2012 will witness radical shifts in marketing strategies employed by marketers. A new battle will be waged this year to conquer the virtual world. This new mode of warfare will require different tools that a marketer must have in his or her arsenal. They are: Android The Linux based operating system that has taken the communication industry by storm and has given Apple a run for its money. Its features and seamless user interface have made it an indispensable gateway for everything related mobile marketing. As we move into 2012, convergence of all traditional media, be it print or television, is considered the next big thing. The erstwhile habits of people spending hours in front of the idiot box or perusing newspapers are increasingly becoming passé. Instead, people are carrying their entertainment in their mobile devices, which represent a massive untapped market for marketers. To induce people to buy your product, you have to promote via a medium to which your target group is most exposed. With a mind blowing 700,000 android devices being activated every day as of December 2011, every marketer worth his salt would leave no stone unturned in leveraging this medium to his advantage. Augmented Reality (AU) – The way you define Augmented reality is inconsequential, but how you utilize it is. Honestly speaking if one goes by the textbook definition of augmented reality, one should think that it cannot act as a marketing tool. To simplify matters let’s consider this technology as a conduit between real and virtual world. AU as a part of marketing gimmick, for the very first time was used in India in the Auto Expo by renowned automobile makers Mahindra & Mahindra. Above the SUV on show, a screen bearing an image of a cheetah was created. The striking part was the cheetah’s life like demeanor and the fact that people could actually pat it. Though this had nothing to do with the actual brand whatsoever, such novel engagements would definitely lead to brand recall. The technology is still in its embryonic phase in the advertising field, but in 2012 we may very well see Augmented Reality becoming an integral part of the advertising mix. Facebook With a global cult following and a 500 million active user base, Facebook represent a virtual treasure trove for any marketer. Such is the power of Facebook that companies are ignoring traditional media and using this social networking platform to launch their new products. When one considers the fact that more than 50% active users log every day and spend on an average two to three hours, such radical marketing tactics are increasingly becoming salient in today’s context. Not only does this medium enable your brand to reach a wider group of people, it also helps in forging strong associations between your brands and your target group. So beware marketers, ignore Facebook at your peril. Data Mining A marketing tool which may appear stale and boring, but its growing importance in today’s world can longer be ignored. As per a latest study, the amount of digital information created in 2012 could equal a full episode of FOX TV’s “24” running for 125 million years. The marketers have to decide whether they possess the necessary tools and competencies to glean insightful customer centric information from the pile of data. Ignore this and face the prospect of being a laggard in your industry where others have stolen a march on you.