Some called it a fad, but the internet is here to stay. It has revolutionized the way we do everything and most can’t live without it. The first gold rush of the web has passed us by but there are still vast opportunities for people to achieve an amazing amount of success.

To give you an example of what can be achieved, here are ten amazing internet success stories.

1. YouTube

YouTube was started by Jawed Karim, Steve Chen, and Chad Hurley in February 2005. They found an opportunity when they realized uploading and sharing videos online was not easy. When the first video was uploaded a few months later in April 2005, YouTube was not an immediate success. They had to go back to the drawing board and came up with various ways to make the videos more viral. It worked. By summer 2006, videos were being watched hundreds of millions of times. Then in October 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock.

2. Plentyoffish.com

Plentyoffish is one of the top dating sites on the internet and of those; it is one of the only free ones. It was launched in 2003 by Markus Frind as a project for him to learn how program with ASP.NET. Markus grew Plentyoffish from humble beginnings to a site that today makes around $10,000 a day or more. However, the greatest aspect of this success story is that Markus was the sole owner and employee just until recently.

3. Bebo

Bebo is a social network that was launched in January 2005 by Michael and Xochi Birch. The two attempted many times to achieve success online but “failed” until they created Bebo. Bebo has grow to 40 million members and has a strong presence in the United Kingdom. In March 2008, AOL agreed to acquire Bebo for $850 million, making Michael and Xochi two of the most successful entrepreneurs in the “new” wave of the internet.

4. Zenhabits.net

Zenhabits is one of the top personal development blogs on the internet. Leo Babauta launched it in January 2007 and with lots of hard work it has grown to over 50,000 subscribers in about a year. Today it reaches hundreds of thousands of other internet surfers each month. Leo has also been able to turn Zenhabits into a full time job and has recently announced he is writing a book.

5. BlueLithium

BlueLithium is an advertising network that was launched in 2004 and lead by serial entrepreneur Gurbaksh Chahal. It grew into one of the largest networks by offering different solutions to internet advertising. Gurbaksh is 25 years old and has had previous success with another ad network called ClickAgents which he sold for $40 million at age 18. BlueLithium was acquired by Yahoo for $300 million in October 2007. Gurbaksh is continuing to develop new projects including a book.

6. JohnChow.com

JohnChow.com is a blog covering the miscellaneous ramblings of a dotcom mogul. John Chow launched the blog in 2005 as a way to express his opinions on really anything. It wasn’t until later that he began to experiment with monetizing the site. As John learned about blogging and monetizing he shared the information with his readers. Unlike most bloggers, he also posted how much his site was earning each month. These updates became more popular and popular as his blog’s revenue grew and grew. Some months he earns as much as $30,000.

7. Last.fm

Last.fm was launched in 2002 as an internet radio station and music community. It was started in the United Kingdom but now reaches over 200 countries and has over 20 million active users. Last.fm offers surfers an interesting way to listen to their favorite music acts and a new way to find new groups and musicians. It also created a new avenue for music artists to sell their songs. Last.fm was acquired in May 2007 by CBS Interactive for $280 million.

8. Flickr

Flickr is the top photo sharing site that was launched in February 2004 by Ludicorp as a side project. Today it hosts over 2 billion pictures and is now moving into hosting videos. In March 2005 Flickr and its parent company were acquired by Yahoo for a rumored $40 million. Today it is still one of Yahoo’s top properties.

9. Weblogs, Inc.

Weblogs, Inc. may not be a familiar name but many of their blogs are. Weblogs, Inc. was launched in September 2003 by Jason Calacanis and Brian Alvey. It encompassed over 90 blogs covering a multitude of topics. Blogs were young when this network was established. It quickly grew and in October 2005 it was acquired by AOL for $25 million dollars.

10. Zappos.com

Despite lots of competition, Zappos.com was launched in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn as a place to buy shoes online. Nick was walking through the mall but couldn’t find a place that had the right shoe for him. So Nick decided to create Zappos. Nick got the help of another dotcom entrepreneur, Tony Hsieh who invested in the company. Since then Zappos has moved into other merchandise and has grown its revenues from “almost nothing” in 1999 to over $800 million in 2007. This year it is projected to generate sales of over $1 billion.

