In the not too distant past, the internet was primarily about sharing information and knowledge, a grand library passing on its infinite wisdom for the cost of an internet connection and a few mouse clicks. To coin a popular phrase, it was “a real bargain”.

Now, the internet is still about sharing information and knowledge, but along with that basic ethos, comes a whole new level of service and sophistication, far exceeding the realities of those pioneering days. It’s astonishing to see some of the creativity on display, and while many a net venture attempts to reinvent the wheel, or redefine some small segment of well worn ground, there are always fresh and exciting ideas coming to the fore.

Off course, “everything comes at a price”, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” and a dozen other similar phrases, have reaffirmed our commitment to the “almighty dollar”, and the realization that the internet means business.

Every man and his pet poodle seems intent on grabbing there slice of the pie, and why not? If you’re providing a service or product, why not grab a few dollars as recompense, its not just the American way, it’s the way of the world, or so the argument goes.

Online advertising, love it or hate it, is a goliath of the internet. Companies, like Google and Overture, have accumulated fortunes virtually overnight and a plethora of smaller concerns fight over the scraps on a daily basis.

Armed with a solid website, some decent traffic, and a desire to stake there claim, every webmaster envisions earning a small fortune from there website. Online advertising has many forms, and with the power of blogs, and the rediscovery of RSS entering the equation, there has never been so many opportunities to earn dollar through online advertising.

The fall of the banner ad, has also made that analysts realize that while you might wanna earn a dollar or two, most web surfers are stuck in the mindset of 10 years ago, when information was not only free, but nowhere near as annoying to acquire as it is today. Web users, like T.V viewers and radio listeners, don’t like advertising, it’s that simple.
 
While they might fight there way through it every day, clever dick invents ever more cunning ways to not only turn a dollar, but actually generate some traffic out of all this advertising hyperbole.

Welcome to the new dawn of online advertising, a world we’ve all helped to create for better or worse, its certainly gonna be a fun ride.