This post by Matt Webb is worth pondering for those of us who are far away from all the Web 2.0 action. Matt wrote that “The Web is San Francisco circa 2001, writ large.” He explained:
“The Web’s been coasting since 2001. It consists of that which started in SF and happened to adapt to the larger ecosystem, and that’s it. But since 2001, there are millions and millions more people online–and they’re pretty much uncatered for. They have no native services.”
He then highlighted some opportunities that exist for “native services” – for example in the huge new market that is China:
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re just the long tail. The mass market is as differentiated along as many axes as any other market, including our own geek market. And don’t think that we’ll know what they want without working with them.
Actually, don’t even think of them as “them”: I never realised I was a “them” until I went to California.”
It’s still my dream to go to San Francisco, because it’s the center of the world as far as Web business goes. So I really should be there. Nevertheless, Matt’s post reminded me that there’s a whole world of opportunity on the Web – if you keep your eyes and mind open.
