Internet
advertising has unwisely been used as a business model for a great number of dot.com
companies. While it holds great
promise and serves as a useful adjunct to a solid business plan, it is not a stand-alone revenue model. Most
companies have realized this the hard way (through bankruptcy), but some companies got the message early enough to diversify their revenue streams before it was too late. For advertisers, Internet
advertising offers a very unique and interactive way to focus and sell to a very defined target group. For consumers, Internet advertising can be useful because it facilitates transactions and makes shopping easy. For those using it as a 'raison d'etre' for business, however, the benefits are not enough to create solid and sustainable businesses.