If you ever wanted to start an internet venture, NOW is the best time. With open source and less expensive technologies, it has become easier to launch a business on a shoestring budget but reach millions of people within just a few months.

Here are some lessons to be learned from these internet properties:

- Find what you and other people need.
- Create something simple.
- Start small, but aim big.
- Know when to return to the drawing board for plan b.
- Be different.
- Don’t let competition stop you, let it motivate you.
- Also don’t forget to have fun with your project. You’re not going to be successful if your web venture is boring.

We’re all guilty of it. We waste our own time surfing the web looking at funny pictures and videos, or really nothing that interests us. It doesn’t hurt to do this once and awhile, but don’t let it become a habit. Here are some ways to prevent your internet use from becoming too wasteful.

Have a clear goal

For each site you visit, have a reason why you want to be there. Have a clear goal of what you would like to accomplish. Three well-known time wasters, Digg, YouTube, and Facebook, can easily turn productive when you have a goal planned. For Digg, may be you want to read one useful article or find one new website. Perhaps on Youtube you want to find a video on a topic that interests you, or maybe you want to make a new contact on Facebook. If you don’t have a clear goal before visiting a site, then avoid it. That is a positive sign of a time waster.

Don’t stray away

If you don’t want to spend too much time doing nothing and getting nowhere on the web, then you must prevent yourself from straying off and losing focus. If you’re watching a video don’t click on any of the related videos. If you watch one video, click on a related video, then that video will have 25 more related videos, if you click on another one, 25 more, and so on. These links will never end and consume even more of your valuable time. Focus on that one video or article now and come back to the related videos or links some other time.

Skip the IMs

Don’t sign into an instant message service if you really don’t have anything to say. Many people sign in just to see what’s going on. Similar to websites, if you want to save time, have a clear goal of what you want to accomplish. Don’t just strike up a pointless conversation because you could be wasting someone else’s time as well.

Time yourself

This might be the oldest trick in the book. Get yourself an egg timer and set it so that every time you go to a site you can give yourself about 5 to 10 minutes. You’ll stay on track and be kept motivated by hearing the ticking of the timer.

Take a day off

Just step away from the internet for a day. A full twenty-four hours. It’s simple but difficult for most. When your twenty-four hours is up and you’re back online, you’ll be much more ambitious to get a lot done.

Avoid arguments

The internet has brought people together and has given individuals the opportunity to express their true views. Many times people can be very tough or downright nasty on forums and social media sites. Take other people’s opinions into account and move on. Don’t waste your time with an argument. A disagreement online usually takes longer because of the time in between a rebuttal post. This is very true for forums.

Don’t stress the small things

On the internet we try to be as perfect as possible because we feel “everyone” is watching. People spend hours trying to get their social profiles just right and evenly rank their friends. Don’t worry about it. You’re never going to be perfect, no one will.

Recognize waste

There’s going to be days when you feel like wasting time surfing the web and then you’ll have other days when you don’t feel like it’s a waste at all. There’s plenty of ways you can turn your wasteful surfing into something productive. Recognize your waste and be turn it around.

Digg is used by most people for entertainment and to waste some time but others have harnessed it’s power to become productive and achieve success.

If you don’t know, Digg is a social media site that allows its users to vote or “digg” stories that interest them. Digg currently has over one million users and has changed online media. Users have been able to share information that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Here are 7 tips to harness the power of Digg and use it to your advantage.

1. Make friends

This is one of the greatest and most powerful aspects of Digg. You can create contacts and keep in touch with people across the globe and from all aspects of life. Many business people working at well known companies use digg frequently. You can easily find people with similar interests by simply seeing who dugg a submission, and by clicking their name.

