A BOMB Just Dropped On All IM'ers [What IF]

72 replies
I was just thinking about how lucky we are right now
to be able to start, run, and profit from the Internet
for free.

But...

What happens one day when that changes?

Will it change?

What happens when all of a sudden you need a license or
you have to pay thousands for a permit to sell online?


Think about it...

There is no other medium on earth except for maybe going
door-to-door and talking to people face to face that you
can start selling what you have for free.

Do you think there will ever come a day when we're not
this lucky? Other countries have restrictions...

Right now we have an amazing opportunity in front of us
and some people are taking it for granted. I don't believe
it will be like this forever.

One day a giant bomb is going to be dropped on our world
and everything will change. I don't know about you but this
is a thought that keeps me VERY motivated to be moving
forward everyday.

I want to make sure that bomb don't affect me...

What do you think?

Do we have nothing to worry about?

Can we all just take our time?

Is there no rush?

Personally, I don't think tomorrow is guaranteed so hustle up!
#bomb #dropped #imers
  • Profile picture of the author petelta
    This new 1099 crap is the start of that lol.

    Travis
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  • Profile picture of the author cassidywilliams
    Internet is not only the US. If one country starts to charge high fees, you can set up a business in any country. Any problem creates business opportunities and I'm sure there will be plenty of companies offering to do business via some other country's internet space.

    Internet is global and borderless.
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  • Profile picture of the author Firstrate
    Some thought-provoking suggestions but I'm pretty sure it'll never to that - unless the US suddenly decides they want to restrict the Internet in an almost China/North Korea-like way.
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    • Profile picture of the author abdulquddus
      Internet products rates are getting cheaper and free day by day. So I am least bothered
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  • Profile picture of the author joelraitt
    Agree in some ways. If you think about people who started marketing online when the internet first became huge...they made a killing!

    In 10 years people coming into the space (whatever it may be) will be like " oh man, if only i was old enough to capitalize on the golden years of 2010!"

    haha but w/e, opportunities will never ever go away. they can't.
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    • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
      Originally Posted by joelraitt View Post

      Agree in some ways. If you think about people who started marketing online when the internet first became huge...they made a killing!

      In 10 years people coming into the space (whatever it may be) will be like " oh man, if only i was old enough to capitalize on the golden years of 2010!"

      haha but w/e, opportunities will never ever go away. they can't.
      Yeah, but the reason people were able to make an easier killing online years ago, versus today, has less to do, on the whole (I think), with slacker regulation / more lax legal enforcement or what not than it has to do with:

      1) Less competition back then, than we have now.

      2) Less advanced / more primitive systems (thus easier to leverage/manipulate) than what exist today. For example, search engine algorithms were less advanced, making ranking and traffic-generation much easier. Article directories were less crowded with crappy "backlinks-only" articles, overshadowing the good stuff that web publishers actually want to put on their sites (arguably making syndication easier).

      3) Less misinformation / bullcrap (or "urban myths of internet marketing", as I think Alexa Smith likes to call it) doing the rounds, making it less likely that newbies would be driven to failure. I suspect that the success-rate of those who manage to make a full-time income online has dropped over the years for this reason alone, in proportion to the amount of crap that gets spun by the innocently ill-informed (or, in some cases, by crafty, shady characters who stand to gain financially by confusing people).

      In many ways, whilst certain aspects of making money online have gotten more difficult and complex (traffic generation, for one, I think), other aspects have gotten easier (the internet is a more widely-used and trusted shopping medium; potential customers are quicker-on-the-draw, as far as their readiness to part with their credit card details).

      Of course, when you're talking about licences and potential future regulation, you're talking about a different thing altogether ... and who knows what will happen and what restrictions or hurdles may be introduced in the future.

      I shudder to think, actually

      Anarchists, unite!
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Holmes
    I know online revenue via the internet accounts to like 8% of UK's GDP.

    Unless every country did what you suggest "could" happen then people might just leave that country. That means they stop paying tax there, stop adding to that country's GDP and simply uprooting.

    Can't see it happening to be honest as a country needs to stay competitive economically, just as a business does.
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    • Profile picture of the author Black Hat Cat
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Steve Holmes View Post

      I know online revenue via the internet accounts to like 8% of UK's GDP.

      Unless every country did what you suggest "could" happen then people might just leave that country. That means they stop paying tax there, stop adding to that country's GDP and simply uprooting.

