If idea excites you, then make sure you have adequate legal and financial advisors to represent your interests. Many will work on an "At Risk" basis providing venture is soundly based and viable. If you managed to attract attention of a good Internet Consultant, you may well be ahead of game by having existing contacts and networks within which to work. If not, release a controlled prospectus containing just exciting points about project and circulate it to top Venture Capital and Accountancy organisations. Make sure they all sign a Confidentiality Agreement prior to releasing your full business plan and showing them your working models.

In summary, majority of successful dot-com companies do not happen by accident. Rather they are result of painstaking research and planning by its owners. There are two ways to make a fortune from Internet. One is to sell plans and project models to someone who can implement them, and other is to raise capital and float company on Stock Market.

Whilst latter is obviously route to vast wealth and fame, in reality, most people will probably be happy with making odd million or two by selling their concepts and models to highest bidder. This really all depends on your own financial circumstances and business goals. If goal is to make a lot of money, then it does not really matter which route you take as long as they take you closer to your destination and you eventually arrive.

The Internet offers potential to make you serious money quickly in an open marketplace, however road is paved with hard work, meticulous planning and attention to detail. Do this and you will eventually arrive and be listed in ranks of successful dot-com millionaires, preferably with cash in bank to prove it.

*!*! LENGTH OF AVAILABILITY *!*! As I see it, longer that freebie is out on market, less chance you'll see it in your mailbox. A good, quality freebie is uaully in high demand with thousands upon thousands of requests per day. How can a company afford to spend so much money? They only can to a certain extent.

For example, typical length for a free t-shirt offer to be available is 1-2 weeks. By two weeks, company has probably gotten over 50,000 requests. Now, if they keep up at this pace, they'll be bankrupt in a month. That's why offer only lasts a week; so they can afford it. Any longer means company probably isn't sending anything out. Hence, they're scamming you just to get some information from you.

I'm not stating that everything I've said applies 100% to every freebie or company. There are ALWAYS exceptions. Tons of free offers are out there on internet. You've just got to have a watchful eye.