When Hollis Thomases, president of Web Ad.vantage, started her business eight years ago, she was the sole employee and worked from a room in her home. She made $3,000 her first year.

Today the e-business marketing, promotions and public relations firm boasts $2 million in annual billings and has 13 employees. Thomases credits the company?s growth with focusing on a niche area of marketing that, though it has seen its growing pains, continues to be a rising arena for companies across the globe.