Earlier this year I posted some predictions that if came to pass, would indicate a new internet boom would soon be upon us: 1) YouTube sells for over $1 billion. 2) The Federal reserve stops raising interest rates. 3) The Democrats win the midterm elections. All of them came true, so I guess it’s boom time, baby!

Now that the stage is set, just like 1996, here are my predictions for 2007. If all of these admittedly unlikely events occur, we’ll be partying like it’s 1999 in 2009.

1. The “New Internet Boom” makes the cover of Newsweek, TIME, and Wired. Bonus points if new magazines devoted just to internet technology arise (remember the Industry Standard, Red Herring, and Business 2.0). Extra bonus points if you can get The Economist to join in.

2. Google stock hits $1,000 a share. Hey, it’s a long shot, but let’s go for something really insane and bubble-worthy. Along with it, let’s have the NASDAQ and DOW both hit new highs (moving more than 10%+) by the middle of 2007.

3. Old Web 1.0 companies return from the grave for another go. I just read about Boo.com being revived. Let’s look for the return of some other also-rans like Kozmo.com (cheaper technology means more money for snacks), MP3.com (user created content), or even Flooz (Linden dollars?). Or maybe AOL will suddenly gain new respect for nothing except being an internet company. Extreme bonus points for the return of Webvan.

4. Businesses whose sole purpose is to help Web 2.0 businesses begin raking it in. Initially B to C was big during Web 1.0, but B to B came along to repeat the adage that Levi’s made scads money selling pants to the gold-rush miners. Today, we have whole businesses set up around eBay and others making accessories for the iPod. So watch for companies trying to make money off of the Web 2.0 circle - this would mean a micro-economy is forming.

5. Advertising takes off. All the new companies are going to have to spread their word somehow. When the space gets crowded with companies flush with cash, eventually the money starts flowing to the creative ad firms. So if you start hearing about ad agencies flush with new business and huge profits, it’s bubble time. Google raking it in with advertising dollars counts, too. Or it might take a different avenue, like paying bloggers (I wish).

6. People move to the Bay Area just to get a cool job. I remember the last time around, people were quitting cushy jobs nationwide just for a romp with some IPO love. It was so hard to find an apartment folks were offering stock options in addition to rent. Let’s see if droves of recent liberal arts grads start piling onto mattresses in Bayview. I’ve already signed a year lease, so what do I care? I could always sublet my garage.

7. The average joe tries to get in on it. Right now, much of the Web 2.0 activity is sheltered from middle America because most of the money is changing hands through acquisitions. But when average folks smell easy money, they’ll find a way to get in. It might take the form of mom and dad starting a splog, or cousin Jeff gold-farming for virtual real-estate in Second Life. Anyhow, we’ll know when things have gotten out of hand when at a holiday get together, some tech-ignorant relative asks about video podcasts, saying “I want to pay for my kid’s college education with AJAX!”

8. A huge new media company buys a huge old media one. I’m talking about something really fruity like Google buying Viacom or Yahoo! purchasing Sony. Something that really indicates new media is the future and old media is feeing dead in the water. Bonus points if Jason Calacanis or Mark Cuban are somehow involved.

9. This blog (or its sister site, Bottle Cap-O-Rama) begin to have business potential. I started this blog and my bottle cap collecting site as fun side projects, but I could conceivably hit a point where I can’t even keep up with things on my own and actually have to hire help. If I really think I could make a go of it based on advertising income alone, then you’ll know we’re in la-la-land.

10. I leave my day job to work a start-up - or blog full-time. Hey, either one is a total fantasy at this point, but why not make some predictions that aren’t likely to come true? But who knows, if in a year some start-up has an insanely great idea, and can pay me my current salary to do basically nothing but write blog posts and collect bottle caps, the sky’s the limit!

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