Global integrated PR and communications agency Hotwire has announced the launch of the third edition of its annual ‘Ten driving forces in digital marketing’ report for 2012.

The report highlights the emerging trends impacting brands and their PR and communications teams, including breakthroughs in location-based services to the impact of tablets in the workplace and gamification.

The full list of ten digital trends identified in the report for 2012 are:

1. Interest Graph
2. Putting your business on the map
3. How tablets are changing communication
4. Who are the new social media celebrities
5. The socialising of TV and music
6. Social media and internal communications
7. How cashless payments could unlock a wave of innovation
8. Gamification
9. Forums
10. Automotive app stores

Co-author Drew Benvie, Hotwire’s group managing director, UK, said: “For the third year we have pulled together our experts to narrow down the most influential driving forces for the year ahead. The reality is that while some of these trends are now considered mainstream, others are still new to many individuals and businesses. Only by embracing the fact that social media for customer service, brand insights, community management and crisis comms are all here to stay brands will achieve a real competitive edge.”