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I'll admit, my days of hottrotting it on the web are long gone. After seeing so many bubbles and so many busts, this bubble is following all the signs of so many previous ones.
It is sort of like the market for clone PCs of the 80s, or even the search engine makers of the mid 90s, or the rush to produce cars, or whatever. In the beginning, you get people who are genuinely interested in the technology and in providing something meaningful. They take risks and are rewarded by making lots of money and establishing good reputations.
When people see that success, they want to copy it. This is when you get all the copycats.
Once the copycats jump in, the good days go bye bye. Why? You have a bunch of get rich quick and scam artists trying to exploit the opportunities that were there for the pioneers. They are not in it to actually provide something meaningful, their only goal is to make money. When money is your main concern, the customer becomes secondary.
People get in the industry with no understanding that this is a software business. Successful websites use all kinds of software, such as message boards, media players, slideshows, gallery makers, instant messaging, real-time video, credit-card processors, authorization scripts, etc. It does not matter what type of website you have, you NEED top-notch software.
These claims of so-called limitless growth are the same types of claims that are made during the height of almost any bubble. Believe me, nothing is limitless. At some point, the market will be saturated (if that is not already the case) and a HUGE shakeout will occur.
Someone made a great point that if you produce content, such as movies or images, then it is a whole different story. That is being in the PORN industry. But, if you run a website, you have to follow the rules of running a good website.
Most newbies just do not understand this nor have the experience to accomplish it. The days of the pioneer are over. Now is the time for the professionals.
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