On the last Not A Pro Webcast: “Bloggers Gone Wild”, we discussed internet marketing trends in 2010 and how bloggers may need to approach putting out their own products and services from a different angle.

Did you miss out on this? Remember, the webcast is every Tuesday at 3pm EST. RSVP for the next show by following the UStream channel. Why don’t you come by and join in with the chat?

I would like to thank everyone who joined in for the webcast, but for all those who missed out on this awesome discussion, What did we learn?

Will every single person online eventually have something to sell?

With the news last month that digital eBooks outsold the print medium on Christmas Day, more and more people are using electronic means to both consume and produce content. We’re looking at a future where the gap in this technological divide will be closed and what is now considered the digital “underground” will be mainstream. As the whole world jumps on the bandwagon, are we ready for the effects of this massive groundswell?

Everyone must agree that self-publishing has never been more do-able than it is right now. While the concept of commercially releasing a product of your own is still fairly new to many bloggers, the rise in the amount of digital books for sale is increasing at a staggering amount. More people are learning how to use this medium for business and more people are teaching others how to do the same. It’s unbelievably great that this space is looking to explode in 2010, but how prepared are we to market ourselves when abundance rules and scarcity is no longer a virtue?

New FTC Regulations: Making for a more honest web!

Some in the blogosphere have rallied that the Federal Trade Commission is violating free speech rights in regulations governing endorsements and testimonials on the internet. Sure, there always is a valid issue when an official agency essentially limits your ability to speak freely… but when it comes to blogging in 2010, shouldn’t we applaud the crackdown on those who can make our entire livelihood perceived as distrustful to the general public?

The shift internet marketing will have to undergo starting in 2010 will start to put to rest many stereotypes placed upon the industry. Unscrupulous practices you see now with impersonal and ruthless tactics are no longer going to fly – especially once the mainstream enters this sphere and there will be more cry from consumers to regulate the field. Are you still working (or learning) from a blueprint that doesn’t take these effects into account?

I think the FTC guidelines will make the web more useful and more trustworthy for consumers. Consumers don’t want to be shilled and they don’t want payola; they want a web that they can trust. – comment from Matt Cutts of Google

Additional points made and highlights of the webcast discussion:

• Henri Junttila from Wake Up Cloud chimed in with his thoughts that “internet marketing in ‘09 was for newbies, 2010 is when it gets serious.” While I can’t diminish the fact there are many experienced and dedicated marketers already doing extremely well, I agree with the sentiment. Those that are new to the space, got their feet wet last year and learned from the best are poised to make a splash in 2010. This may be the year that bloggers just treating it as a hobby really start to hone their skills and get down to serious full-time business.
• Don Power wonders if consumers are going to get too jaded on “free”. Chris Anderson has talked about this business model for content countless times over the past few years and it’s apparent that we’re entering an age when differentiating on price alone will no longer be a viable option for businesses. With the democratization of information and the barrier of entry being so low for anyone to enter the marketplace, the only way to stand out amongst the “cheap” noise is to provide tangible value to consumers. This is quality that can’t be matched by countless others producing similar goods for the lowest cost denominator. Yes, I believe many people will become numbed by the illusion of “free”, but after this feeling wears off, they’re all going want better value (even just in their time) and be more than willing to open their wallet for it.

Overall, it was an awesome hour-long discussion about how internet marketing will change in 2010, how new bloggers can take advantage of these trends as well many other topics related to producing your own eBooks this coming year. It’s not a “pro” webcast though, so remember that the conversation went all over the place!

Once again, I appreciate everyone who participated in the chat as well as those just viewing from the shadows. (sign up on UStream so you can join in!) It was great to see a mix of bloggers from different niches!

Until next week… same time, same place.

Not A Pro Webcast: Every Tuesday at 3pm EST. Follow the show on UStream now.