What lies in store for webmasters in 2007

Web market place is changing every year or let me rather correct ,myself every moment. Google’s entry into pay per click advertisements in 1999 changed the rules of the game. Based on various reports and press releases, let us ponder over for a moment what could be the possible developments in 2007 in cyberspace.
1. Google is already planning to enter in radio advertising, so would TV advertising be far behind? When it entered web based advertising programs, Google altered the entire set of the rules at that time. It popularized the pay-per-click model in which advertisers only pay when a person actually views the ad, a new model was born. What ever Google has launched so far, may not have made sense to many at that time, whether it be Google Calendar, or Froogle or hosted or any of its other launches, Google packed some thing new in it which hitherto not existed. TV has already emerged as a powerful medium and convergence of net and TV would soon become reality. Expect Google to launch something which defies imagination today. Google may alter its billing model to meet the radio and video formats tracking will become far easier and click frauds even more difficult. Watch out this space for more details, as it happens !!!!!!!!.

2. Some consolidation is likely to take place and survival of small operators would become rather difficult. The advertisement model launched by Google and many others later on who imitated its model have already made advertisers reallocate the ad budgets in various ad media. Some major shake up in various ad providers is expected but whether it could develop into a alternative for Google seems remote. However it may force Google to make its revenue sharing more liberal and may be even transparent. In 2006, Google accounted for more than 85% of ad budget of publishers on or offline. Some publishers who wont be able to band together to undercut Google's revenue model may become Google advertising affiliates.
3. There is a closed-door congressional inquiry going on into the PPC market stemming from the AIT vs. Google case. The case has already acquired political dimensions with at least two republican and one democratic senators interested in opening further investigations. While it would be too premature to guess how it would turn out to be, but it will likely play out this year. Despite the strength of Google's lobby effort in Washington DC, result could be worth watching. It is expected to threaten Google's stock values which may drop below 0 before the end of first quarter 2007.
4. Yahoo will most likely find focus and direction. It is expected to complete its reorganization and this year is Yahoo's will stage a serious comeback. In fact, all the major algorithmic search engines will face a new challenger this year. It may face another adept competitor this year in Wikipedia, founded by Jimmy Wales that has produced a human-powered search engine jointly with Amazon which is likely to be released sometime in 2007. Google will still rule the marketplace in 2007, but it will have to concede some market share to Yahoo and wikipedia.
5. With the convergence of net and TV, use of video will become a standard component of online communication. Yahoo Publisher Network, YouTube, Flickr and distributed podcasts, and some other new players will emerge to offer professionally developed network broadcasts as an information and entertainment source. While the Yahoo Publisher Network is likely to face competition from other search entities introducing their own webmaster friendly distribution programs.
6. Pay per click billing models will gain more market share to replace fixed advertising programs whatever are still left. Fees will be charged based on the success of a campaign as opposed to flat fees charged up front or on a monthly basis.
Overall, I would expect Webmasters to have more rewarding opportunities this year but they would have to prepare to change their strategies and update themselves with the latest developments in the sector. This year, YPN, online video advertising will provide better earning model than Google. There is a lot of fortune to be found online this year and much of it will trickle down to the grassroots.