Back in July of last year Nissan Gabbay started an interesting blog called Startup Review – his goal being to write-up a case study each week on a successful internet startup (there’s some great content, check it out).

This month he has distilled down the lessons he has learned from profiling these companies into 7 ‘indicators of success‘, which I’ll list here:

  1. Define a previously unrecognized niche
  2. Strong ability to leverage natural search as the primary means of user acquisition
  3. Service that empowers people to make a living
  4. Free (or near free) alternative for a previously high cost service
  5. True viral distribution potential
  6. Ability to jumpstart user acquisition through distribution partnerships
  7. Story that lends itself to mainstream PR

If you are thinking about starting a consumer internet company and can check off all of these then it sounds like you’re on track for success.