It feel like the Net's in a shakedown phase of growth. We're already seeing it in the reduction of design houses, the reduction of how much html programmers and designers used to be able to command compared to what an html programmer gets today, and the constant negotiation of just how much web site development, design and maintenance are worth. Prices are all over the place, as you might imagine. We are good capitalists, it seems. Siebold's Digital Media report in August was telling.
Online services are no better.
Part of the problem is with the numbers, near as I can tell, are not any where near accurate or, for that matter, very meaningful. Yet, hits have become the gauge, the measure that everyone seems to be using. If you want a lively conversation, check in with Computer Tools' Bob Ebert or CBO's Tom Franks or I - we can show you some goofy ways to generate thousands of hits. The bottom, with any advertising or marketing medium is how successful it is in selling product, branding a company or at the very least generating repeat visits, in this case to your site. I tend to look at those adventurous souls who are advertising on the Net as pioneers and trendsetters, and I do often remember the names or brands or logos.