Valid Business Models for Web 2.0

Feb 27, 2006 | 0 | Business + web 2.0

It is easy to get excited about all of the new ajaxy-googlemap-flickr-del.icio.us-eventful-mashup web applications that are being born on a daily basis. (Assuming you're into that sort of thing...like I am.) But something has been bothering me about a lot of these sites and I wasn't able to pin-point it until Russell Beattie ranted about it in a post so eloquently titled WTF 2.0.

...I really do think there should be a litmus test for new web apps launched from now on - something very basic and if they don’t pass, they don’t qualify for any buzz or linkage. It’s a simple test: Will they take my credit card? That’s it. I don’t care if they have advertisers or sponsors or god knows what else, all I want to see is a place where I can type in my credit card for some service.

Don't get me wrong. I love all of the stuff you can get from the Interweb for free. I just don't get why so many people are trying to build businesses with Google AdSense as the main source of revenue. *cough* Zillow *cough*

I come up with ideas for new web sites all the time. As I prioritize these projects, I find myself putting anything that is primarily ad-driven on the back burner.

Reoccurring. Monthly. Subscriptions. That's where it's at!