If You Help Enough People Get What They Want

Zig Ziglar is famous for saying, "Anybody can have what they want, if they just help enough other people get what they want."

With this in mind, I started thinking about some large and/or quickly growing internet-friendly companies.

Groupon is a newer company that is based on the fact that Customers want discounts and Vendors want quality leads.

Angie's List is based on Customers wanting to know something about a contractor before they hire them, and on Contractors wanting quality leads.

Facebook is based on Customers wanting to stay connected with friends and family, and on Vendors who wanting to advertise in a good location.

Google is based on Customers wanting to make use of the internet's vast resources, and on Vendors wanting to advertise where a lot of people are.

Squidoo is based on Customers wanting to express themselves through writing, and getting paid for it, and on Vendors looking for a great place to advertise.

(Wikipedia really needs to start accepting ads LOL)

Youtube provides a place for Customers to express themselves through video, and now they've contracted with Kodak who wanted to make it easier for their customers to upload video taken on Kodak cameras.

Self expression, discounts, knowledge, ease of use, etc., these are all things that customers want. I think that with a little thought, it shouldn't be too hard to perhaps create relationships/links that haven't been done before.

Project: Take 100 pieces of paper and write on them the needs that Customers have. Take another 100 pieces of paper and write on them the needs that Vendors have. Now pick one from each stack at random, and ask yourself if you know of a company that is meeting that 'couplet' of needs. When you find a unique, out-of-the-ordinary 'couplet,' ask yourself what would it take to make it work?

That's my thought. What's yours??


p.s. Our company recently worked through "99designs.com" to hire a web page designer. Another excellent example of a website that connects people with a certain skill with those who need their talents.