Forecast: VoIP penetration to reach 79%

"VoIP adopters have a good understanding of the cost savings associated with VoIP, and have oriented their limited budgets to optimizing efficiency and savings by replacing legacy TDM voice solutions," said David Lemelin, In-Stat analyst. "With businesses opening up fewer new locations than we have seen in recent years, much of this current investment is occurring at headquarters locations where efficiencies and savings can be maximized."

The changeover to VoIP is another indicator that not only businesses but consumers as well are looking for ways to pinch pennies and keep costs down. This, in turn, should tell brands that this is the time to build up a loyalty program offering special deals to return customers.

Loyalty marketing, especially, should be a hot commodity in 2010 as marketers look for ways to engage consumers at a deeper level. Rather than conversion-conscious goals Mark Johnson, CEO of Loyalty 360 suggests that 2010 will be the year that loyalty marketing will become engagement focused.

One other trend that could help is the coupon trend. Creating coupon campaigns is a growing trend with not only retail brands but also in the financial, travel and even banking arenas as brands of all sorts look for ways to engage and re-engage consumers.

Tags: consumer habits, economics, loyalty marketing, loyalty programs, VoIP