Not only is it easier to motivate action, but that action is becoming even easier as being online is now endemic. Over 100 million people are now online, though America Online's chief, Steve Case, pegs the number as being closer to 200 million. It's not always a whole lot of fun to visit your store or order from your toll-free number, but it is fairly enjoyable to click over to a website and take a gander at what is being offered and how you can benefit. There is a risk when somebody responds to advertising with an order. There is no risk at all if they check your website.
Advertising seems to grease the skids to the sale.
It takes far less time to learn about you online than to cruise around a mall or drive to a location further away than their computer. That means advertising can be short, concise, to the point. It no longer has to curry the favor of prospects with long copy, involved graphics or detailed explanations. The internet can do that for you, allowing you to save on advertising costs. Advertising your website works in all the media - from TV to radio, from magazines to newspaper, from direct mail to billboards.