      Can't see it happening to be honest as a country needs to stay competitive economically, just as a business does.
      Governments do things that make themselves less competitive all the time, unfortunately.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Munch
      Originally Posted by Steve Holmes View Post

      Unless every country did what you suggest "could" happen then people might just leave that country. That means they stop paying tax there, stop adding to that country's GDP and simply uprooting.
      In theory but people won't just uproot and live in another country, nor can they just recreate their domestic business in a foreign country. Maybe some will do that, but the majority won't.

      The law, if created, would obviously stop people doing that, so that if you leave your home country and still derive income from your home country you'd still have to abide by the rules. The law may even require that even foreign companies trading in the country would need to buy a license.

      Its the same for tax purposes if you leave the UK or U.S to live somewhere else. If you still earn money from your home country you still have to pay tax on that income regardless of where you live in the world.
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  • Profile picture of the author VicOnline
    If this ever happens, you'll just have to do like all other bricks & mortar businesses do & pass the extra cost onto the customer. If something like this were to happen, chances are, other opportunities would open up. In fact, something like this could be a good thing, cuz it might decrease the competition some. It will be your job to find your way around the obstacle.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vandalizm
    This thread is along the same lines to what I was thinking about that with that whole Google/Verizon net neutrality deal... there is nowhere other than the internet that you could set up, pump, traffic, get $$, basically run a business, without getting the necesary papers, etc..

    if that passed/passes, it would change everything as we know it.

    There is a regulatory agency for eeeeeeeeeeeverything, except the internet - for the most part. If some **** like that^^ goes down, or what the original poster said.. big bucks in losses for us.

    Imagine if we got charged for using the internet for business based on the amount of traffic/income we get (to a point that happens with hosting plans, etc) but im talking about a direct agency intervening and charging at the gates of the internet... making sure we pay our dues, controlling/and directing traffic, etc

    that would be horrible. free internet forever.
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    • Profile picture of the author theimdude
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  • Profile picture of the author Vital Video
    The natrural flow of free humans seems to always be to give up that freedom for some sort of precieved "security". Beware of any government agent promising us better internet security.
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    • Profile picture of the author VanessaB
      Originally Posted by Vital Video View Post

      The natrural flow of free humans seems to always be to give up that freedom for some sort of precieved "security". Beware of any government agent promising us better internet security.
      He who would sacrifice freedom for security, deserves neither.

      -Dani
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  • Profile picture of the author seobro
    It is hard work creating a product and selling it online, but well worth the effort says me. Most people, like all they have is adsense and a few pages. They make very little green.

    To create for example a new sun tan lotion can cost $50,000 zap and then you spend millions to market the product so I do not think it is very easy. Google Adwords lets small biz advertise with out all the fuss, but then again. Its price per keyword keeps going up.

    Probably one of the easiest products to sell online is like an ebook, but ebay crushed that one and made life difficult for us. Arts and crafts bring in very little money. What I have seen is an explosion in services. Take a look at FIVER which is now a success.
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  • Profile picture of the author VeronicaD
    Bloggers in Philly have to be licensed now if they have ad space on their blogs...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Licenses for online businesses are already required. Not sure where the OP lives that they aren't required. My local licensing jurisdiction doesn't make a distinction between online/offline businesses. A business is a business, so if a business license is required for a business, it is required for a business whether that business is online or offline.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Wilson
    What will happen?

    Many will moan and groan, say it's unfair, get angry, talk about how Google and the government have made a terrible mistake - blame them, talk about it for years to come, remember it as the good old days when things were fair and easy and how nothing is a free market anymore.

    Some will just drop out because they feel getting a job is less effort. (nothing wrong with that)

    The remaining few will get a bit irritated, shrug their shoulders, realise that nothing has really changed, learn from their mistakes and then go about doing what business have had to do to stay in business ever since capitalism was invented ... adapt and carry on.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Let's not be paranoid. Unless you have a big reason to believe a big bomb is going to be dropped, just worry about it when and if that day comes.

    Hypotheticals are useless to worry about unless it can be based on actual facts and evidence.
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  • Profile picture of the author jointaldc
    I used to think that ALLLL the time when I was starting... I kept thinking the goverment was going to chase me down and make me get a license. It is good right now, especially for those who started a while ago.

    And if they do come out with a law, I think all previous imer's to the law, will be grandfathered in
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    • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
      Do you think that if every member of the Warriorforum consolidated their businesses under some sort of giant, all-encompassing "umbrella corporation", we'd have enough combined financial leverage to lobby the government into forging laws in our favour for a change?

