Niche Social Networks FTW!

Niche Online Social Networks FTW!! Web2.0 Expo Berlin, October 2008 www.headshift.com Lee Bryant

Bye bye bubble. Hello real world :-(

d y! Pa ro Bye bye bubble. Hello real world :-(

This is a good thing

So... what’s our mission now, Tim?

#1: Work on stuff that matters

#2: Create more value than you capture

I think that intimate, niche social networks create more value than mass market advertising-funded build-to-ﬂip Web 2.0 startups

Larger niche networks are doing well

In all other areas of life, we look for intimacy, exclusivity, common culture and a sense of belonging.

Why should online social networks be any different?

Here are some examples of how low-cost / free tools can be used to create social value for groups (where groups ≠ ﬂocks of geeks)

A mentoring and learning network for people who can’t meet face to face

Wiki-based business mentoring network

2008 Submissions MentorNet Listening The MentorNet program provides an intimate business social Talking network that supports entrepreneurial women to grow their Energizing businesses through education, networking, and mentoring Supporting over a period of six months. Embracing MentorNet was the first national mentoring program for Managing women in business to be launched in Australia and the first to Social Impact use Web2.0 technologies (blogs, wikis, social networks, Headshift webinars, photo-sharing and social bookmarking) to provide 2007 Winners education and mentoring in an enriched technology enabled http://headshift.com/projects/ FAQ 2008/06/mentornet.php experience. Since January 2007, 6 programs have been successfully completed by 127 Mentorees, together with 29 Mentors. quot;Today's technologies allow us to tap into the richness of this country's business thinking and education and delivers that direct to aspiring businesswomen in all parts of the country to help them grow their businesses— time and distance are no longer barriers. The MentorNet program offers something totally new—using the latest online community and learning methodologies.quot; MentorNet is designed to put theory into action over a 6 month period. The participants are expected to set outcomes, attend the webinars in business skills, work with a mentor and (ﬁnalist in Groundswell awards) small peer group to develop a business plan that they can action during and after the program. Sustainability of these businesses is a high priority and focus. quot;The results are amazing, we are seeing demonstrated evidence

Elements: :: Conﬂuence wiki platform :: Delicious for link sharing :: Flickr for photos :: Webex for online meetings

Design Challenges: :: Danger of complexity :: Overcoming wiki disorientation :: Support ‘dip in’ and ‘deep dive’

A private members’ network for 1,400 specialist international media workers

Frontline club - wonderful content

New intimate private net for members

Elements: :: Movable Type 4.2 / OSS :: Twitter for messaging :: Dopplr for presence sharing :: Magnolia for link sharing :: Freeway for e-commerce

Design Challenges: :: Non-tech, ageing members :: Highly itinerant group :: Exclusivity vs openness

A creative social network dedicated to changing basic behaviours

We helped with the original site

New site launched by in-house team

Elements: :: Ruby on Rails :: Consumer video hosting :: Facebook application :: Twitter, Friendfeed & Flickr

Design Challenges: :: Patina: making it look lived in :: UGC vs Curated content :: Playful but meaningful

A (g)local social network to support returnees in a Bosnian town

kozarac 27k people pre-war. Destroyed and ‘cleansed’ in 1992. Return began 1999

Can ‘virtual’ repair ‘real’ community?

1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 normal odd X --> the war justice? return begins rebuilding reclaiming Between 1992 and 1999 the town existed primarily in the virtual realm, and from 1999, Kozarac web sites helped support the process of return

1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 normal odd X --> the war justice? return begins rebuilding reclaiming ﬁrst diaspora-led sites

1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 normal odd X --> the war justice? return begins rebuilding reclaiming ﬁrst diaspora-led sites recovering memory online

1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 normal odd X --> the war justice? return begins rebuilding reclaiming ﬁrst diaspora-led sites new wave recovering memory online

1990 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 normal odd X --> the war justice? return begins rebuilding reclaiming ﬁrst diaspora-led sites new wave recovering memory online kozarac.ba

Blog as presence sharing tool

6,900 forum posts by person Very tightly bound social network

6,468 private messages Healthy centre/periphery balance

discussion > needs > funding > reality

Elements: :: PHPNuke :: Private forums :: Paypal

Design Challenges: :: Lack of resources locally :: Geographically dispersed users :: Balance between open / closed

Why am I showing you these?

Because this is the internet, not Facebook or MySpace

Innovation is about ﬁnding good problems to solve. Identify real human needs and ﬁnd connected solutions - that is always a source of value

We have tools: :: Cheap / Open source tools :: (or platforms like Ning and Vox) :: OpenID, OAuth, Open Social :: Many services with open APIs

We are learning how to do it: :: Identify your social objects :: Deﬁne your verbs :: Design for emergence :: Build connected places, not sites

small is the new big

Niche Online Thank you for listening! Social Networks FTW!! more information: slideshare.net/leebryant Web2.0 Expo Berlin, www.headshift.com October 2008 www.headshift.com image credits: the bbp dawnzy58 givepeasachance alvy the maroon Jeff Youngstrom Lee Bryant Lee Bryant attribution 2.0 generic

http://www.web2expo.com	92
http://en.oreilly.com	74
http://www.headshift.com	48
http://www.computerweekly.com	44
http://www.olafmolenaar.com	41
http://www.onemanandhisblog.com	28
http://www.open.ac.uk	16
http://www.digitalmarketinglab.it	15
http://www.marketinginnovatie.org	13
http://www.centrestage.de	4
http://blog.slideshare.net	3
http://www.slideshare.net	3
http://blog.contentmanagementconnection.com	1
http://static.slideshare.net	1
http://74.125.77.132	1
http://translate.googleusercontent.com	1
http://mayank.name	1
http://www.linkedin.com	1

Niche Social Networks FTW!

by Lee Bryant

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

18 Embeds 387

Statistics

Niche Social Networks FTW! Presentation Transcript