The internet has rapidly become the very nexus of the communications industry, with just about every form of human interactivity based on or around internet connectivity. Great for the information industry, with cynics screaming that we have 'too much' information, or even suggesting that we suffer from information overload, but there have been two overwhelming developments since the turn of the century.

Firstly, the spread of information gathering and sharing by ordinary people, transformed by the mobile phone camera (still or video) into 'instant reporters', actively encouraged by 'NEWS OUTLETS' to submit their work, often for payment depending on the value placed on the topic or 'celebrity' involved.

Secondly, as people have grown increasingly cynical about the value judgments of those who were not so long ago trusted to give factual, objective reports about the things that shape our world and our lives, the ability to communicate directly thru the internet, has meant a virtual explosion in inter-personal communications on a global scale.

For those looking for affiliate success, particularly working from home, there have been three main areas.....forums, newletters and ezines, and email marketing, but social networking, very much the new kid on the block, is getting very popular, very fast.

FORUMS......

The very lifeblood of internet communications, especially because of the proliferation of Spam on the email circuit, which meant that program admin people had to find a good alternative to get news and information to members. One recent forum took this idea to the ultimate end, so you can read announcements at the forum, but you can't make comments of your own, which rather destroys the essence of the two-way ethos of the original forum idea.

At the other extreme is one program owner who claims that he can be contacted ONLY on one of three forums,  and guess what? He's never available or present on either of them! Another development in 2007 has seen a forum set up specifically for classified advertising(?), but common sense is needed whenever you visit a forum, especially on the first visit.

If the latest posting was some time ago, like a month ago, it might be best not to waste your time, because there is obviously not a lot of realistic activity. It's much the same as landing on a program page headed LATEST NEWS......and noting that the date is two or three months ago. Not a good sign, is it?

On the other hand, an active forum is like a gold mine, offering the chance to swap stories, get answers to questions, often just by trawling thru the discussion headings, and because of the interactive nature, it can inspire and encourage as well. One very good example of an active and responsive forum is NETMARKETINGFORUM, started by I LOVE HITS and shared by a number of Traffic Exchanges
                                          

NEWSLETTERS

A great way to share information, and newsletters are used to inform people about developments, to teach and inspire proven methods of working, and also as one possible end result of the need to encourage more people to join the working 'list' of the program you are promoting.

Most list building programs start with the request to fill in name and email details to receive a free e-course or the link to a download report or to subscribe to a newsletter, but while that first step provides their details, the promised result has to keep their interest so that you can also invite them to join you in other programs.

Our free newsletter is aimed at people working at home, with lots of tips and advice from internet pros and you can subscribe  on the PERSONAL page.

The EZINE is another form of the newsletter, but tends to have a broader base, with a mixture of specific articles about the program or product, for example, interspersed with informative articles by 'guest' writers on a wide variety of topics. For your own newsletter or ezine, there are a number of places offering articles that you can use for free, with the proviso that you include the 'credit box' which publicises the author.

EMAIL MARKETING

This has been a problem area for some time, largely because of the problems of SPAM, but like anything else, necessary changes have enhanced the efforts of those who adapted, while others have fallen by the wayside.

Most email marketing is done by the use of auto-responders, with the two market leaders being Aweber and GetResponse, but that is also the system used by SAFELISTS, with the difference that the AR companies send mail to your list, made up by subscribers or your purchase of leads, while Safelists send mail, your solo ad, to their members.

You have the choice, depending on your level of  membership, of the frequency of posting, whether you post to the whole membership or specified groups only, and whether you get mail in return. That is the biggest problem for safelists, because the higher levels can post many times DAILY without getting any of your mail, so what is the point? Much the same double negative of people offering to sell you an auto-submitter which will send your ad to millions....who will equally automatically send your ad to the nearest Rubbish Bin.

SOCIAL NETWORKING

Very much the growth area of 2007, and spreading rapidly. The potential for advertising to a captive audience has seen major operators like Google and Microsoft buying into the market, while Yahoo have set up their own program, and most Social Networking programs have moved quickly to offer business pages and links to their members.

This has meant that what started as a social networking meeting place, worldwide, has rapidly become a very valuable business linking marketplace, with the sky as the limit. Interestingly enough, this really started many moons ago with websites that were set up firstly to find schoolmates, then that spread to dating sites, and the latest phenomenon is simply an indication of the spread of internet technology throughout the world, especially with broadband now being more widely available.

Next step was the establishment of the BLOG, free sites paid for by ads, giving the user their own soapbox for the subject of their choice, and that was closely followed by the LENS, the Squidoo family of free web sites with built in advertising by Google Adsense. The definitive world-wide LENS list makes interesting reading at WIKIPEDIA, and includes RYZE, enjoyed for many months by members of Adlandpro!

The list gets longer every day....FACEBOOK, YUWIE, MYLOT, GIBLINK, MYSPACE, and DIRECTMATCHES will keep you going while a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon and trying to establish one of their own. When you get the time, have a look at how easy it is to get one, while you read and leave a comment on my own BLOG.

So for those looking for affiliate success, particularly working from home, the three main areas in the communications spectrum have been forums, newletters and ezines, and email marketing, but social networking, very much the new kid on the block, is gaining popularity very fast, because of the way in which social interaction on the internet has been a runaway success across the age spectrum, and the commercial sector has been quick to recognise the massive potential for  business viability in this area.

This is particularly significant for people who work from home, because affiliate success is increasingly linked with being part of the growing informal information industry. So, for example, people link their blog to their web site, use their lens to publicise their newsletter, then link them all thru their social networking groups. Did somebody say the sky is the limit?