      A thought so crazy that contemplation of such is about as much use as trying to take preventative measures in response to the scenario proposed by the OP, I think.

      Fun and games aside, I do think with the way things are going, the internet remains a little too free and unregulated a business medium for our governments not to be contemplating putting a damper (or at least a few extra hurdles) on our "gold rush".

      Buuuuut, until I'm a millionaire, I don't have enough dough in my pockets to feasibly shield myself and protect my lifestyle from any such potentially paralyzing changes to our laws ... so for now I will plod on regardless, in sheer delightful ignorance to the apocalyptic, barren 'net-landscape that awaits.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hesaidblissfully
    If those things were to happen, then presumably they wouldn't be any more strict than what's required for an offline business. If anything it would just raise the barrier to entry, reduce competition and force people to take their online businesses more seriously.
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    • Profile picture of the author WeatherEmperor
      Well in some ways, a bomb of sorts has already dropped on affilate marketers. Remember that over a year ago the FTC enforced new regulations for internet marketing? I remember reading soooo many articles by veteran affiliate marketers how this "kill" or seriously hurt the affiliate marketing business model. So the fact that the FTC was able to enforce that regulation is proof that ANY regulation can come at any time. The only things you can do is either adapt and continue or quit and move on.
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  • Profile picture of the author Can Tonic
    Quite funny... I thought about that some days ago. I think the "golden times" will not be over, but the work processes and business models will change. But I think there are fundamental channels like newsletters which will work for a long time. It comes always to the same: build a good mailing list
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  • Profile picture of the author colmodwyer
    Timely thread...

    YouTube sermon ban called as Roshonara Choudhry jailed for Stephen Timms stabbing | Mail Online

    Baroness Neville-Jones said websites which try to radicalise members of the public would 'categorically not be allowed in the UK' and would be torn down.
    A step in the wrong direction, I think.

    Colm
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  • Profile picture of the author Lee Wilson
    Originally Posted by redicelander View Post

    Let's not be paranoid. Unless you have a big reason to believe a big bomb is going to be dropped, just worry about it when and if that day comes.

    Hypotheticals are useless to worry about unless it can be based on actual facts and evidence.
    Hypotheticals aren't useless at all if you can base them on probability, they can keep you one step ahead. No-one can predict the future with any guarantee but some things follow patterns that are not likely to change direction all of a sudden. the Internet is still very much in it's infancy, it's not even close to settling just yet.

    One thing is almost certain to remain consistent... it will get harder, there will be more forms to fill in, it will get more expensive and any big business or governing body that can take a slice of the pie, will do so. The only reason it wont happen overnight is because it will knock their credibility too quickly.

    When governments can tax it to the hilt without causing riots, they will.
    When companies like Google can charge money for everything on the whole of the front page, without loosing popularity, they will. Free search is worth billions. It won't stay that way forever, they just aren't ready to impliment it yet, although you can see it moving that way slowly. Free search isn't an altruistic move, it's a business move.

    Everything WILL change drastically sooner or later, you have to adapt and hypotheticals can help you adapt more smoothly. Despite everything getting harder, governments and large companies still need businesses to stay in business. People will still be able to get rich, it just wont be the ones that think nothing is going to change.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sardent
      Originally Posted by L Wilson View Post

      Hypotheticals aren't useless at all if you can base them on probability, they can keep you one step ahead. No-one can predict the future with any guarantee but some things follow patterns that are not likely to change direction all of a sudden. the Internet is still very much in it's infancy, it's not even close to settling just yet.

      One thing is almost certain to remain consistent... it will get harder, there will be more forms to fill in, it will get more expensive and any big business or governing body that can take a slice of the pie, will do so. The only reason it wont happen overnight is because it will knock their credibility too quickly.

      When governments can tax it to the hilt without causing riots, they will.
      When companies like Google can charge money for everything on the whole of the front page, without loosing popularity, they will. Free search is worth billions. It won't stay that way forever, they just aren't ready to impliment it yet, although you can see it moving that way slowly. Free search isn't an altruistic move, it's a business move.

      Everything WILL change drastically sooner or later, you have to adapt and hypotheticals can help you adapt more smoothly. Despite everything getting harder, governments and large companies still need businesses to stay in business. People will still be able to get rich, it just wont be the ones that think nothing is going to change.
      Free search is a drug.

