A fantastic post by D. Keith Robinson over at Asterisk points out the excess supply of Web products and how this seeming over-dilution underscores the need for differentiation or action.

Robinson argues that being first, best or different is the key to getting attention and, in the end, building a successful venture.

When it comes to building a product or brand you want to be:

The first.

The best.

Different.

The isn’t much room for anything else. Sure, you can be second, or maybe third, and still do alright, but if you’re entering a market that is flooded with competition, you better damn well be the best or no one is going to pay you much attention.

He uses the example of flickr, which essentially transformed itself and its business model three times before it hit paydirt.

Sometimes something small can make all the difference. Focusing on one particular aspect of a problem can help. That’s what Flickr did. They nailed a piece of the pie and did it so well it made them really stand out. They were different in that they had a unique take on sharing photos and they did it very well. The idea wasn’t new and they weren’t the first, so they changed the idea.

In the end, he doesn’t downplay the immense opportunity presented by the Web, but emphasizes the importance of flexibility and thinking different(ly).