sum.na

 
Web 2.0 by FatBusinessman

I’m trying to identify simple characteristics of good web sites, with a focus on Web 2.0 developments.

My aim is to create a simple somewhat practical method of evaluating a web site’s value based on certain criteria.

Who could use this?
Venture capitalists, investors, web developpers.

Visitors: Raw numbers
The actual daily number of unique visitors - especially those who type the url direct, or load from bookmark. Even boring sites can have many visitors through previous linkage and advertising, but the best numbers to look at are indivdual visitors who enter the site via typing the URL/personal bookmark

A site’s active member count gives a good idea on its value. Active members refers to those who are subscribed, who can log in, and who log in at least once a week. They represent an easy target for advertisers, thereby adding immense value to the site

Google +5 (the whole web subscribes to them sort of)
Flickr +4
Digg +4
Youtube +4

Visitors: Quality of visitors
Quality visitors add value to a web site = i.e. web surfers searching for “Interoperable XML modules” are more valueable than those searching for “Sexy Girls”, at least from an advertiser perspective.

Quality of Inbound Links
Sites listed by established media and A list bloggers tend to be more valueable than those linked by ordinary average people..

Legality of content
Youtube scores low here, because they are in a legal grey area as far as some of the content.

Example scores
Flickr +5 (most content is from members in theory at least)
Digg +4.8 (Links so not really copyrightable)
Slashdot +4.5
Youtube +1 (Some content is still grey)

Buzz
How the community (blogosphere, slashdot, digg) and established media (Cnet, PCWorld) react.

Viral Marketability
An ideal viral site is one which can be announced on digg, in a single post, and be on the front pages of Digg, Slashdot, PC World, and CNET, within 48 hours

The idea is - the web site should have a concepet so unique that it doesnt need to be marketed. A simple announcement on digg should suffice.

Example scores:
Youtube +4
Digg +4
Slashdot +4
Uniqueness of idea
Theres two ways a web site can be unique. 1. To introduce a concept (e.g. web search), or 2. redefine web search (as google and flicker did)

Example scores:
Youtube - redefined video hosting +4
Slashdot +3.8 (First with the concept of community review of user links)
Digg - redefined slashdot +4
Flickr - redefined online photo storage

Uniqueness of content & concept
The more unique the content and concept is, the better.

Example scores:
Google +4 (content/concept)
Digg +5 (concept)
Youtube +4 (concept)
Flickr +4 (concept)

Sustainability/age of site
For a site to have long term value, it must not be a one hit wonder. It must have sustainability in its concept. The more unique and hard to duplicate the concept the better.

Age can lend value to a web site. 

Example scores:
Slashdot +4
Flickr +4
Digg +3.8
Youtube +3
Google +4.8 (by being so big, google have virtually guaranteed monopoly status for themselves)

Long tail
A site with millions of small users/visitors/subscribes tends to be more powerful than a site with a few big visitors.
Google +5 (infinite small users)
Flickr +4
Digg +3
Youtube +3
Yahoo +5

 
Fox with a lotta teeth.. by Freddy Kruger

From the “Tired of firefox fanboys” dept

Firefox, is an OK browser. It’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread, contrary to what most fanboys say. Heck, some people even say firefox sucks (OMG OMG! Stop Press. Hunt em down!)

Anyway, here are some reasons I personally don’t use firefox.

1. It is somewhat slow when loading some web sites.
2. Like Google, Apple and Wikipedia, Firefox has a rabid cult following of fans. I’m suspicious of anything which has so many fanboys.
3. Some fanboys are obsessive enough to block users who access their websites using IE. Or give annoying little popups begging/threatening/coaxing you to switch to firefox. I think its OK to ask someone to switch to an open source browser, but to specifically ask people to switch to firefox before using your site.. thats plain creepy.
4. It is fussy and messes up some web pages which IE renders OK.
5. Alternative browsers (IMO) exist. e.g. Opera. To all fanboys: Give people a choice of alternates, don’t just ram firefox down their throats…

Interesting anti-firefox links

1. SlyerFox
2. Popular Technology
3. Firefox Fanboys

So, here are the best questions from my search logs, together with my feeble attempts to answer them Feb:

1. I’m doing research on SMS Lingo: Well.. Local sms’s are full of annoying acronyms like U, Wot, Ur, and so on. See sms lingo list and transl8it
2. I hate virgins: See the january faq on Virgins and other odd things…
3. Rural trivia india: Try this site on India Trivia, also Yahoo has a category for Indian trivia
4. I want Lanka Pussy Photo:
   Ok, here goes:
   
   An excellent photo by imagebang
5. Ways to wear a sari: well, Oprah wore one over her jeans
6. I want secret relationship with Sri Lankan Ladies: Tell me, why secret? wouldn’t it be much more fun to have a messy very public so that the gossip tabloids can run feature length interviews with your victim significant other afterwards?
7. Draught cattle Sri Lanka: As far as I know, nobody here (even when bored) has  attempted to play draughts checkers using cows. However some of our kings of yore, were pretty odd, so you never know…
8. Effects of reality television: In a word, bad. Here are some photos of innocent people who were victims of reality TV:
   
   And there I was, happily strolling along until suddenly, I’m on Tickle Cam. OMG. I’m scarred for life.
   
   Ohh.. the horrow. from that famous reality TV show Honey I shrunk your breasts
   
   This innocent girl was victim of that long running TV reality show “When Good Dentists Go Bad”.
9. Holy cows of India:
   
   Now Just a minute! I’l have you know all cows are holy! Not just Indian cows.
10. Poking sleeping cows: I guess this goes in the same category as tipping cows. Say, what is it with you people? Where do you guys come up with these weird searches?
    
    Go ahead, make my day.
11. english sex mined ladies: Do you mean an English lady with sex on the mind? Hmm let’s see:
    
    Young man, I’ll have none of that nonsense in my empire. Now can we have some tea and scones?
    
    And this is victoria beckham. I’m not sure if she’s a sex minded english lady, but she has a nice ass used to be a great singer

More cool stuff coming up soon… in part 2 of the FAQ!