Web success

I believe there is a system on how to have success in what you do on the web,

I spam, but that's because i have fun doing so.

Before I used to run websites, I actually still do,  but  with different goals now.

I think what you need to ask yourself first is:

"Why do you want to create a website for people"

1. is it to answer to a need people have? to make something existing better? Or to come up with something new that could prove usefull to people?

I.E. Gmail, 30boxes, feedburner, google Calendar, ebay etc. etc. 

 2. or is it to answer peoples desires and give them what they want?

I.E. Hubpages,  Friendster, Myspace, Youtube etc. etc.

I say it's way harder to succeed with a good idea in 2. than in No. 1., look at friendster,

people change what they like everyday, media , friends and  just people influence them all the time.

Needs stay, they are always there, and usually new ones come up with everything that has been a solution.

However if you succeed in No. 2. it's going to be way easier to succeed and introduce many No. 1's.

Users trust you, and more important success and No.2 should be measured in how many users LIKE you.

If they do, they are likely to apply your new services instead of those coming from competitors.

Think of apple and Microsoft,  Zune will never grow big, it's because Microsoft got an Image Problem.

Same with Friendster and Myspace, everybody loves Tom, and everyone dislike Abrams.

A reason of why you should add tools after you have a successfull site that answers to peoples desires is that you shouldn't want to become lame, boring or simply AOL.

I can't throw everything at them in the beginning, people are going to get confused, I can't give 'em nothing people are going to be dissapointed.

But what I could do is  giving them new tools and features step by step, I would start with the most related things to a website, let's say I run a social networking site, next thing to add could be something like flickr, a blog or events organizer.

If I'd run something like digg.com I'd add a include my links RSS or so, maybe a desktop submitter or one that submits through the google toolbar.

After a bit you can go and try something new and big, after you got one leg in pull the other, maybe a Mail service could be it.

Calendars, Or integrate the above mentioned site to eachother in some small ways.

 It's a tough crowd and I/You'll have to keep innovating to survive, and conquer.

Starting small and in a niche Market is definetely also a good suggestion.

Starbucks only does coffee, and now they added all kinds of different drinks in their sortiment, McD's had Burgers now they have Salads too.

Google did search in the beginning and now it's got everything else.

If you focus on one service you can make it truly great, i say rather have one "Super" thing than a hundred good ones.