Starting A Social Networking Site

**Hobbit** · 01-09-2007, 11:48 PM

I have gathered a list of the things that I have done (or have pending) to promote/monetize my new niche social networking site. Please feel free to add tips.

Promotion:
- MySpace Account. It's perfect for my niche. I will rarely use it, just for updates and announcements.
- Registered on related forums. I am now making posts so I don't just come in and spam my url. Luckily most of these forums I joined also have a 'post your site' section.
- Link Exchanges, even though we are competing for the same niche, my site is different since it's a social networking site, so I believe it's still a good choice.
- YouTube videos. I have downloaded a few videos, I will edit them a bit and watermark it with my url.
- Contest. I am not sure about the prize, but the niche is music, targeting mostly teens. So I kind of have an idea.
- Referring members. The top x members with the most referrals will become 'featured members' and will appear on the homepage. #1 referrer will get a free VIP membership.
- Viral Marketing. I plan on doing something similar to the band Angels And Airwaves. Read this article for more information.

Monetization:
The usual, YPN and some CPA offers. But I will also have VIP memberships. Please add features to 'vip benefits'.
- No ads (or less ads)
- Private Forum
- More pictures
- Prize Giveaways
- Special tag/name color or something.

There's another thing I have up my sleeve but that's a secret. I've also been learning about Propaganda in school lately, I think I will use some of the techniques I learned such as emotional appeal or sex appeal.

Like I said, feel free to add to this list. Not just to help me, but to help anyone who ever reads this thread.

**netfreehost** · 01-10-2007, 02:28 AM

Very nice list of promotional ideas

I think social networking sites are difficult to promote as new sites have no members, users will get no social life by joining a site with out no users.

**Nick204k** · 01-10-2007, 10:35 AM

Ever need any help, PM me.

**Taiyab** · 01-10-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netfreehost

Very nice list of promotional ideas

I think social networking sites are difficult to promote as new sites have no members, users will get no social life by joining a site with out no users.

That actually should be pretty easy to overcome - just get a few friends to sign up.

**tlainevool** · 01-10-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taiyab

That actually should be pretty easy to overcome - just get a few friends to sign up.

It takes more than just a few friends to sign up, though. You need an active community using the site every day. Getting people to the site is step one, getting people signed up is step 2, getting people to participate is step 3. Each step is significantly more difficult than the previous step.

**Nick204k** · 01-11-2007, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlainevool

It takes more than just a few friends to sign up, though. You need an active community using the site every day. Getting people to the site is step one, getting people signed up is step 2, getting people to participate is step 3. Each step is significantly more difficult than the previous step.

Yes i agree with tlainevool

**LeeD** · 01-11-2007, 01:04 PM

Keep us posted on the progress!

**Hobbit** · 03-08-2007, 01:19 AM

I'll post an update in a few months. I decided to do things a bit different, so this project is on hold.

**imported_feros** · 03-08-2007, 02:26 AM

Aww that sucks to hear. Sounds like you had the bulk of it worked out. I don't blame you though, from what I've seen a lot of thought has to go into making a social networking site. No need to rush it.

**Ganceann** · 03-08-2007, 09:09 AM

Any successful social networking site will need a business plan and a clearly defined marketing strategy if it is to be successful nowadays. This was not the case pre-MySpace making waves on the number of users actively participating in social networks.

There have been quite a few social networking sites that have disappeared as they had no direction but hoped to become the new MySpace... while others still exist but are more hobby sites than serious ventures.

Identifying the niche and having the passion and expertise to carry out both business plan proposals and effective marketing strategy will vastly improve chances of success.

**Moelman** · 03-08-2007, 09:11 AM

Good luck with it Hobbit! Let us know when you start working on it again. You had some good ideas for promotion listed up there!

**telekinesis07** · 07-12-2007, 08:45 AM

Thanks for the good ideas you listed. Good Luck!

**imported_zooped** · 07-16-2007, 05:46 AM

Hey hobbit - I've been going threw my bumps and bruises - if you have any questions about what i've been dealing with send me over a pm - i'd be glad to help

**searchfordeal** · 08-29-2007, 04:31 PM

any progress report here?

**imported_shane** · 09-10-2007, 09:19 PM

You can give your users the option to import their friends list from yahoo, gmail, msn, aol etc. and send invitations to their friends for joining that social networking sites...that is also one of the quickest ways to get noticed and promote your website...

**jesterx** · 09-14-2007, 02:21 AM

let us know how you are going I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I helped a member here with.

but most importantly to get things moving along some articles and viral stuff will get it going. There are some good ideas above.

**SEO Portal** · 10-03-2007, 09:57 AM

do like Yuwie (link in sign.) does; let people share in the income $$

this will atract members AND let them be active (the more pageviews the more $$)

**MrCat** · 10-03-2007, 09:37 PM

Another thing to be greatly considered here is how to fight spam. Spam bots love these kind of sites

**Nick204k** · 10-04-2007, 01:08 AM

How did it go?

**Hobbit** · 10-05-2007, 12:01 AM

I never started it unfortunately. I got caught up with smaller and more profitable things.