As Google's recent $1.65 billion purchase of youtube.com proves, you don't have to be the first, the best, or the most famous to win.

All you need to be is the easiest to use.

Youtube was not the first video posting service. And it certainly isn't the most technically astute service.

But youtube is the easiest to use, and as a result, millions of visitors flocked to youtube.com each day to view and post videos.

Even Google's own video service (which is technically superior, but far more difficult for the average consumer to use) couldn't compete.

So Google plunked down $1.65 billion in stock to purchase the easy solution customers preferred.

Moral: To win the hearts of consumers, position your product to be the easiest to use.