Niche Social Networks

Social Media Sites, The Master List

October 18, 2008 By JD Rucker 2 Comments

Over at Social News Watch, we’re trying to compile a complete list of social media sites. There are so many out there — tons of brand new ones and a ton of old ones that might have been forgotten.

Whether for marketing or simple enjoyment, it’s good to have a complete list. While submitting to thousands of sites might prove to be counter-productive, we plan on breaking down the list into several different versions so that everyone has a chance to find the ones they really like and want to use. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Digg, Mixx, Niche Social Networks, Reddit, Social Freshness, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, StumbleUpon Tagged With: Social Media, social media sites, social media websites

A Social Network for Social Media (brilliant!)

February 13, 2008 By JD Rucker 4 Comments

Strange. It’s one of those things that pops up and you think, “was there really nothing like this before?”

That is what comes to mind when you look at the Social Media Social Network at Social News Central. It is a simple Ning site, but it has started off very strong. With 160 members joining since its recent creation and a member list that boasts “heavy hitters” from social media websites like Digg, StumbleUpon, Propeller, and Mixx, Social News Central promises growth and a world of potential. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Digg, Mixx, Newsvine, Niche Social Networks, Propeller, Reddit, Social Internet, Social Media, StumbleUpon Tagged With: Digg, Mixx, ning, Propeller, Reddit, Social Media, social network, social news central, Social News Sites, StumbleUpon

Social Niche: How Ning Makes Social Networking More Personal

January 20, 2008 By JD Rucker Leave a Comment

There has been a trend that has been percolating behind the scenes. While Facebook and MySpace cultivate their mass presence by making the world accessible to people and people accessible to the world, Ning is bringing laser-precision focus to social networking, allowing the niche aspect of internet interaction to flourish.

While the social networking powerhouses offer limited platforms for people to form groups and interact with like-minded people, Ning has made it their purpose to offer flexibility in their product. As the self-proclaimed “Home Depot” of social networking, Ning has a do-it-yourself platform (“you can do it, we can help”) that is simple to use and manipulate. A person can create an account and start a social network geared around whatever they want in a few minutes. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Facebook, Featured, MySpace, Niche Social Networks, Social Networks Tagged With: Facebook, MySpace, ning, Social Networks

Going Social for Marketing, Business, and Fun

January 1, 2008 By JD Rucker 10 Comments

Social Media Marketing isn’t new. 2008 is simply the year that it emerges as THE thing to do if you want your business, charity, or blog to be “in” instead of “out”.

With companies that aren’t traditionally forward thinking in their marketing techniques, such as Ford Motor Company and Starbucks, making a push to enter social media marketing, it is clear that both big and small business are starting to take notice. Even local businesses are approaching anyone knowledgeable they can find on the subject to help them.

Below are some of the social media initiatives and trends from 2007 that tell of things to come in 2008. First, there are ways to create a web presence that goes beyond building a website or a blog. Then there are ways to drive traffic through social media to these websites. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Digg, Mixx, Newsvine, Niche Social Networks, Propeller, Reddit, Social Internet, Social Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Videos-Images-Music, StartUps, StumbleUpon Tagged With: Digg, Facebook, flickr, marketing, Mixx, MySpace, Newsvine, Propeller, Reddit, Social Bookmarking, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Social Networks, Social News Sites, socialmedia, socialnews, StumbleUpon, Twitter, YouTube

Winds of Change in Social Media Promise Improvements

December 28, 2007 By JD Rucker 3 Comments

On the internet, change is part of the definition. In social media, changes are happening literally by the minute. 2008 promises to show humungous growth and an incredible amount of change for major and minor social media websites.

Certain things will be universal as the websites below grow. Some were acquired, some will be acquired in the future, but one thing that we have seen and that we will continue to see is a lack of a shake-up based upon the acquisitions. When a larger company buys a smaller company in the “real world”, there are normally big changes made right from the start. These changes rarely result in mass exodus of employees (unless done by design) nor does it yield a major drop in consumers.

2008: Year of the Mini Social Networks

December 22, 2007 By JD Rucker 3 Comments

MySpace, Facebook, and the other large social networks need not worry. The small, niche social network sites that are popping up faster than poker rooms in the 90′s are not going to hurt the big boy’s bottom lines. They’re just going to draw more people by the end of the year because of one fact.

They’re just more useful than the big sites.

The appeal that brought millions to form profiles and make friends on MySpace and Facebook will have the opposite effect in 2008 an beyond. We built our MySpace page and started Facebooking because everyone else was doing it. As closed social sites begin to gain in popularity, they will appeal to people because NOT everyone else is doing it. Inclusion is easy on today’s internet. Being part of something exclusive is becoming the new IT thing to do. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Niche Social Networks, Social Internet, Social Marketing, Social Media Marketing, StartUps Tagged With: Facebook, friendster, MySpace, niche, social networking, Social Networks, socialnetworking, socialnetworks

ClosedSocial: A Growing Trend Towards Niche Social Networking

November 20, 2007 By JD Rucker 11 Comments

With the increasing popularity of huge social networks like Facebook and MySpace, it’s easy to see why niche networks are entering the market and falling off almost immediately. There seems to be no room for networks that focus on a particular hobby, demographic, or profession. They are too small, therefore they will all fail.

Or will they?
[Read more...]