SANTA CLARA, CA and BOULDER, CO - December 15, 2008 - The Institute for Social Internet Public Policy (ISIPP) has seen an almost explosive growth in email marketing and related industries despite a full-blown recession and an uncertain future for some of the world's largest industries such as the auto industry, mortgage companies and lenders, wireless companies, and even some Internet Service Providers. While there are Internet Service Providers who are also experiencing economic contraction and layoffs, according to recent CareerBuilder data, cyberspace continues to expand and in turn, booming alternatives are experiencing rapid employment growth.

"What we're seeing is that the email industries are exploding with growth. In fact many companies are actually hiring. We've been saying all along that the Internet industries would be the growth industries in the next economic cycle, and it makes sense," says Anne P. Mitchell, CEO of the Institute for Social Internet Public Policy (ISIPP).

While email marketing and related industries have already grown tremendously in popularity and sophistication over the years, this is not the only reason these industries seem immune to the perils of recession. The proactive business practices of certain types of companies in these industries have naturally immunized them, and made them essentially recession-proof.

"The Internet companies that we are seeing that are doing very well are the ones who have taken no outside venture capital or other investments, and have been kept private. They are lean, and light on their feet, and so in every way are able to respond to the changing economy and market demands," says Mitchell.

Internet businesses are not only showing impressive growth, even for what would be considered "good" economic times, but many are so busy that they have been hiring at an unusually rapid pace. John Brogan, whose Global Intellisystems sends out email on behalf of companies such as Garden Center News, Cruise Division, and many Fortune 500 companies says, "While it's true that the economy is generally hurting, that sure doesn't seem to be the case for Internet businesses. We're so busy right now that I'm having to hire on more staff just to handle the influx!"

Dave Taylor, noteworthy Blogging Consultant and Founder of Intuitive Systems says, "While for many the economy may be dropping like a lead weight, thanks to my business being built on the Internet, I'm not only floating, I'm moving into the best period of the year, with a visible uptick in both traffic and revenue."

Even for those non-Internet, or non-privately held businesses that are managing to avoid wide-scale layoffs, their employees are still feeling the pinch. Massive cutbacks in benefits, hours, bonuses, and even average office perks like coffee and bagels have left many employees wondering if they would be better off taking a gamble on a career-switch.

This is not the case for Randy Cassingham, author of the best-selling Stella Awards, and publisher of the popular online newsletter, This is True. "We're so busy at ThisIsTrue.com that we've not only had to hire more staff, but we'll be paying out a year-end bonus for the increase to our bottom line. And, since the recession was officially declared, we've had an upswing in ad sales too," said Cassingham.

According to Leo Notenboom, founder of the popular tech site Ask-Leo.com, "Both traffic and revenue continue at such a steady growth that even though I keep expecting it, so far seems unaffected by the state of the economy - business is good."

"Our Internet business is prospering more than ever," says Joel Comm, CEO of InfoMedia, Inc., a Loveland, CO new media firm. "I've never seen so much opportunity to enter the marketplace by embracing the online world. Creativity and innovation are a must, but the rewards are both immediate and significant."

Shawn Collins, who runs the popular industry trade show, Affiliate Summit , said that "Business has been amazing, and we're continuing to grow. In fact for our upcoming January 2009 Affilliate Summit, the exhibit hall is 17% bigger than for 2008, and our attendee registration numbers are up 10%!"

And Derek Scruggs, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, SurveyGizmo, exclaimed "We're rocking! We've had record revenue each of the last three months, and an overall growth this year of nearly 700%!"

Concluded Peter Shankman, founder of the incredibly successful newly-founded Internet business HARO (Help a Reporter Out), "Having just won the Mashable 2008 Open Web Award in the social news category is a testament to the power of something as old-school as email. To be able to change the playing field of how news sources are found whule making a living at it shows the true ability of good ideas to thrive online."

About the Institute for Social Internet Public Policy

The Institute for Social Internet Public Policy (ISIPP) consults to both the public and private sector on Internet issues in general, and email issues in particular. ISIPP's widely acclaimed email deliverability and accreditation service, SuretyMail, currently helps more than 1.7 billion emails a month get delivered to the inbox and avoid the junk folder.