I'm just curious what everyone's opinion is on this topic.

Is time the only way to establish yourself as the number one competitor and have plenty of cash flow and income? To reword this a little better, is it possible for a site that has been around for about a year, get the same reputation, customer base, and returning clients, and reputation that a company that has been around for seven year have?

Or is being around for a long time the only thing to earn you credibility and reputation?

I've definitly read and seen new comers in a certain indusrty build a good reputation and even steal clients from the other established providers in that industry, this usually happens from the new provider filling certain need the established providers didnt notice or choose to ignore.

Being around the block so to speak can go a long way, BUT I feel establishing good contacts and referrals is the best way to go.

So for example I run some sort business that you guys here would be interested. I may be new, but if my service is amazing: people will go out of their way to promote me. I do this with my web server all the time. I love them so much than whenever a "What Is Good Hosting" topic pops up, I'm in there screaming my praise.

Building client referrals and testominals like this can give you a huge edge over a "stale", established compeditor.