There used to be a time when a huge mailing list subscriber base automatically meant huge online profits, simply because "advertising" was the biggest name in the Internet revenue game. But now the rules have changed, and although online advertising is still alive and thriving, most web site owners have come to realize that the only way most people can REALLY PROFIT on the web is to sell a useful product or provide a valuable service -- -- And that they'd be better off doing the ad placing .