Student solves debt fear as website earns $1200 in a day

Student solves debt fear as website earns $1200 in a day
By Mani Ghedia
(Sent: 10/26/2005)
A student who hoped to graduate without debt by setting up a website offering internet advertising space said he had made $1213 in a single day.
Minesh Ghedia, 22, who is an undergraduate at the University of British Columbia, launched www.yilk.com in an attempt to raise enough money to pay for the four-year degree course.
The website is made up of one page divided into 10,000 boxes, each 100 pixels in size.
Companies can buy one or more boxes for $100 each and cover it with a logo, which, when clicked on, transports web users to the customers' own site.
Within days of the website being set up the address began appearing on chatrooms, and dozens of firms had signed up.
While the site carries only a few advertisers, this is a new way of marketing that looks explosive.
The actor Robert Cruz, star in The 40 Year Old Virgin, is using the site to advertise his private business, Telefonio.
Mr Ghedia, of Vancouver, Canada, said: “This should be a great way of businesses to advertise their service at a small fee. Its simple but incredibly effective.”
“For 10 cents a pixel, even small start up businesses or private clubs can reach a large audience.”
Pixels on the site cost 10 cents each and the minimum purchase is 100 pixels for $10 USD.
Companies wanting to advertise can pay for the pixels on-line using credit cards and can e-mail Mr Ghedia their own design.
His customers include on-line gambling sites, Internet hosting specialists and dating service companies.
Gary Tate, who runs UniversityShout.com, in Canada, said: “Companies are often very cynical about advertising on the web but Minesh has provided a unique platform which is also a bit of fun.”