Way back on New Years Day I wrote my 2008 affiliate marketing predictions so how did I do?

Consolidation – there have been an awful lot of new network startups in 2007 some good, some bad, some will simply fade away others will stand the test of time, however I predict some consolidation, very possibly we will see two fairly major networks joining forces.

In February Buy.at was acquired by AOL and now operates as a business unit of AOL subsidiary Advertising.com under the name Platform-A.

Growth of Mobile Technology – something I hadn’t considered before the affiliate summit when Shaun Collins spoke about how a significant proportion of his blog visitors use mobile devises, then at the expo my good friend Ray Theakston spoke of his plans to launch a mobile site. Initially I expect the growth of mobile to be slow, maybe a network or two will introduce a mobile interface so we can check stats, and hopefully A4u will also go mobile, after all if facebook can do it :) We will probably have to wait until Autumn before we see mobile shopping, I expect Amazon to be the first major merchant to go down that route, in time for next Christmas.

On December 3rd Amazon.com announced the throwing open of its virtual doors to iPhone and iPod Touch users everywhere with Amazon Mobile.

Widgets – Prezzybox have already given us a WordPress widget expect more to appear as other merchants catch on.

We have seen a few innovations in this area not least the excellent Sunpress from Sunshine.co.uk

Video – merchants and affiliates will be racing to produce bigger, better more lavish films to promote their wares, video casts will take over from podcasts on the more technical blogs.

Quite a few videos about for affiliates to use including Iwoot, Buyagift, Firebox and Prezzybox, if you know of any more please add in the comments below.

Also Matt Wood and his team have launched affiliates4u.tv

International UK affiliate event – We got a taste of this in March 2007 when DFDS took a number of affiliates for a day trip to Amsterdam, this year I predict a full blown UK affiliate event to be held abroad (not Wales Jude although I’d love to come to Swansea sometime) .

My timing is slightly out on this one, A4uexpo goes to Amsterdam on 28th and 29th April 2009.

Eat your heart out Mystic Meg :)

Not sure if I will attempt to do the same for 2009 no way I will get that lucky again.

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