This link has been bookmarked by 5 people . It was first bookmarked on 11 Oct 2008, by Brad Tollefson.
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15 Oct 08
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While the social networking landscape is still dominated by the same major players—MySpace, Facebook, Bebo—many users are growing tired of the one-size-fits-all schema of these sites, along with the restrictions placed on them as members.
A perfect example of this is the “new” Facebook, a total redesign of the site and its user profiles. While it initially appeared as an option, the change became mandatory in September 2008, to the dismay of a significant portion of the community. In fact, the site’s “I hate the new Facebook” group has over 1 million members.
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To satisfy users who seek more control over their online socializing experiences, a number of do-it-yourself (DIY) networks have emerged.
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by far the most successful DIY social networking site is Ning, created by Marc Andreessen of Netscape fame
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According to a September 2008 CNET article, Ning currently has nearly 500,000 social networks, with one being created every 30 seconds—80,000 each month. There are now more social networks on Ning than on the entire Internet, and 70%, according to the company, are active (that is, they have been used in the past 30 days).
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To keep the service free, targeted ads appear on every network. However, users can purchase the right to run their own ads or to have no ads at all. There are also opportunities to buy more storage and bandwidth.
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Ning offers a prime opportunity for marketers, especially those who cater to niche communities or clientele. By actively participating on networks related to their industry or product, they can gain unprecedented access to those who are passionate about it—and demonstrate a real concern for the customer.
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The goal is to create and keep a sea of brand ambassadors who will not only promote the company but will also stick with it and defend it when times are tough.
While the first generation of social networks continues to provide useful and compelling services to millions of people, the interest in joining someone else’s world is giving way to the desire to create one’s own. And sites such as Ning, along with smart marketers, are reaping the benefits of this fundamental shift.
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13 Oct 08
According to a September 2008 CNET article, Ning currently has nearly 500,000 social networks, with one being created every 30 seconds—80,000 each month. There are now more social networks on Ning than on the entire Internet, and 70%, according to the com
Bookmarks article socialnetworking socialnetworkmarketing statistics onlinebehavior socialmedia es ning web2.0 social tools
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11 Oct 08
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Ning offers a prime opportunity for marketers, especially those who cater to niche communities or clientele. By actively participating on networks related to their industry or product, they can gain unprecedented access to those who are passionate about it—and demonstrate a real concern for the customer.
Participation works on numerous fronts—creating content, taking part in forums, soliciting feedback, answering questions and offering solutions. However, these interactions are more about listening than anything else. It is important to make sure the conversations are open-ended, and that the community is in the driver’s seat.
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