We’re up, we’re down… we gotta keep getting better. Fankly, this is very simple: we must worship our users. We have to love them more than Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft.
How do you show love in our world? Let me count the ways:
- More disk space
- Better screen real estate
- Faster servers
- Better editorial
- More features
- More support
- Better design
- Less ads
- Less annoying ads
- Less obnoxious ads
- More targeted ads
- Take that which is paid and make it free
- Anticipate members needs and fill them
- Surprise members with fun, new experiences
- Communicate with members open and freely
- Listen to members–then listen to them some more
- Treat members how you would like to be treated
- Be honest with members–always
- Don’t do anything sneaky because a) members are smart and will bust you, b) life is so short–why would you want to be a sneak?, and c) this is a long-term business, the short term is meaningless.
- Respect your members wishes above all else. If they don’t love you any more that is their choice, and it’s an opportunity for you to reflect on why they don’t love you (consider it a free focus group)
- Let people consume your product on their terms with their software, browser, device, hardware or operating system (this is also known as the “don’t be Microsoft rule”).
