Dr Ken Evoy turned to the Internet originally to sell pennystocks.
Some internet business models have been able to incorporate new information technology into existing structures, some have become redundant altogether while many more have appeared that are only possible because of this new technology.
One of the dramatic consequences of the internet is the ability of business to access a huge global market without the constraints of nationality, geography or political systems. A recent press release from Computer Industry Almanac Inc. predicts the worldwide number of Internet users will reach nearly 935 million in 2004 and will top 1 billion in mid 2005.
U.S. Department of Commerce figures show that e-commerce has climbed from 0.7% in 1999 to just under 2% of total U.S. retail sales in 2004, while long-term expectations from Forrester Research, Inc. put U.S. online retail sales at $316 billion by 2010, accounting for 12 percent of total retail sales.
This ability to communicate easily and cheaply with such an enormous potential market is producing a class of business never seen before. By operating entirely on the internet and targeting small niche markets, thousands of people are discovering how to make a profit working from home with their computer.
For example Ken Evoy, a Canadian doctor, began tinkering with a web site to sell pennystocks in the late 80's. Finding nothing available to provide the services he needed for his own website, he developed his own expertise and wrote one of the best courses on developing a website for small business. Using those same ideas , his website now receives more traffic than computer giant IBM.
Dramatic changes in banking practises have also helped provide business access to world-wide markets. The widespread use of debit and credit cards, and now with programs like PayPal able to transfer money via email, a new business model has begun to flourish. This is the small business whose local neighbourhood is the world-wide internet.
The challenge for any business is to understand exactly how the internet works as a marketing medium and to keep pace with the changes that are taking place. Operating successfully on the internet requires an up to date understanding of the Internet Business Tools