      Drugs are always free until you're hooked.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    I think the scenario is a little far-fetched, but what could (and is already happening) is regulatory changes that impose penalties and/or taxes on certain types of online transactions. One only needs to look at what happened with the online gambling industry in the US to see the kind of power legislation can have to curb a certain online market segment/industry considerably.
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    • Profile picture of the author TXDoctor
      Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

      I think the scenario is a little far-fetched, but what could (and is already happening) is regulatory changes that impose penalties and/or taxes on certain types of online transactions. One only needs to look at what happened with the online gambling industry in the US to see the kind of power legislation can have to curb a certain online market segment/industry considerably.
      NOPE! Not far-fetched at all!

      If you use PayPal here's the latest shocker... posted right on PayPal's website is the new notice to all PayPal Merchants that effective January 1, 2011 PayPal will be issuing you an IRS Form 1099 (statement of income) if you receive over $20,000 in payments to you (transactions processed) annual gross sales volume or 200 transactions or more. Either of these scenarios will trigger a 1099.

      Guess what that means for the Mom & Pop sellers out there that are low volume sellers on eBay or are just selling their personal junk, junk for which they've ALREADY paid taxes on because they bought it at retail with their ALREADY taxed taxable income.

      This is outrageous and should send a chilling feeling down everyone's spine. Our government here in the US is killing US!

      Well, that leaves me with only one viable choice... find an offshore Credit Card processor.

      Any suggestions? Surely someone here has more wisdom than I when it comes to taxation issues. Now before anyone jumps me as a tax evader, please DON'T, I pay my share and then some more. What I sell is already taxed and paid for and all my profits are already well declared in my annual filings. The kicker here is that I now have to make sure that I reconcile the 1099 correctly and take extra steps to prove that those 1099's are NOT pure profit and that a portion of it is shipping fees. PayPal does not take into account that although they process "X" amount, some of it is for shipping. Now this creates yet another layer of accounting and paperwork.
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  • Profile picture of the author BryanC
    Plans to escape the 9-5 cube:

    Plan A) Internet Marketing
    Plan B) Pull a Chris McCandless

    There will always be Plan B.
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  • Profile picture of the author Deepak Media
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  • Profile picture of the author COBSolutions
    That is a long shot thought.
    First of all, there needs to be a coordinated effort from all the countries to make some restrictions like that.
    Anyways countries with a democratic set up wont get into these kind of time wasters.
    Yes, if we guys dont pay our tax on time then may be......
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  • Profile picture of the author jewin
    There are many bombs, all over the place, Justin. When I started in IM back in 98', things were great for a few years, and then membership retention took a nose dive. What was $15k in recurring monthly income went to $3k within 24 months. I switched gears and things went great, until Visa started to crack down on chargebacks... So I changed focus again and the economy went south.

    The point is, there is always something out there that will challenge you to keep evolving. Just keep up with the changes, be persistent in your approach and keep making money
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by JustinBrooke View Post

    What happens when all of a sudden you need a license or you have to pay thousands for a permit to sell online?
    The reality is, for most of us, we do need a licence.

    Yes, my business is on the internet. But I still need to pay state, county, and local licensing every single year - whether I make any money or not. Similarly, all the money that comes in from my online activities has to be reported as income on my Federal tax return.

    There are a lot of people out there who either don't know or don't care if they need to do these things, and those people are the ones who will notice when when something happens. What is going to happen isn't that suddenly you will need these things - it's that suddenly you will not be able to get away WITHOUT having them.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author windowblinds
    It will not be chargeable in the near future, some part of it will always be free, but how do you tell that you can sell stuffs for free, don't you need trade license in your country?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenster
    The day will come. Remember, the internet is still in its infancy but over time things will get more organized and centralized than they are. Even the trend over the last 10 years shows there is less of a wild west internet.

    Thats why I (and everybody) should diversify diversify diversify. You never know whats going to happen in the dynamic world of the internet
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Kenster View Post

      The day will come. Remember, the internet is still in its infancy but over time things will get more organized and centralized than they are. Even the trend over the last 10 years shows there is less of a wild west internet.

      Thats why I (and everybody) should diversify diversify diversify. You never know whats going to happen in the dynamic world of the internet
      I couldn't agree more about diversification. Especially on the internet, it's extremely risky to put all your eggs in one basket, no matter how secure and safe that basket feels.

