I'll have more confidence in this once I prove it, but here's the formula I think will work:

1. Find your niche; identify your target customer.
2. Focus not on getting the sale, but on getting that customer's attention. Key metrics to consider: number of visitors from typing in your name directly + searches for your name divided by total number of visitors; and number of bookmarks / number of unique visitors. When those two percentages are rising, it shows that you have a piece of people's attention; they remembered you, and they're coming back without the assistance of any real intermediary. That's huge.
3. Once you have their attention, have conversations with them. Talk about whatever they want to talk about. The more they talk to you, the more attention they are giving you.
4. Based on conversations with them, find out their needs.
5. Find commercial partners who can satisfy those needs.
6. As you grow in size and clout, work to ensure that you own the point of transaction when you can.

And voila! You'll be a millionaire in no time.

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