You Can Still Make Big Money on the Web Popular social networking platforms aren't the only sites making money online.

Q:I just read that Twitter raised $100 million at a $1 billion valuation. Do you think it's still possible for an entrepreneur to make big money on the web?

A: Absolutely. It's not just Twitter, Facebook and other popular social networking sites that are raking in the big bucks these days. Internet startups engaged in publishing, marketing and e-commerce are making money, too. While raising capital from investors is tough--and nobody's partying like it's 1999--web-savvy entrepreneurs are finding new and innovative ways to make money by using tweets, blogs and other social media tools to connect advertisers with targeted audiences and link buyers and sellers.

In 2003, Brendan Smith and Colin Johnson left the New York City-based e-mail marketing company they worked for to create Motive Interactive, an online lead-generation company, with sweat equity and a small investment of their own capital. The partners then raised $5 million from outside investors to build their own technology platform and expand their business into other areas of Internet advertising.