how we have changed

Stumbled across a 1997 website that asks why internet advertising doesn't work. It seems strange now that the web was once a place where commerce was struggling, let alone the internet being a place devoid of advertising, but it once was.

The internet now seems to run on advertising, which is I think a good thing. Much like network television, internet advertising - and I'm referring to legitimate internet advertising here - plays it's part in keeping things free. And keeping it free keeps people coming back.

Not that everyone seems to quite be there yet. The Herald insists on seeking a fee to read the latest dross from Deb Coddington, Stuff neglects to place many articles on it's pages, key retailers fail to entice customers into the stores by neglecting to display product information - and those that do keep it light.

We've come a long way with online advertising since 1997 - but we're not done yet.