If you started a website in the mid to late nineties you are most likely a millionaire right know. Back then design was not that important and search engine optimization, link popularity, and page rank were unheard of. The thing about the internet then was, if you were first you were guaranteed to make a lot of money. Now that those website owners have developed huge customer bases, it does not matter what their page rank is or what their link popularity is because they have already developed such huge customer bases. They have already obtained an advantage because they have been selling their goods for such a long time.

If you start a website today you better have a good domain, a top level design, and the skills to do the technical things necessary to drive visitors to your website. You will likely have good competition, and wont be the first to market.

You will have to optimize you website by building links through press releases, article writing, and word of mouth. In the past people could achieve success without having to do those things but in 2006 those things are critical. If you do not have the technical skills to promote your website or the money for pay-per-click programs your are most likely going to be out of luck.