TheMadScientist - 8:24 pm on Jun 2, 2010 (gmt 0)

we have to rely on google.

We'll have to agree to disagree...

I think it may be that way for a start-up website, but then people have a choice on how they spend the money they make from free traffic, and whether it goes into their pocket or marketing for a better, more solid, more reliable business model is completely up to them. It's their choice on when and whether they quit their job and rely on a site or if they put the cash they make off the site back into it and build a business out of it, or even just put it away for a rainy day and retire early or something... There are always choices people have and make, and there's no rule that says you have to quit your job and rely on Google.

If most people really can't find a sustainable business model then they are probably not really 'in business', but rather 'living on free street' IMO, because here we all know the 'free traffic street' you are referring to always changes, and that's where due diligence comes in, because if you know ahead of time the 'stroll by traffic street' you're referring to and suggesting building your business on is subject to change, you probably wouldn't build your business there, and if you did you would not solely rely on it, would you?

I don't think so, and the 'foot traffic subject to change', 'strollers may be redirected to another street at any time' signs are prevalent and obvious through many threads and forums, so to say you should build on a street knowing in advance that traffic could be diverted for days, months, weeks, years at a time by reading the signs before you jump in does not sound like a very good business plan to me.

Personally, I think it's probably a bit too easy to make some money from free traffic and many people who do and 'jump ship' then complain because it's unsustainable probably couldn't start a brick and mortar business, because unfortunately that's how a business should be run, with marketing, advertising, ROI calculations, and sustainability, especially when there's no telling when the traffic volume on easy street could change... To build there you actually need a better plan than most brick and mortar businesses, because on Google Street the traffic always changes, and we know it does...

[edited by: TheMadScientist at 8:26 pm (utc) on Jun 2, 2010]