Thread: The future of web business

When thinking about the future of web today, it's nice to know how people were thinking about future of Net 16 years ago.

I was reading this article today, and I think it's appropriate place to mention it here: The State of the Net
An Interim Report about the Future of the Internet - from year 1996.

This book gives interesting, forward-looking views of the Internet.
Some of them are abstract and futuristic, like Net as: new continent, organized anarchy, collective brain.
And some are concrete and reflect the present: place of users and content suppliers, hardware and software manufacturers, hitchhikers and advertisers.

Main topic that is going trough the book is Internet as a medium.
There are questions placed that are actual right now, with appearing of ACTA and SOPA : will Internet stay independent and not governed or will it follow the path of mass media before the Net.

yeah there will just a robust revolution on such type of high technology in coming future and hence, truly, things like computer will become like kitchen appliance. Now the most wonder is that then people will give very tougher fight on online business then today and getting the market keep leading will be no longer easier.

Originally Posted by Jammyjoker

The future of web business is very bright. Everybody wants to make own website for connecting the customers.

You're absolutely right! I have the same filling

Today, almost every business has gone online and that has become mandatory to reach a greater audience providing a better exposure to the business on the whole. The more you are active online the more are the chances for a better business.

Originally Posted by ivvyevents

Today, almost every business has gone online and that has become mandatory to reach a greater audience providing a better exposure to the business on the whole. The more you are active online the more are the chances for a better business.

Most businesses aren't online. The average business in the US like auto service or hair salon has little or no web presence. Though they are able to benefit, they don't have the technical skill to run a website. So, the costs usually outweigh the gains.

Originally Posted by mukluknation

Great article. I like your the first point that you made in your summary. People are oftentimes surprised to find that their beloved idea has not only been tried once, but has an entire market on it on the internet with multiple competitors!

That's what I fear the most, that everything's been done, every idea, to the max and nothing new needs creating, I'm talking about websites of course.....

Small businesses don't really get much from having a website.
After all, a bar in some small town in Iowa is not going to get any business from someone in Korea.

But where small businesses do good, if done right, is via twitter and facebook.
To get to the local market.

And really to me?
Most webmasters that open up a site and say they are now in business?
Not really, not at all!
They just open up a site and then hope and pray that they make money via adsense, adbright, CJ, clickbank, amazon.
And most don't make enough to cover hosting costs.

Originally Posted by iowadawg

Small businesses don't really get much from having a website.
After all, a bar in some small town in Iowa is not going to get any business from someone in Korea.

But where small businesses do good, if done right, is via twitter and facebook.
To get to the local market.

You'd be suprised how useful a website can be. There's a lot of people that have smartphones and ipads that may be passing by and decide to find a local bar to grab a meal or kill a few hours. You can even find cheap hosting for $5 per year. I thing where it comes to play is the ROI on the website. The owner shouldn't spend more than a couple of hundred and just have 5 or so pages with social media intergration. All the updates and announcements can be done via twitter/facebook which will cut the maintence costs to zero.

Originally Posted by iowadawg

And really to me?
Most webmasters that open up a site and say they are now in business?
Not really, not at all!
They just open up a site and then hope and pray that they make money via adsense, adbright, CJ, clickbank, amazon.
And most don't make enough to cover hosting costs.

I've gotten $25 clicks on adsense. Money can be made. What I think is the problem is like you said, "people open up a site and hope and pray". It's important to have a business plan like they say "fail to plan, plan to fail". The next step is to define the business objectives and the stragety i.e. publisher, affiliate marketing , ecommerce etc For instance, if you are a publisher you should be producing content or have a team of writers. Otherwise, what are you publishing?

It is not a business to open up a website that is just to get affiliate money!
Period!
Too many of those are on the net now.
Nothing of interest to any visitor.
Just loaded up with adsense, clickbank, amazon, etc.
Not to say some do not make money, just that most don't and none are businesses.

Never said businesses should not have a website.
Just that for local small businesses it is best on twitter, facebook, other social media.

And again, if someone is in this small town in Iowa?
They do not need smartphones, pads, etc. to find the local (only)bar.
Truro Tavern - Restaurant/Cafe | Facebook

I think too many people make the simple task of finding a business in a town/city/area too complicated.

Originally Posted by iowadawg

It is not a business to open up a website that is just to get affiliate money!
Period!
Too many of those are on the net now.
Nothing of interest to any visitor.
Just loaded up with adsense, clickbank, amazon, etc.

Not to say some do not make money, just that most don't and none are businesses.

Sure! Any site not providing quality content to their users is not viable over the long term. The adsense, clickbank, amazon, etc. is to monetize the content and not the other way around.

Originally Posted by iowadawg

Never said businesses should not have a website.
Just that for local small businesses it is best on twitter, facebook, other social media.


And again, if someone is in this small town in Iowa?
They do not need smartphones, pads, etc. to find the local (only)bar.
Truro Tavern - Restaurant/Cafe | Facebook

I think too many people make the simple task of finding a business in a town/city/area too complicated.

This is my idea of a good website for a bar: Oktoberfest in New York City | Bierhaus NYC | Bavarian Beer Hall |

The site is very basic with Twitter intergration and gets the job down.

Btw, How much does it cost for a beer on an Iowa Bar? Bierhaus NYC charge $16 for a 1 liter glass.