Mentions:

Video Marketing:

2010 Video Marketing & SEO Predictions

11 Predictions for the Online Video Industry in 2010

Link Building:

How To Take Control Of Your Link Building In 2010

Link Building Trends For 2010

Email Marketing:

5 Top Email Marketing Tactics for 2010

Whether or not all these predictions come true, one thing is for certain - “2010 will bring about a monumental change in the search marketing Industry.”

Don't get baffled though. A fresh start comes with endless possibilities and we are here to help you cash in on every opportunity that will come along :)