What new opportunities with 2008 hold for Internet marketers? My predictions are as follows:

1. Web 2.0 users will push back as advertisers try to turn their personal and social commentary into bait to lure online buyers. If your organization is keen on making the most of social networking and community you MUST obey the rules or risk getting called out and vilified online.

2. Subscriptions will replace display advertising in some sites… Subscriptions could take the place of advertising where users are charged a periodic -- daily, monthly or annual -- fee to subscribe to a service. Sites might combine free content with "premium" (i.e., subscriber- or member-only) content. Content is still king.

3. Collaboration is cutting edge… Companies are developing online products “on the fly”. Dell’s Brainstorm http://www.ideastorm.com/  is a very creative way to let consumers develop your next product line for you. Way to go, Michael. Imagine how cool it would be to have consumers help you brainstorm about new ideas for a great winter festival in your destination, or a great new reason to visit!

4. Life Imitates Art… www.secondlife.com, www.vmtv.com and more… if you think this is not a place to explore branding, just talk to some of the highly educated professionals that hang out in these sites. Besides the virtual worlds for entertainment there are other companies developing 3D meeting rooms where avatars take the place of the humans to interact in business or training.

5. Finally Internet TV… way back in the day (1990s) when I consulted with some of the largest Telecoms in the country we all talked about the “set top box”… the way that Internet and TV would finally become one. Back then it was a dream of convergence but in 2008 I predict it will finally be a reality. We all used to say that someday people won’t even have to know how to use a computer to get online : )

I would love to hear your comments …

See ya next time…

Leah

lwoolford@usdm.net

www.usdm.net