In looking back over the history of online marketing you can see that what it was is no longer what it is. Online marketing has taken on a whole new dynamic. It’s alive. It’s full of life. It’s exciting!

No matter what you’re into; affiliate marketing, network marketing, service provider, information seller, wholesaler, or some other internet marketing profit producing project, the rules have changed.

The scenery of online marketing use to look like a one-way street. The people who had something to sell were in dictation mode. They told us what we wanted to hear. Now, the online marketing world is much more multi-dimensional and interactive.

Online Marketing Two-Way Communication

Now, with the social marketing revolution firmly underway the sellers no longer have much of a platform from which to dictate. Instead of dictating they are communicating. There is a world of difference between the two. The marketing world is now an open form of communication. Maybe not so much offline, but the online marketing world is alive with two-way communication brought on by social networking.

That is AMAZING stuff!

No longer are you tethered to a chain where you can only go so far before your head is snapped back and you’re brought back into your little area of operations. Now, the playing field is wide open and you have opportunities from every direction! Communication ALWAYS opens up opportunities!

Open the lines of communication and interact!

Marketing is actually a lot easier now. It’s not about coming up with the best sales pitch any longer, but doing what comes naturally… be yourself.

I believe that the future is all about conversations, communications, and capitalizing on relationships. Not just to be dictating anymore, but to be listening to, thinking with, and collaborating with the very people you are selling to or recruiting.

In this coming year you are going to see a major shift towards interacting with potential clients and customers is very innovative ways utilizing social networking and even old school marketing methods. (I say old school, but mean anything not social networking.)

Where are you going to be? Are you going to embrace the change and adapt your marketing or are you going to stand adamantly against the rising tide?

What do you think?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about marketing and online advertising. More specifically I’ve been thinking about, and trying to see ahead, the direction that advertising will take in the coming new year.

I do this throughout the year on a regular basis. I take some time each year to evaluate my own plans for my websites (which I never get to because I’m too busy helping other succeed in their online advertising) and those of my current clients. I don’t just do this near the end of the year, but on a roughly bi-monthly basis.

However, this isn’t about my marketing plans for the coming year so much as what I see will happen in online marketing in 2009 and beyond.

You have probably started to notice that the world of online advertising isn’t something that stands still but rather is always changing. New techniques, strategies, and marketing venues are popping up all the time and, yeah the old school stuff is still great, but the new stuff is always bright and shiny.

Online marketing is going to get a little scary.

Online advertising is going to really start stretching people in the coming new year. People are going to have to start learning some of the new technological and social advances that have come along in the previous year, or year and a half. Things like social media, video production, mobile optimization, search engine changes, and other things are going to get a lot more advanced and specialized. It’s going to get scary.

Online video will be the benchmark for success.

It started a little bit in ‘07 and started to rapidly climb in use in ‘08. I only see the use of video becoming more important in 2009.

Video is a way for people to put an image to a brand. It’s more than just a logo. It’s real, personal, moving, and can create buzz incredibly fast.

And there isn’t any excuse not to get started with video anymore. Developers have made it very easy to create, edit, and upload videos. And you can do it without spending a whole lot of money. The biggest, and really only, expense would be the video camera. But, chances are you already own one. If not, you can pick up the ultra hip flip camera for $150. After that you can use software that comes with it, or windows movie maker (or whatever mac users have), and upload the thing to YouTube.

Video can be used for anything from landing pages, blog posts, special exclusive content, or even pre-prepared series. It’s a great medium which I still see as greatly underused.

I’ve made my own pledge to myself that I will begin using video for marketing and building buzz virally.

Social Media will be the main marketing emphasis.

This past year, social networking websites have taken online marketing to a whole new level. You can expect a lot more of it in the coming new year.

The last couple of months, I have been telling all my clients, before they do any kind of other marketing, to get socially connected. Start accounts on the main networks first then, once comfortable, branch out from there.

Uniqueness and creativity will rise to the top.

The last thing I see is the developing trend towards people being themselves and showing their uniqueness instead of their mindless automation. That probably has a lot to do with social media marketing and the necessity to be real in that setting. People like people who are unique and allow their own creativity to be shown instead of that of someone else.

For example, I deal with a lot of people involved with network marketing opportunities. In doing so, one of the things I am always telling them is to be themselves; set up their own website or blog, create their own marketing materials, videos, and autoresponder series and build their brand. The response is much better and they are building a stronger web presence for themselves instead of the company they are affiliated with.

Marketing in 2009… pull your seatbelts tight and hang on!

I’m excited about the possibilities for the coming year. I am working on some amazing advertising campaigns (if I do say so myself) that is going to rely heavily on these factors as well as some of the things we are already familiar with.

Are you ready for the new year? Are you ready for some of the changes that are going to take place? Are you now getting yourself familiar with videos, social networking, and your own creativity?

What do you think is going to take place next year? What are you learning or advising others to do? Let us know in the comments section.