The last 3 months of 2006 saw a quite phenomenal number of new product launches ? each of which claimed, of course, to be the magic solution to all your internet marketing problems. Indeed, the launches were coming so thick and fast that, at the very height of the guru-fest, one very well known guru issued a report entitled ?The Death of Internet Marketing?.

Needless to say, reports of the death of internet marketing were premature. In fact, the ?Death of internet Marketing? report was a splendid example of just how effective internet marketing can be when done properly. Mike Filsaime built a huge opt-in list in the space of a couple of weeks and will no doubt profit hugely from his sensationalist (but very clever) tactics in future. The fact that his report contained some original and thought provoking material does seem to have slipped under a lot of people's radar.

Whilst it is unlikely that internet marketing is dying, there does seem to be a marked change which is making it more difficult for new internet and affiliate marketers to make a profit and give up their day job as easily as they might have a few years ago. Even the most optimistic souls are beginning to realise that there is no ?magic bullet? and that they will not purchase a $97 e-book, or $147 course and achieve instant success.

The massive proliferation of e-books, products, courses and membership sites at the end of 2006 has led to a certain level of apathy towards current offerings and a greater degree of reality awareness has set in.

Internet marketing, and the first choice for new internet marketers ? affiliate marketing, can still provide either a good source of supplementary income or a salary replacing option ? but it's no longer the wild, wild web and some effort will required to make a profit.

In the first instance ? just as an offline business needs premises of some sort - most affiliates will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to operate effectively without their own web site or blog. And, if you're offering a product which proposes to make your customers rich, it's unlikely to build your credibility any if you're using a free web site host ? is it?

Secondly, just like any ?real? bricks and mortar business, internet marketers and affiliates must expect to have advertising costs and budget accordingly. Traffic won't just magically appear at your site ? expect to pay for pay-per-click campaigns, classified adverts and ? who knows ? maybe even offline advertising.

Thirdly, and again drawing parallels with offline businesses, internet marketers cannot expect to simply throw up a website, slap on a few ads, buy some Google PPC traffic and get into profit. Just as in the real world, they will need to undergo some training.

Which brings us neatly back to where we came in ? all those e-books and courses I'm afraid. And they all cost money ? but in the words of Abraham Lincoln ?if you think education's expensive try ignorance?. Affiliates must learn that, whilst there is no magic bullet, they do have to invest in their own internet marketing/affiliate marketing education. And it should be considered as an investment, not a cost.

Internet marketing is not dead. It's just grown up and matured. Like any evolutionary process there will be casualties ? but those who invest in their websites, fix and advertising budget and undergo training will survive ? bigger and better than before.