Variety and the long tail

Today there’s a market for everything, no matter how obscure or weird. Delighting the weirdos and outliers is the business model of the long tail.

“According to its proponents, the Long Tail would revitalize our culture by expanding the scope of the arts and giving a boost to visionaries on the fringes of society.”

the Long Tail concept refers to businesses that focus on products and services with almost no customers. The basic idea is that you can make a lot of money selling to these microsco... See more

But let’s put money aside for moment. We should nurture Long Tail endeavors because: * They create a more pluralistic, diverse, and multifaceted society * They remind us that not all riches are measured in monetary terms * They serve as a counterweight to group-think and narrow-mindedness * Genuine breakthroughs often start on the fringes before en... See more