Research and report how much it would cost to run a banner ad on three Web sites. What are the pricing options? Are they listed on the companies’ Web sites? Where did you find the information?

Bonus 1: Visit the U.S. Census Bureau Web site at http://www.census.gov. Pull up the census tract data both for your home address and for your campus address. If the tracts are the same, pick another college or university. Compare and contrast the two locations as potential sites for each of the following. Use a street map, too, if it will help.
• A bookstore
• A store specializing in golfing-related goods
• A children’s day care center
• A distribution center for cleaning supplies

Bonus 2. Select either your own company or an entrepreneurial venture that interests you. Find three similar businesses on the Internet and select the two best sites. What features make them attractive? Why did you think they were better than the third site? How would you distinguish your own site?

Bonus 3. Perform an Internet search on either a product or service comparable to what you plan to market, or one that you personally own. Attempt to find at least three sites that sell it.

a. List the applicable price point, including all discounts, allowances, and promotions, plus any shipping and handling required.

b. Are there more or less than three prices available? Why do you suppose this is?

c. Explain any challenges you had in performing the steps in this exercise. What do they tell you about the product or service? The companies selling them?