| I volunteer at the advice forum AllExperts.com, | | | | sticking with these websites. Without a useful and |
| and advice-giving forum and part of the network. | | | | unique idea, a user-driven website will be doomed |
| My specialty is Internet marketing for small | | | | to fail from the start. The idea is the seed from |
| businesses. Recently, I was asked how to go | | | | which everything grows. |
| about building a website such as | | | | 2. You Need a Talented Web Team. |
| First off, I think the website mentioned above is | | | | Another thing most of these sites have in |
| sexist and mean-spirited, but that's another article | | | | common is that they're all easy to use. The |
| entirely. | | | | developers have worked hard to create a highly |
| I would classify the "Don't Date Him" website as | | | | usable experience for visitors. They are designed |
| part of the social revolution known as Web 2.0. | | | | for simplicity and function, with complex |
| Specifically, it is a user-driven website where the | | | | database-driven "engines" that do what they're |
| site visitors create the content and fuel the | | | | supposed to, when they're supposed to. |
| interaction. In that regard, it's similar to MySpace, | | | | So if you don't have this kind of talent yourself, |
| Digg, YouTube, and a variety of similar sites. | | | | you'll need to hook up with a talented web |
| Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of books that talk | | | | developer, as well as a designer who understands |
| about building those kinds of websites. The reason | | | | usability. |
| is that they're a relatively new development, and | | | | 3. You Need a Buzz Machine. |
| the traditional publishing cycle takes months or | | | | Once your website has been built, tested, and is |
| years to produce a new book. Of course, you | | | | ready to meet the world, you'll need a way to |
| can find some e-books here and there, but even | | | | make that happen. You could promote your new |
| those are scarce. | | | | site in a number of ways, such as press releases |
| Personally, if I were looking for inspiration and | | | | and other announcement channels. |
| education on how to create a user-driven site, I | | | | But what you REALLY want to do is get the |
| would look online. | | | | bloggers talking about it. Nothing spreads faster |
| But learning about this kind of website is only a | | | | online than blogger-driven buzz. This ties back to |
| small first step. Building the site and attracting and | | | | ingredient #1, the big idea. If your website is truly |
| audience is another step entirely. Many people | | | | unique and useful, you'll have a much easier time |
| who get the urge to create one of these sites | | | | building the buzz. People are more inclined to |
| have no idea as to the amount of work involved. | | | | remark on things that are ... well, remarkable. |
| I'm not trying to be negative here ... just realistic. | | | | Of course, if you want to give your buzz |
| With that said, if you're still serious about creating | | | | campaign a boost, you could also pay for the |
| the next MySpace or Flickr, here are three | | | | privilege. These days, websites like and offers |
| primary ingredients you'll need. | | | | ways to pay bloggers to blog about a new |
| 1. You Need a Big Idea. | | | | product or service. Yes, there's an endless debate |
| This is perhaps the most important ingredient for | | | | about this strategy, but I'm not passing judgment |
| a Web 2.0 site. The big idea! All of the social, | | | | on it -- I'm just making you aware of it. |
| user-driven websites mentioned above are built | | | | So there you go. A big idea. A talented web |
| around a big idea. | | | | team. A buzz machine. Once you have those |
| Examples: Create a profile and network with | | | | three things, the rest is just hard work. Lots and |
| others (MySpace). Post and rate news items by | | | | lots of hard work. If you were looking for an |
| popularity (Digg). Put your videos online and have | | | | "easy button," I'm sorry to disappoint. |
| them ranked by popularity (YouTube). Etc. | | | | * You may republish this article online if you retain |
| The big idea is what gets people talking about | | | | the author's byline and the active hyperlinks below. |
| these websites, visiting these websites, and | | | | Copyright 2007, Brandon Cornett. |