TMW Ideas

Anyone even slightly familiar with today's internet will be well aware that there are thousands, if not millions, of spotty kids spending their free time uploading nonsense videos of themselves doing things no-one else is interested in. Sites like You Tube enable them to share their guff with their friends and maybe catch that 15 seconds of fame.

You may also be aware that there are others (known as Elite Amateur Producers apparently) who take this activity very seriously indeed, producing high quality programmes, animations etc. Hobbyists who wish they were in Hollywood, but really just do it because they like it.

I guess it's like anglers who don't take their catch home and eat it

Well for this group, their hobby could soon become their ticket to becoming a “minipreneur”.

Trendwatchers.com latest briefing is forecasting a new stage of web 2.0 whereby the public creators of online content will be getting paid for their efforts.

And it's already happening. Watch the new Diet Coke and Mentos film - that is actually sponsored by Coke (not just because it's sponsored by coke, but because it's also very cool). Visit Revver , and Break.com - sites that share the online ad revenue generated from the viewing of a person's video.

Or try Scoopt - where wannabe paparzzi can upload thier fuzzy camera phone shots of Jordan in China White, then share the proceeds when the tabloids come looking for page filler.

That's just a few, but check out the full report at trendwatching.com: December 2006 trend briefing | GENERATION C(ASH)

The whole idea of online minipreneurship seems to be based on the principle of ebay, but expanding it to everything else that sells in the real world - not just second hand golf clubs - be it movies, music, pictures, in short anything that a keen enthusiast can share online.

It's a scary thought, but in essence, the professionals in all walks of life need to start looking over their shoulders as the ameteurs get their turn to strutt their stuff.