Are IMers about to cash in bigtime??

[AndrewHansen]

There's a few things happening lately in our little world as online marketers that are, in my mind, exciting signals of what's to come for us...

It's been interesting to watch what now seems to be a slow movement of IM into mainstream life...

It's gathering steam as the worlds of IM and personal development meet:

First Tony Robbins is talking to John and Frank...

Today I get an email that Mike F. and Anik are promoting for Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen...

Then I happened to catch this post on SEOmoz about references they keep seeing to things like SEO in hollywood films...

SEOmoz | Internet Marketing in the Movies: Are People Starting to "Get" It?

Does anyone else get the feeling that sooner or later... in the not too distant future... people with the skills that we have, that we take for granted are going to be so highly valuable that people like us, that have taken the time to establish these skills and gain experience NOW are going to have money thrown at us from all directions at the hands of other businesses, JV partners, marketing firms, and more?

Does anyone else get the feeling that the people who can weather the storms, stick at it, and still be seen as experts at online marketing in 5 years time just might be glad they became a part of this burgeoning industry at such an early stage?

Interesting isn't it?

Just something I thought I'd share for anyone thinking of "quitting" IM now.

Thoughts?

Andrew

[Kezz]

I really think so too. I mentioned the other day that I think the economic shake up has really given people motivation to change the way they do business, and getting online more is a big part of those changes.

Before the dot com crash, everybody saw the potential of the internet, but the technology, infrastructure and understanding wasn't there to keep pace with the potential. When that became abundantly apparent, we had the dot com crash.

The thing is though, people were never wrong about that potential. A lot of people got burned in the crash, and that original halo around online business was tarnished. Many people got the idea that the internet as an entity was not what it was cracked up to be. The truth was, it was everything it was cracked up to be, but just a little ahead of itself.

Now, with the huge uptake of broadband globally, the proliferation of technology, and the wide sharing of information, we're finally seeing that potential come back around again. The internet is now starting to live up to what everyone expected of it when we were all limping along on dial up.

The thing is, the internet is really the people net. It is the most profoundly effective method of world wide communication in recorded history. We're finally starting to see that have the impact that it should have.

[Intrepreneur]

People are starting to get it and there are many business models. I've noticed that there is only one I'm good at, and that is search engine marketing.

Although this is where I see ordinary people raking it in, and that is with blogs that are in niches most of us couldn't even dive into.

It seems that ones life can be of enough interest these days, or anything with a bit of charachter. I would love to have a more open business model where I actually was working with more people and more people knew who I am but for now I guess it's work hard at what I do best.

A perfect example of what I'm thinking about is things like.

smpfilms on youtube and that annoying little Fred dude.

This is where I notice more ordinary people (not thinking about the two letters IM) are starting to get it.

[Andy1750]

I think the exact opposite. The more people there are competing in the industry the smaller the slices of pie become. If it becomes a mass craze then all but the very best are in big trouble. Look at ebay - so many people willing to do it as a hobby for a few cents at a time it's very difficult to make a reasonable return for those that do it for a living.

Andy

[Kezz]

But the whole pie is going to getter bigger though I think, so there's going to be more slices to go around. The thing that makes the difference I think, is that it's not just what we think of as "Internet Marketing" that will expand. It's that industry and business as a whole is going to transfer more of itself online.

More physical products being sold online to supplement bricks and mortar business, more people marketing their offline business online = more niches, subniches and affiliate programs, and more opportunity for marketing consultants.

Those people who are doing offline consulting are in a stellar position right now I think. Sitting right on top of the rocket at count down time!

[Tsnyder]

I don't think it matters. You will either cash in big
or you won't. It's an individual thing. Some have the
desire, skill and drive... some don't.

The fact that Robbins or anyone else jumps in won't change that.

Tsnyder

[George Wright]

Some one posted a a link to a university certificate program here a month or so ago.

Just out of curiosity I called them and asked for Information. They still call me trying to get me to sign up to a $6k cert. program.

I agree with the OP RE: Opportunity. However I wonder if in the future the Corporations are going to want to see that "paper" before they will do business with the lil guy.

There are real estate salesmen then there are "Realtors," there are carpet cleaners then there are are iicrc Certified Carpet Cleaners.

Just thinking,

George Wright

[Marian Berghes]

I for one, I am never gonna go do studies to get a certificate in IM..enough with the school lol

And 2nd, I never really want to work with corporations...too much legal hassle, ive seen some guys that work with them...gotta bring your own lawyer, they bring their own lawyers and every "word you say can and will be used against you" kinda deal.

I DO want to work with other companies, but I want to work with the "leader" not the "board" if you know what I mean.

But thats just me, I just don't like the whole board meeting sht...I wanna tell 1 guy "do this and this and you will make more money/get more customers" etc..

[Wintermute]

I think things like smart phones with internet in just about evertyones pocket, laptop and notebook computers with wi-fi, flu epidemics making people avoid crowds at the stores, etc, will and is leading towards online shopping and online social interaction skyrocketing and becoming mainstream which IMHO = LEGITIMATE IMing growing as an industry and desired skillset.

[AndrewHansen]

Oh, I agree completely Tsnyder,

It's not like soon we're all going to be able to make a killing with our skills because IM is more mainstream.

My point was that for the committed among us, the ones doing the right things and making it happen anyway, the popularity of IM will create an increase in the number of opportunities to be captured.

It's exciting times

Andrew

[Zeus66]

I think a lot depends on your niche. IM'ers selling to other IM'ers may feel a pinch if a lot of big players start moving in. This is still very "wild west." If serious money moves in to play, tighten your belts and get serious. Or perish.

But if you've carved out a non-IM niche or two, I don't see much impact.

It's interesting. Good thread to start, I think. The only constant is change. No truer words have ever been uttered.

John