"Laziness has a new best friend."
That friend is journalism freshman Mike Chichester -- at least, according to the slogan on MySpace.com for his new business venture.
Mike's Campus Delivery is a service where Chichester picks up and delivers items like fast food and groceries to students living on and around ASU.
Chichester said he came up with the idea for the delivery service Feb. 3 after eating Chinese food with a friend.
"It stemmed from a fortune that I got in my fortune cookie that said, 'You'll be called to a post requiring your ability to handle people,'" he said.
The first idea that came to his mind was to advertise the business over MySpace.com -- a free Web site that allows members to create profiles and network with "friends" across the country, Chichester said.
He also created a profile on Facebook.com -- a Web site that allows students at a university to network with each other, he said.
"I didn't even have a Facebook account until I wanted it for promotion," he said.
Chichester said he likes advertising on these Web sites so he can get feedback on his business.
"I love the personable aspect of being able to look at people's MySpace or Facebook profiles and then being able to get instant feedback on what I'm doing," he said.
Chichester isn't the only one who has had the idea to advertise online.
Nick Romes, a 27-year-old singer for the band Thousand Yard Stare, has been advertising on MySpace for more than a year.
He said since then his band has connected with 3,000 people on the Web site.
"It got us out there as far as in the Phoenix area," Romes said. "We couldn't have gotten that exposure anywhere else."
He said his band is just finishing their first album due out in April, which they plan to advertise on MySpace.
"MySpace kind of opened the door for a lot of bands that aren't signed," Romes said. "Before the Internet, you just had to play shows. But now you can get on there and find people who you think would like your music.
"It's just awesome," he added.
The success of online advertising has also worked for Chichester so far.
After he posted Mike's Campus Delivery on the Web sites, he received six calls in just four days, Chichester said.
On his profiles he is able to post a list of businesses he will visit, the hours he is available and how much his service costs, Chichester said.
Education freshman Angela Collins has a Facebook profile and a MySpace profile.
She said she clicks on Facebook.com advertisements because they are usually geared toward college students, but doesn't like the advertisements on MySpace.
"They are annoying because they make weird noises and they're more like pop-up ads," she said.
But Chichester doesn't think that will stop other small businesses and bands from using the Web sites.
He said other businesses would realize what they are missing and sign up to the Web sites soon.
"It'll only be so long before big businesses catch on and figure out how to use these services to their advantage," Chichester said. "But until then, it feels good to be ahead."
Currently, Chichester has made himself available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But he said he is not concerned about losing sleep over the business.
"I don't really have any regards for my health," he added.
While he will not deliver alcohol or weapons to anyone on campus because of ASU codes, Chichester said he is willing to ride his bicycle anywhere around campus, between University and Broadway.
"Tonight I delivered to kids at a frat house some chew tobacco and Pita Pit," he said. "A funny thing about this is that Pita Pit actually delivers. Go figure."
State Press reporter Kristi Eaton contributed to this report.
Reach the reporter at tara.brite@asu.edu.