      I know it may seem counterintuitive to many who have had it drilled into them that they really need to focus on one thing at a time, but the truth of the matter is that once you've focused exclusively on one area and gotten good at it, you should ramp it up and then ideally move on to other areas in IM for diversification.

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author Clyde
    Set your business up outside of the US.

    You'll be fine.

    Nobody owns the internet, it's just one computer connected to another one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Cash37
    I really wish people would get out of here with gloom and doom posts.

    If something happens, you adjust and deal with it.

    It is not going to be the end of the world.

    /End Thread
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  • Profile picture of the author Daryl Lim
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin AKA Hubcap
      I don't see it happening but could it happen..sure. When governments need funds they'll do what they deem necessary to get them.

      The U.S. used to have a vibrant and competitive yacht building industry before the government decided people buying a multi-million dollar yacht can certainly pay more in taxes.

      Taxes were levied and raised on the yachts which eventually made the companies uncompetitive with their international competition.

      Today, the U.S. yacht building industry is a shadow of its former self and the (as well as the tax revenue it bought in).

      I know a business based primarily on the web is different so its not an apples to apples comparison but if a government is desperate enough it will make decisions based primarily on short term gain at the consequence of long term viability.
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  • Profile picture of the author colmodwyer
    Plan B) Pull a Chris McCandless
    Wait, why would Plan B be die? Now if you were to pull a Bear Grylls (and have a sweet production crew to help live wild / in a hotel)... that'd be a Plan B!

    Colm
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    • Profile picture of the author Nick Brighton
      Originally Posted by L Wilson View Post

      When companies like Google can charge money for everything on the whole of the front page, without loosing popularity, they will. Free search is worth billions. It won't stay that way forever, they just aren't ready to impliment it yet, although you can see it moving that way slowly. Free search isn't an altruistic move, it's a business move.
      But you see, this is where a lot of people assume the internet is a property. In truth, it's the first phenomenon that is truly free and without heirarchy and ownership.

      Google is nothing. They are just a tool to make it easier to access files. If Google wants to take that route, then hold your breathe for the guys on Silicon Valley who release a new search engine that IS FREE.

      They did it with Open Office... and Microsoft probably stung hard for that.

      But the internet itself is FREE. You don't need search engines.

      Back to the OP, I think it's possible, for sure. But it will be a slow process and it will be "manageable." Otherwise, it would cause bankruptcy and riots... and the government don't want - and can't afford - that.

      You see, governments are kinda sneaky. They want to crush your balls, but they do it so gently over time, that you don't notice until you try to have kids.
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      • Profile picture of the author Lee Wilson
        Originally Posted by Nick Brighton View Post

        But you see, this is where a lot of people assume the internet is a property. In truth, it's the first phenomenon that is truly free and without heirarchy and ownership.
        I agree but that doesn't really change anything. Access to, and usability aren't free, without those two things the Internet becomes useless. These will always be subject to capitalism, tax, regulation etc..

        Google is nothing. They are just a tool to make it easier to access files. If Google wants to take that route, then hold your breathe for the guys on Silicon Valley who release a new search engine that IS FREE.
        Of course everything I say is just opinion but...

        Right now, Google is everything. Whether we like it or not it dominates search. Google is not just a brand name, it has become a verb. If they disappeared tomorrow, people will find an alternative way to find things on the Internet. Until then, people aren't interested or motivated enough to bother.

        For as long as Google SERP show people what they are looking for then it doesn't matter whether that search is free or paid for. The searcher isn't interested because they aren't the ones paying for it. Google are losing millions (billions?) on potential commercial advertising which probably accounts for a massive percentage of free search results. Sooner or later, everything that can be paid for on Google will become paid for.

        The free side of Google will probably still be there but it will be where the hard core searcher wants it, not the average searcher and most certainly not the marketer.

        They did it with Open Office... and Microsoft probably stung hard for that.

        But the internet itself is FREE. You don't need search engines.
        Yet Microsoft still remain the biggest. Open office hasn't made much impact on the commercial sector of MS business. Microsoft dominates commercial apps and probably will for a long time, it costs business too much to change and causes too many headaches.


        Back to the OP, I think it's possible, for sure. But it will be a slow process and it will be "manageable." Otherwise, it would cause bankruptcy and riots... and the government don't want - and can't afford - that.

