For me, when making money online, I usually go where the winds blow
Or literally it means, I go where the opportunity arises that is

But you can’t really forecast or predict the Internet phenomenon
Like something so trivial might get viral for god know why
or who would have thought the Internet bubble would burst back then

Analyst have always tried to predict such online growth and demands
We all can only adapt and make do to any changes

But it’s good to be prepared to say the least right
Here below is no less is a prediction by eMarketer

Online ads remain resilient

Overall US online ad spending will be surprisingly resilient, even if the economy slides into a recession. With money tight, marketing executives will continue to gravitate toward the internet, looking for more measurable ad formats to buttress their positions.

Me: This bodes well for all bloggers out there who monetize their blogs. My advice, if you’re clever you would go down the path of direct advertising, rather than share part of the pie with Google or any other advertising programs

Video surge slows

The surge in online video growth is expected to slow in 2008 with a 74% growth (down from 89% in 2007) and a spending increase of $1.35 billion. In 2008, the array of video available online will jump dramatically, both from professional content producers - such as TV networks - and from of amateurs churning out user-generated content.

Me: Despite the surge slows, that is still a big chunk of profit to be made out there. I’ve not ventured into this niche. Most of the publisher program out there don’t offer that extensive revenue options for videos as of yet anyway. I do hope to get onboard by at least by the end of the year on this

Social-network advertising hits $1.6 billion

US ad spending on social networks will climb to $1.6 billion in 2008, from $920 million in 2007 - a 70% growth rate.

Although targeted advertising is getting the lion’s share of attention and will continue to be hot in 2008, other forms of social-network marketing, such as search advertising, widgets and e-commerce, will draw marketer interest.

In addition, self-serve advertising systems will create a new market for local and small businesses to promote themselves via social networks.

Social Network Usage

Social networking will remain a key online activity, with 44% of US consumers using social networking at least once a month in 2008. While MySpace and Facebook will continue to dominate the market, changes are taking place that will extend social networking activities beyond a single destination site.

Profiles will eventually become portable, meaning consumers need only create one and be able to use it in many places on the web. Widgets that today work with only one social-network site will be designed on an open platform, extending their reach.

Activities such as online shopping, searching and even sending email will be enhanced with social-networking features.
Networking goes beyond MySpace and Facebook.

Me: The only other time I uses Social Networking, it is to promote all my blogs. I’ve yet to find the right means to actually monetize and profit from it. Of course there are people capitalising from social networking

Beijing Olympics pumps up ad spending

Events of 2008 - the Beijing Olympics, along with the US election - will spike advertising spending in all channels but will give a particular boost to the online sector.

As the internet market matures, the growth rate of online ad spending will taper off, dipping to under 30% in 2007 for the first time since 2004. But in 2008, growth will surge upwards to 29%, before declining to 18% the next year.

The Olympics will also mark the “coming out” party for China and become an important milestone for the country’s economic and political development.

The competition will be fierce on and off the sporting field as multinational organizations try to tap into China’s growing middle class.

Me: I always look forward to such events as I’ll always setup a blog dedicated to it and I’ll try to squeeze every profit I can for the duration of the event. The last blog I did was an event for a major regional games, my profit jumped 40% for that period. The tip, start early creating the blog as traffic building and building authority on a niche takes months

Buy online, pick up in-store becomes expected feature

Multichannel retailers will begin rolling out more “buy online, pick up in-store” services, joining big-name retailers such as Circuit City, JC Penney and Sears. Consumers like the service because it allows them to avoid shipping fees.

A Forrester Research survey found that 79% of multichannel retailers ensure consistent pricing across their channels.

An Internet Retailer study found that three-quarters of retailers link their e-commerce systems to their fulfillment and order management system.

Me: I’m already extensively part of most publisher affiliate programs out there and take every opportunity to market my products online. This is where the big money is, affiliate sales

Movie downloading hits the mainstream

The result is that digital services, such as iTunes, Netflix, Amazon Unbox, Movielink/Blockbuster, Vongo and others will become more popular with the mainstream

Me: Another area I’ll look into. I’ve yet to do my homework I don’t have the resources of such startups, but surely there’s some means to monetize from this

Music marketers roll out new business models

Expect to see more ad-supported sites, monthly subscription services, full-track mobile download offerings and use of social networks as music discovery and sales tools.

Me: Again the same at the above, do you have any ideas to monetize from this?

Dynamic ads heighten gaming revenue potential

Old videogames will have new life breathed into them by companies such as Double Fusion, which serves ads in real time.

Advertisers will purchase advertising that is served on free casual games that consumers download.

The same concept will apply to console games distributed online for Xbox and Wii, with firms such as Microsoft’s Massive providing the technology.

Me: I believe such new Dynamic ads need the help of publishers like me from advertising network. Such business model will appear soon enough in the future