Microsite.com

Microsites. Micro-sites. Mini-Websites. Weblets. Call them what you will, but you can be assured of one thing: They represent the future of marketing.

A bold statement to be sure. And certainly evolving technology will change how you view or interact with Microsites. You may someday, for example, view Microsites primarily on a mobile phone. You may visit a Microsite at Facebook.com.

But the basic concept won’t change.

Not that we needed any further proof that traditional media is being turned upside down, but here it is: When Senator Barack Obama announced his decision to run for president on January 16, he made the announcement in a video posted on his Microsite — www.barackobama.com. (It is a Microsite, and not a typical website, but I’ll get to that later.)

Actually, he did it two ways. He posted the video on his Microsite and on YouTube. Smart.

OK. Repeat after me: “I, state your name, will never, ever, ever, ever, ever try to hide, camouflage, cloak, disguise, shield, shroud, or in any way lie about my identity or purpose in an online marketing campaign.”

If you do, you will be outed, exposed, and humiliated. Your company’s reputation and its brand will be tarnished. And you may be fired.

Many folks probably saw the articles about AOL hosting an “Upfront” party at NYC’s Lincoln Center on April 16. Aping the shindigs traditionally held by the major television networks, AOL invited at least 500 ad buyers, and broadcast the event to more than 1,000 people in satellite parties around the country, AOL Media Networks President Mike Kelly told Advertising Age.

AOL rolled out the standard fare, including dollar-bill-shaped confetti raining from the ceiling and Mario Lopez strutting out on stage to host a live version of the portal’s quiz show “Gold Rush.”

The general concept of a Microsite.