        You see, governments are kinda sneaky. They want to crush your balls, but they do it so gently over time, that you don't notice until you try to have kids.
        On this I agree, it is pretty much what I have been saying, I just didn't put it so eloquently

        Lee
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      • Profile picture of the author SuiteJ
        Originally Posted by Nick Brighton View Post

        You see, governments are kinda sneaky. They want to crush your balls, but they do it so gently over time, that you don't notice until you try to have kids.
        ^^ That was awesome.

        ...And conspiracy theorists would say the "new world order/one gov't" plans on doing
        exactly what Justin is suggesting plus much worse. However, those same theorists usually have something at the end of their rants like "buy this dvd to find out the whole truth", and I've yet to purchase, so I can't decide what I think. lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      I am truly surprised that nobody has brought up the fact that the title for
      this thread is totally deceptive. One would believe that something had just
      happened that is going to affect all IMers when in fact, the thread is just
      asking a hypothetical question.

      I understand that sensational titles get thread views, but this is the sort of
      thing that just leaves a bad taste in my mouth personally.

      What happened to truth is advertising?

      Just saying.

      ** EDIT ** I see one person DID bring it up. Thanks. At least I'm not the
      only one who thinks this is just plain tasteless.
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    • Profile picture of the author vok
      Trying to control the internet is like trying to control the wind it's not going to happen, no single jurisdiction has total control over it, it still is pretty much a lawless land.

      Which is why people still rob millions on the internet and get away with it, because you can't go arresting people in other countries other than your own.

      Like if Iran dosn't like YouTube all they can do is block it they can't go and close it down because they don't like it or don't agree with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    Trying to impose that would cause a huge grass-roots backlash. Me? I would go off shore.
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  • Profile picture of the author nigelzephyr
    i might not happen, for now..
    well who knows in the future right?
    everything can change.. but as for now, why dont we drop "worry" and enjoy the freedom?
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    That's why it's more important to think more like an entrepreneur than an Internet Marketer.

    Internet Marketing is just one part of my entrepreneurial life. If it becomes too expensive for me (not making as much profit for my investment) to continue marketing online, it's not the end of the world for me.

    The saying we have here about having multiple streams of income should not be restricted to IM only.

    There are a lot of people here over the years that have focused too much on one way, or model only to lose everything when a change came down the line.

    I knew a guy here many years ago who did nothing but FFA (Free For All ads sites) and he took a while to recover from the death of that.

    People are starting to find out now that Google is getting closer to putting an end to "link wheels" "link farms" automated backlinks...

    When I started out, there was no Google and a lot of folks who were relying on being on the front page of Webcrawler, went out of business right after Google showed up.

    My point is, to the OP's question, that you should be prepared for whatever changes are coming. It doesn't matter if it's a license, tax, fee, or anything imposed because the truth is that there will always be changes that affect businesses.

    Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichLife
    It'll be no different from the US making internet gambling illegal. How much has that industry been curtailed by this law? (rhetorical)
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  • Profile picture of the author IndigoJack
    When ebay really started to take off in the UK and it became obvious that people were making large wads of undeclared income, the British Government muttered about taxing that income.

    Nothing happened. Reason being that they had to accept that it would cost a phenominal amount to try to police the entire country's online activities.

    Introducing a licensing system would be anti the ethos of the free market that is the internet.

    We already resent the BBC license fee even though we can see that BBC programmes are superior in quality.

    No UK voter would ever vote in a Government who planned to curtail their internet use.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    What's up with the misleading thread titles that are nothing more than what-if scenarios?
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    • Profile picture of the author JustinBrooke
      Originally Posted by thebitbotdotcom View Post

      What's up with the misleading thread titles that are nothing more than what-if scenarios?
      I'm sorry you find it misleading in case you
      didn't read the whole post we are debating
      what if a huge bomb like needing a license
      to sell online was dropped on all IM'ers.

      BTW love the theme you are using for your
      blog in your sig line.

      EDIT: Changed the title does that help?
      My goal was to motivate not aggravate.
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      You ROCK!,
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      FREE: spreadsheet of 182 traffic sources (no opt-in)

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  • Profile picture of the author JustinBrooke
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author WeatherEmperor
        I work a full-time job taking support calls at an I.T help-desk. 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Piece of cake. I also just started IM and am currently doing that part-time. If the IM world comes to an end, I can always fall back on my "9 to 5" job to make a living. I am fortunate enough to have earned my Bachelors degree so I see no problem finding regular jobs.

