The biggest problem with online "abundance" right now is the amount of crap there is to clean up! Yes, computers are copying machines, but that does not mean that creativity and originality can't flow anymore.
"Abundance IS worthless!" as Kevin Kelly's article Better Than Free puts it. It's created by people dumping things online (videos, news, photos, etc.) and seeing if its going to stick or not. What doesn't stick gets filtered out and takes the back seat at Google. The problem with dumping so many things online is that the abundance spawns even more abundance when it's regurgitated by bloggers and other news sites who basically summarize the source material and call it their own. So, now not only do you have a big pile of crappy content, but you have an even bigger heap leaching out from under it. This poorly managed pile of crap is worthless! But, one mans poop can be another mans pyramid, and if he knows how to market it right he can make a wicked profit.
Kelly's article states that things that can't be copied, cloned and replicated are valuable. So that means there are ways you can make money online. You just have to make sure that you are coming to the table with something creative and new. If you have a niche and a desired personality you start the extraction process.
Photo credit: MTV
A great example of a person doing this is celebrity gossip blogger, Perez Hilton. This guy has made a living by reading the vast amounds of celebrity news out there and pooping out little golden articles. So, how does he do it?! Kevin Kelly's article mentions that there eight generative qualities that add value to free material. Let's dissect Perez Hilton's blog and find out how he fulfills Kelly's list of eight generative qualities...
- Immediacy - When a rumor is out Perez blogs about asap.
- Personalization - Perez knows his audience. He knows that they want "celeb-bratty" gossip laced with crude humour.
- Interpretation - Instead of a using a formal writing style, Perez uses a more raw approach. Instead of using "mad" he uses "pissed off", instead of writing father, he writes "baby's daddy".
- Authenticity - Perez uses his own edited photos to accompany his articles.
- Accessibility - PerezHilton.com is availible on any device that can get internet. Theres also a Facebook page and Twitter.
- Embodiment - His blog is online, but you can also subscribe to Perez Mobile and receive shortened content on your phone.
- Patronage - Fans don't pay for the content, but they just might pay for the Perez Hilton T-shirts and other merch he sells on his site...or buy his new book about being a fat, obnoxious gossip blogger.
- Findability - If you search celebrity gossip, you'll find him. He's a shameless self promoter with semi-authentic gimmiks.
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