How people try to make money on the web

It seems to continue – the says of the web 1.0 boom where people expected to be able to make boatloads of money for doing almost nothing on the web.  While YouTube wasn’t a “nothing” site, the idea that you could build a place for folks to upload videos, and then make 1.56 BILLION dollars less than 2 years later just makes people believe it even more.  So let’s review:

1.  Those deals are few and far between.  Being “The Next Google” just doesn’t happen that often.

2.  There really is no such thing as a free lunch.  The idea that you’ll put something up and people will just flock to it is very similar to playing the lottery every week as your “retirement plan”.

3.  Get to work.  You need to think, and plan, and work, and re-think, and re-plan, and work more if you want to get ahead.  You need a product that people really value if you want to build something great.

4.  Treat people well.  Not just with money – but with respect.  The no-account nimrod I worked for a while back taught me that as clearly as it could have been taught.  It will pay dividends so far into the future, you won’t even believe it.  Plus it’s a better way to live you life.

5.  Have fun.  Because – well – just because.