With the current state of the economy, the Internet is being shaken down again and I’d like to propose a few thoughts on how it can finally be monetized in the coming age. Web 1.0 was a starter with Amazon, Ebay, and Google being the only survivors, Web 2.0 captured the consumer’s time with Facebook and Twitter, and the next phase of the web will finally bring every imaginable enterprise business online and engaged. And I don’t just mean the big guys, I mean every little local store will develop a web presence because they understand the importance in building their customer base through the online medium, even if they’re just trying to reach people in a small town. This is because they can leverage the established social community platforms and advertising systems, such as community groups and AdSense, to target their services locally… or glocally as we like to say.

From a business standpoint, this translates into an evolution beyond cost per impression and cost per click into a real way to track affiliates, through online coupons and redeemable points. Recycle  Bank is doing some cool stuff by rewarding consumers with coupons and redeemable points at local stores for recycling their garbage. A resourceful site like Savings.com will help you find all the great deals on different internet sites, helping you become a savvy shopper. You’ll find promotional codes and coupons for the best deals online.

It would be really smart, as more local retailers get hooked into the online medium, for Savings.com to create search filters for location, helping people find deals at not just online stores, but also local brick and mortar restaurants, grocers, apparrel, etc. This would help the customer find the best local deal. Savings.com could develop an incredible business model by taking a cut of coupons redeemed. It will take some time and a lot of sweat, but the hard part is over. Platforms like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter have captured the attention and time of the consumer, and made every retailer and business under the sun take notice that this how they reach their customers. And when businesses are ready to spend money on online marketing and generate discount opportunities through coupons and promo codes, you know a real business model is coming for this crazy thing called the Internet… in fact it’s already here.

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