        I think more people should do IM part-time, at least for a while. You see, IM has been around for less then 15 years. In other words, it is REALLY young! Professions like me Medicine and Law have been around for thousands of years so we know those are proven careers to get into. But IM is less then 15 years old so that makes it difficult to know what it's future holds. One thing seems likely: the IM market is going to get more saturated. And with this saturation comes more bad behavior. IMHO, I think this is why the FTC stepped in last year and made the new regulations that we must add a Disclosure to products we review/promote on our affiliate websites that we are receiving a profit from those products. I heard SOOOO many horror stories, most of which came from EXPERIENCED affiliate marketers about how this could be the "death of affiliate marketing". I also read that PayPal is going to issue a 1099 for all earnings over $20,000 effective January 1, 2011 (which sounds crazy to me but oh well).

        The moral of the story is that if the government wants to, it WILL enforce new regulation. Whether or not these potential regulations will kill IM, that remains to be seen. So far, a lot of affiliate marketers seem to be doing okay after the FTC regulations of the past year but that could change, but some marketers are not doing okay. IM is just too young for ANYBODY to know what the future holds and I think it is this fear of the unknown that has some people worried.....including myself which is why I decided to do this part-time.

        I am in my 40's so retirement is still ways away. When I get closer to retirement, I will quit my 9 to 5 job and do IM full-time. That way I can go full-throttle into IM until IM is killed off or I decide to retire. Best of luck to everyone!

        Carl
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  • Profile picture of the author nelaffiliate
    No need to worry.... as long as the Internet is international, humans will always find a way to sell and profit. I have no fear for the future of Internet marketing.
    Regulations can't destroy capitalism.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
    Originally Posted by JustinBrooke View Post

    I was just thinking about how lucky we are right now
    to be able to start, run, and profit from the Internet
    for free.

    But...

    What happens one day when that changes?

    Will it change?

    What happens when all of a sudden you need a license or
    you have to pay thousands for a permit to sell online?


    Think about it...

    There is no other medium on earth except for maybe going
    door-to-door and talking to people face to face that you
    can start selling what you have for free.

    Do you think there will ever come a day when we're not
    this lucky? Other countries have restrictions...

    Right now we have an amazing opportunity in front of us
    and some people are taking it for granted. I don't believe
    it will be like this forever.

    One day a giant bomb is going to be dropped on our world
    and everything will change. I don't know about you but this
    is a thought that keeps me VERY motivated to be moving
    forward everyday.

    I want to make sure that bomb don't affect me...

    What do you think?

    Do we have nothing to worry about?

    Can we all just take our time?

    Is there no rush?

    Personally, I don't think tomorrow is guaranteed so hustle up!
    Then I'd pay the fee.

    Lets see here a few thousand dollars to live life the way I want to?

    I'll call it the happiness tax.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kevin Riley
      In Japan, I already pay a yearly business license fee. As it's the equivalent of $150, I gladly pay it. In fact, each year when I pay $150 to be able to do what I do, I want to do a little Happy Dance
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      Kevin Riley, long-time Warrior living in Osaka, Japan

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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    This is nothing more than a far-fetched hypothetical scenario that is a variation on the conspiracy theorists' big brother/one world government view that has been around for decades.

    If you look around closely enough, you'll find that they have been flourishing on the internet. Basically all they do is sit around all day at their computers and also with others of like mind and discuss the craziest "what if" scenarios you could ever imagine, but they really don't take any action at all besides that. If you fall into a mindset like that, you'll be falling down a slippery slope you're not likely to climb out of.

    I'd say to just concentrate on the present, seize the day and do the best that you can right now. If things happen, you make the necessary adjustments and press on. Constantly hypothesizing with these outlandish "what if" scenarios is a recipe for trouble and ultimately procrastination and inaction, in my opinion.

    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    You can always rely on governments to impose new taxes, new fees, new rules. It's what they are good at. We'll just adapt and keep moving ahead.

    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Wolster
    Worry about it when and if it happens.

    It will take a lot of administering not to mention the costs to get that one sorted, and at the moment the powers that be have got enough messes to sort out.
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  • Profile picture of the author simranjeet singh
    what will happen?

    people earning smart amount will easily agree to pay fee and the freshers will think twice before starting online marketing. :p

    People will not do experiments with IM if they pay huge amount for these services.
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonParker
    My competition would go bye bye, so I guess it wouldn't be so bad.
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