2. Communicate

After you’ve made some friends, strike up some conversation with them. There’s plenty of ways you can do this. Many diggers place their instant message names and links to their other social network profiles. Talk about stories that are on the homepage or talk about each other’s submissions. Though digg lacks a private messaging system, use shouts to communicate. Most diggers use shouts to get diggs for their submissions, but to stand out and get noticed send shouts that are a little longer and personal.

3. Spot trends and opportunities

With digg you can spot trends in many areas of business, especially tech. You can see what the latest gadgets are and what most consumers are really interested in. Many times you can also discover cutting edge and emerging companies.

4. Add to your profile

You don’t have to write your whole life story but add to your profile. Add some pictures, your bio, any websites you have, or any other social networks you belong to. Make sure to add an icon that people can remember. Also be inviting. In your profile, be welcoming to IM’s and shouts, just be friendly and you’ll make more friends.

5. Find employment

Besides working at digg, when you find emerging start ups and cutting edge companies, check them out and look for employment. Also use your contacts at various companies to see if they’re hiring.

6. Read

Most internet users and especially diggers, just skim articles. It’s usually difficult to read on a screen. But if you take your time and read you’ll learn so much more. Save an interesting article for when you have more time or even print it out if you would like.

7. Be open-minded

There’s a lot of strange and wacky things on digg, so you really need to be open-minded. Diggers also have lots of opinions and like to express them to get their points across. Give others respect and take everything they have to say into consideration. If you’re close-minded you’re probably missing more than fifty percent of digg’s content.

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Google was started in 1996 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page as a project at Stanford University. In September of 1997 the domain name, google.com was registered and in September 1998 the company was incorporated. Google started out in garage but quickly grew into the company we know today. Google’s rapid success is amazing even by dotcom standards. If you are launching an internet venture, Google’s story is where you can look for motivation and inspiration. Even if your aren’t, Google can teach you how to go about your life and succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

Be simple

Google was not the first internet search engine, but while other sites were offering too much on their portals, Google presented a simple page with a simple search bar. You should do the same, simplify yourself and your life. Don’t be a complicated person. The more complicated you are, the less people will understand you. The easier you are to understand, the easier it will be for you to convey ideas and points, and for you to make friends and contacts.

Expand yourself

Though Google has a simplified homepage, they have expanded into various areas of the internet and media. You should do the same. Don’t limit yourself, each of us has multiple talents, some talents we just need to take time to discover.

Feel lucky

“I’m Feeling Lucky” is a button next to the search button but it’s something that you should always feel. Feel lucky about what you do and don’t have. Appreciate your life and those around you. You have great things in your life whether you have money and success or don’t.

Innovate

Google has changed the internet and the business world. You should innovate yourself and the world around you. There is always something that needs to be improved, no matter where you look. If you look around your computer desk right now, I’m sure there’s something that can be improved and can make you successful.

Be bigger than anyone expected

There will always be naysayers and people that will downplay your dreams and aspirations. Push them aside but always keep them in mind, you’ll need them for motivation to keep you going so that you can prove them wrong. It’s easier to be the underdog.

Surround yourself with smart people

Google has thousands of employees but they continue to hire smart people. You will need to do this too. Surround yourself with smart people, they’ll bring you great ideas, fill in the voids you can’t, and some of their knowledge may rub off on you.

Don’t be evil

This is Google’s own slogan. The motto was established by GMail creator Paul Buchheit. It’s just a few words and a simple idea but it can make or break your chance at success. No one is going to want to work with you if you’re an evil person. Be friendly and be welcoming to people and customers. (More info here)

Take care of people

Google’s employees enjoy amazing perks for working there. Including a beautiful environment and relaxing atmosphere to work in, among other things. Most employees would never think of leaving Google because of this. You should take of people as well, whether you know them or not. They will repay you by working harder, by helping you out when you need a hand, or just by increasing your good karma.

By following these rules, Google has become a $150 billion company in a short amount of time. These rules work in the business world but can also work in the rest of the world.

Logo property of Google

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The internet has changed all of our lives, hopefully in a more positive direction. You can use these sites just for entertainment or you can use them to change your life. Many of them you visit all the time but it’s time to look at them another way and harness their power.

