Internet people use measures of success that are somewhat different then those of common-folk. We’re not concerned about having the biggest house or the fanciest car in the neighborhood. We think about things like bandwidth, unique users, page views, reach, AdSense revenues, and other mundane things like number of servers we’ve got.
I’ve broken down web success into four phases. Where do you stand?
Phase One: Shared Hosting - ROOKIE PUNK
Most webmasters start out by using a shared hosting plan. They have the joy of worrying if one of the other several hundred sites will have a traffic spike, causing their own sites to go down. You are probably asking other webmasters to link to you with some generic form email, and you want to know when you’re going to get out of that damn Google Sandbox. Most respectable webmasters don’t really take you too seriously, and don’t consider you a threat.
If you’re actually serious about building a money making website and are committed, you will likely feel the pain that shared-hosting plans cause. Good luck! If you can make it to the next phase, things get a lot easier.
Chances of Failure - Extremely High
Consider that there are millions of websites out there and most of them are useless failures. These sites for the most part, reside on shared servers. The person starting the site probably thought it would be a cinch to make some cash online, and is now realizing that retirement will not come as quickly as they thought. On the other hand, a select few will rise above the rest and will get past the shared hosting doldrums.
Phase Two: Dedicated Server - YOU’RE COOLER THEN YOUR NEIGHBOR NOW!
Once you’ve been told by your host that you are causing too many problems, or that your site is a drain on their servers, it is time to move on. Congrats! Not only have you pissed off your host, but you are now emerging as a serious webmaster. I’m guessing that you are now in the top 10th percentile of all websites.
This is always a big move, and usually marks the beginning of “web-success.” Doing so means that you’re operating a popular website or sites, and that you’re probably starting to make some decent money with that/those sites. You’ve probably started to gain some respect from others online, and webmasters in your niche will certainly take notice of you.
For the average guy, moving to a dedicated server can be very scary. You need to worry about things outside the scope of your site itself, like maintaining your server. You’ll quickly learn that it is not that big a deal. There is a certain freedom that comes with having your own box, and it should make you feel pretty good that you are officially cooler then your neighbor now!
Chances of Failure - Nominal
If you’ve made it this far, odds are that you will continue on your path to the top. Website mis-management, loss of focus/interest, or random acts of violence are your biggest threats. You can now officially show up at that high-school reunion and hold your head up high!
Phase Three: Upgraded Server - HARDCORE WEB GENIUS!
The next phase of web success is typically moving up to a better box with faster drives and more memory. Sites that are resource intensive will drain a slower machine and will start to drag when the load gets to be too great. You are now running a power box - you’re kicking ass and are taking names! Money is no longer an issue, and you’ve probably quit your job to run your web business full time. Other webmasters have begun to notice your prowess and regularly email you for advice. It is a rough ride getting to phase three, but the trials and tribulations you’ve gone through have shaped you into the hardcore web genius that you are today. There is only one direction you’re going, and that is to the very top!
Chances of Failure - If You Fail Now, Move to Siberia, Dummy!
Failure? There is no failure! You are as close to being a web-god as there is. Keep up the good work and you will soon find yourself among the internet elite.
Final Phase: Multiple Servers - WEB GURU!
The final phase in the lifespan of a website is the move to multiple servers. Your site is now a monster! Your traffic is likely as high as that of sites run by the top corporations. You are probably making a small or huge fortune with your website, and you now rank with the web elite. You are a god to the rest of the internet world and are now often called a visionary. Go back to your reunion now and laugh at that teacher who said you wouldn’t amount to anything! Offer him a job as your secretary’s secretary!
Chances of Failure - Only if an Asteroid Hits Earth or Nuclear War Breaks Out!
You are featured in magazines and have appeared for TV interviews. You are a regular panelist at web conferences, and can do no wrong.
Want to start a new site? There will be no four phases for you this time . . . Venture Capital people and Angel Investors are lined at your doorstep. Congrats. Yoda would be proud! Tell your friends like Mark Cuban, Jerry Yang, Darren Rouse, Sergei & Larry, Kevin Rose, Craig Newmark, or Bill & Melinda about the rough times over beers on their private islands.
If you’re a Phase 4 Success and are reading this, please drop me an email . . . I’d love to shoot the breeze!
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