< Standing out and handling negative comments :
It seems like when one person has a great idea for a website or blog, a lot of people come along and think, "wow, that's a good idea, I'd like a piece of the action". So they set up a site that essentially does the same thing.But there's more to it than you might think.
If you didn't think up the idea in the first place, how are you going to know what to do if it doesn't do quite as well as you'd hoped? How are you going to adapt and evolve to meet the changing needs of the Internet?
Playing catch-up.
If you start following in the footsteps of an extremely successful person or business, you'll always be in their footsteps... rather than steaming ahead with your own great ideas.
Also, people who know about the original idea will immediately know who you've copied if they find your site. All it does it make the originator look better, and it just helps them to get ahead. Great for them, not so good for you.
The importance of originality.
Being original and different is much more likely to get you noticed that if you do what everyone else is doing.
What do you think?
Comments
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You could have the best original idea in 10 years, but if you don't execute it right you have nothing.
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Thanks for the comments. :)
Stephan - I agree, it doesn't have to be a huge change. It just needs to be sufficiently different for people to notice.
memeandmemes - Very true. It's not just down to originality. Getting your name out there is important too... but you need to do it at the right time and in the right way.
Originality helps. But with the mass of people on the internet, a little tweak can be original enough. People have preferences and pet peeves. One little difference in a site can be all it takes.