Old-fashioned advertising isn't going anywhere any time soon, but is definitely felt the impact of the new kid on the block, namely internet marketing. the big problem for marketing firms is how new the internet is. Sure, it has been around for over a decade now, but it is still maturing, and people who use the internet still haven't settled into a reliable pattern that traditional advertisers can readily react to.

This is good news for all of the people trying to make their living online. How so? Well, it means that a regular guy or gal can compete with well-established companies. On the internet playing field, the winner is the one who can connect with their site's visitors the best. But it goes even deeper than that.

The really big companies tend to move more slowly. That's not normally a problem, but the online world moves far too quickly for them to always respond in the best way. A big company has an entrenched corporate culture that it has to convince. The regular person does not.

A single person running an online business can make changes as they see fit, whenever the urge strikes them. Those who really understand internet marketing are constantly making changes then tracking the results. If the changes have a positive impact, then they incorporate them, and then try something else that's new.

But none of this means that regular advertising is a bad thing. In fact, all of the basic principles used in internet marketing were developed by traditional advertisers. However, the medium has a major effect on how the message is perceived by a target audience.

The internet still has a certain wild feel about it. It is still trying to find its feet, so to speak. But at the same time, it is in a constant state of change. Slow moving companies are getting left behind. Even companies that seem to move quickly in the brick and mortar world can be slow to respond to changes happening online. Again, the sole proprietors who can make instant decisions and take a "see what happens" attitude are the ones who are poised to do the best.

It is a two way street, however, as the big companies are paying attention to what the "little guy" is doing. Granted, they don't always get it right, but they do notice, and respond in a way they think is best. But, because they have such a large budget, they can absorb the occasional costly mistake. The average person can't afford to lose a lot of money, so this gives them an added incentive to do things the right way.

Never before has the playing field been so even. Internet marketing is a great equalizer, and puts the potential for profits in the reach of anybody willing to learn how to do it right. It's hard to say what the future holds in store, but right now is a great time to get into internet marketing.