So you’re opening a new e-federation. You’re researching and asking around for ideas for how you can make your new e-fed stand out and be the next new innovation in the game. You want to be unique.

Can I be perfectly honest?

“Unique” is overrated. No, really. It is.

Too many great “unique” ideas have been wasted by people who didn’t have the ability, know-how, or skill-set to implement them from planning stage to finished product.

You’re better off finding your niche first. Figure out what you are good at. Stick to the basics in the beginning. Be realistic in what you actually can deliver. Is it great match writing that has readers on the edge of their seat? Is it coming up with cool characters and/or gimmicks that are memorable? Is it kick ass angles, storylines, or surprises no one will ever forget? Go that route and build your promotion around that.

Meanwhile, if you have the extra time help an e-fed or two around you out. Build a solid reputation and rapport amongst the e-wrestling community. It’s a small world so why not be neighborly? You never know when a hot inter-promotional match could spark a storyline that takes on a life of it’s own. Enjoy the ride if that happens.

As far as making your e-fed stand out goes, feel free to experiment along the way but pick out which ideas you’re going to go with carefully. You’ll stifle your creativity more than allow it to be organic if you go too hog wild. Just trust me on this one. Taking that advice alone will save you years of frustration and false starts.

Try to have a person who can act as a “filter” around you in case you get too crazy with your ideas. Sometimes you might need that (often annoying) voice of reason to reel you back in from time to time.

You want to create a multi-verse where everyone is essentially handling two characters? One is in this universe and one is in an alternate dimension losing instead of winning or winning instead of losing? That might be a great idea for one character… but this is expected now for the entire (insert name of e-fed) roster? No! No! No! It’s a crazy idea no matter how cool it sounds on paper. You may need people around you to tell you that you’ve lost all sanity sometimes and literally slap you back into reality. Which one? This one!

Once you’ve been consistent about the basics of running an e-fed then worry about setting yourself apart. You’ll have your history, your backlog of shows, your Alumni, and your firm foundation. Outlast the other guys. Then by all means do something no one else is doing. I can’t stress this enough though. You need a solid foundation first. Worry about standing out later… much later when you’re ready. Your execution will be much sharper as a result.

I’ve noticed a lot of people over the years say they’re continually disappointed by a lot of the e-feds they’ve encountered. “Every e-fed I see is basically the same!” they say. Hungry new e-fed owners wanting to make a name for themselves want to focus on making a lot of improvements to what they’ve already seen. If that’s the case for you, list what disappointed you about the e-feds you encountered the most and then go about the creative process of figuring out what you’d need to do to improve on what others have already built.

Being innovative is already starting to sound like a pain in the ass.

I know. Tell me about it.

I hate to break it to anyone who may be reading this column wanting to be recognized as unique but everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) is an interweaving of something that’s already been done before. “There is nothing new under the sun” as the old saying goes.

Once the question of, “How do I make this better?” is answered then and only then do you have an idea for something truly innovative and here comes that word again… unique.

Example: Love 80′s wrestling? You don’t see any e-fed based in the 80′s era and would like to see that? Bingo! Pull out your Rubix cube and be your bad mullet wearing self and do that!

Example 2: Love more sports-orientated pro wrestling and you’re sick of “sports entertainment” but don’t see enough e-feds making matches, win-loss records, and championships actually mean anything anymore? Implement a sports based element into your e-fed. (Trust me, it’s sorely missed these days. In fact, it’s been so long since such a thing was around people will think you’re doing something new.)

Example 3: You don’t see anyone taking full advantage of using a great Google Play app like Booking Revolution to present their e-fed’s shows? Whoops… wait. That idea has already been taken but don’t worry I’d be just as content being the guy who (may have) started a new trend.

I’d list more “unique” examples but hopefully this will get everyone’s creative juices flowing.

If all else fails, just do what all the other guys are doing… and just do it better.

After all, being No.1 is unique.

Just don’t be surprised when someone else comes along and proves you’re overrated and old hat at some point. In this game, it’s the nature of the beast. It’s the circle of life I’m afraid.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way old-timer!

Nonetheless, best of luck to you new e-fed owner. In today’s crazy game, you’ll most certainly need it… just to SURVIVE!

Hopefully reading this column helped your e-fed at least live to see another day.

Hopefully.

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