The
successful online portals and marketplaces today are well-known; the failures
aren't but are multiples of the winners. Here's a snapshot look at what it
takes to build winnÃng web portals based on real-life lessons.
Ten years ago I was immersed in a meeting of Information Technology
professionals and business leaders from the Pennsylvania Industrial Resource
Center Network. They were trying to come up with new ways to serve their base
constituents, Pennsylvania manufacturers, and get them into the world of
e-Business. Lo and behold, one rather entrepreneurial center director brought
up the idea of an online business web portal site, targeted to this market. On
it a company could showcase itself to the world, access new quoting
opportunities and resources such as suppliers and information. The argument was
compelling, and the people seated around the table cautiously threw their hats
into the ring of support, one by one. So just what were the best methods of how
to build web portals?