*These are in no particular order.

1 – Facebook – Facebook allows you to reconnect with old and new friends. In the case of Lori Haas, facebook helped Lori reunite with her son that she gave up for adoption when she was just 17. (Full Story)

2 – Myspace – This is the most popular social network on the web, even though it has the most spam. Some absolutely hate myspace, but others have used it to launch their careers. Many singers and musicians have achieved “overnight” success using the network. Like facebook you can connect with friends but myspace makes it easier for networking with people you don’t know and create new business contacts.

3 – Digg – many will agree with this choice, while others will strongly disagree. But Digg can open you up to a whole new realm of news. You can visit the homepage once a day and instantly become up to date on what’s going on in the world. You can use Digg to your advantage, find the latest trends in business or find articles on improving your life.

4 – Kiva – Kiva is a lending site that helps entrepreneurs in developing countries finance their ventures. It doesn’t take much to help someone out. By changing others you can change yourself.

5 – Lifehack.org – Lifehack can help you get things done. This blog has in depth articles on all things that do with productivity.

6 – YouTube – If you want to work in the entertainment industry, YouTube is a great way to get your feet wet and at a very low cost. You have an audience of millions of people at your disposal.

7 – Google – This is an obvious one. I really don’t know how we lived without Google in the early days of the internet.

8 – Twitter – Twitter may someday save lives by people quickly alerting others of dangerous situations to avoid. During the California fires, people used Twitter to let friends know that they were safe. You can also use Twitter as a way to help with your business networking by knowing where your business contacts are at.

9 – eBay – eBay can save you a lot of money but can also bring you immense opportunities. You can easily create an online business that reaches millions of buyers. Many people have very successful million dollar enterprises using ebay.

10 – Ancestry.com – This website can help you piece together your family history. By understanding the past your can change the future. * Many readers have expressed concerns about the business practices of Ancestry.com. Please read comments below and be sure to check any complaints about Ancestry.com or any other business before working with them.*

11 – Zen Habits – This blog is similar to Lifehack.org by offering simple productivity to get the most of your life.

12 – Craigslist – You can find almost anything on Craigslist. It’s a simple site but can simply change your life.

13 – Post Secret – The Post Secret project shows you that we’re all very much the same. It can also show you that others may have worse problems than the ones your facing.

14 – LinkedIn – You can use LinkedIn to network with professionals from all areas of business including Fortune 500 companies.

15 – TED.com – This website is full of various videos from TED conferences and has biographies on some of the greatest thinkers of present time. Presentations from successful people such as Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Bono, Seth Godin, and Jane Goodall. Most videos are a few minutes long but can empower you for years to come.

16 – Wikipedia – Not everything on Wikipedia is accurate but there is so much information on almost every topic possible. Don’t know about something, just look it up on Wikipedia and within a few minutes you can be informed.

17 – The Fastlane to Millions – This is a relatively new and small forum for those who are or aspire to be entrepreneurs and millionaires. The members are very positive and want to help each other get the most out of life.

18 – Second Life – This virtual world may seem like a virtual waste of time but some people such as Anshe Chung have found opportunities limitless on Second Life. Anshe has become a millionaire by buying and selling virtual real estate.

19 – Quoteland – You can visit Quoteland and read hundreds of quotes that will give you a fresh perspective and change your life in minutes. If you have an open mind.

20 – 43 Things – 43 Things can be a great way to achieve your goals. You can post your dreams and aspirations for all to see. Having that type of pressure can be very positive for you, helping you continue till you reach your goals.

* 21 – Stumble Upon – This has been requested by readers to be added to the list. Stumble Upon can change your life and help you discover so many new websites you would never be able to otherwise.

* 22 – del.icio.us – This site has also been demanded to be added to the list. So since many have found Lyved via del.icio.us, it must be an addition. Maybe someone from del.icio.us can change their life after visiting Lyved.

What sites have been most beneficial to you or changed your life? Leave a comment below.

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