For easy reference, every Web site mentioned is hyperlinked here as well as within the text of the column. In the constant turmoil that is the evolving Web millions are constantly searching for the next, next best thing.
Entrepreneurs train themselves to look beyond beyond.
The chief example is America OnLine which, with a membership approaching 20 million, has the largest number of online eyeballs in the world. They actually make money doing this. What started off as a book store has quickly become a department store and there isn't anything for sale that they aren't selling or trying to figure out how to offer. They haven't made money yet and continue to lose it hand over fist but their collection of eyeballs is growing apace. As more and more Websites follow the Portal strategy however, even a growing market of online eyeballs gets diluted and no one can make very much money.