So how, exactly, does one become an Internet Icon? I guess I could design a Tron Costume, or do something equally foolish. As I’ve turned my attention by to this website, I’ve been wondering what cool service I might offer that would make people actually want to come back. I did a Google search for the phrase Building Web Communities, and all I hit were pages that were created around 1998. I guess I’m just behind the times.
My observations…
- The most successful sites are those that coerce or coax people to provide the content: Fark, the UFFP, Slashdot, etc., are great at this.
- You’ve gotta have a cool, short URL. My just won’t get it. I’m looking for a replacement, and welcome suggestions.
- Unless you’re putting together a page for a large organization, there’s gotta be a specific point of interest. Focus on that interest and don’t get distracted. People don’t go to recipe sites to get news about Alzheimer cures (or, maybe they do if they really need it!)
- The web is the trendiest place on the planet. Concepts fall out of fashion incredibly fast. The general rule is that by the time someone like me has either heard of or has a grasp of a concept, it’s passe’. Examples – blogging, flash mobs, and 1337.
No, there is no point to this rambling — just the realization that I’m neither a trend-setter nor a cutting edge technogeek. Neither am I an adolescent hacker wannabe script bunny.