The niche social network that YOU can create

Technology is making it really easy for individuals to be just as powerful and skilled as big companies.  We’ve seen this with blogs, YouTube videos, and podcasts.  Now we are starting to see it with social networks.  For example, Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn are three popular destinations in the social networking arena.  Don’t like what they have to offer?  Are you looking for something more specific to your personal or business interests?  So don’t wait around…create that social network yourself…for FREE.  Two companies offering a platform for you to develop a social network are Ning and Big Tent.

I first learned about these two sites in a Social Media Insider article by Catharine P. Taylor and wrote about this topic on Flip The Media.  I am so interested in this idea as the potential next big “new thing” online that I also wanted to do a post about it on my own blog. 

Here are some examples of niche social networks that I learned about through Taylor’s post and reader comments: Takkle, IM Saturn & Brooklyn Art Project.  DanceJam is another one that I recently came across while doing some investigating/searching on Twitter.  Though it did not specifically say it is a niche social network for dancers, I suspect it is based on the interface - login/sign up feature and the hundreds of users that are members and contribute to the site.

Thinking from a marketing perspective, I believe this technology has a lot of potential for all kinds of businesses, specifically small businesses.  Small businesses, which don’t usually have extravagant marketing budgets, can create a niche/local social network to build and sustain relationships with customers.  (Though a much larger company, this is what Saturn is doing with IM Saturn.)  Or they can find the niche social networks that relate to their business and particiapte in an way that is not too intrusive or through display advertising on the site, if available.

In Taylor’s latest article, a commentor asks if the fragmentation of social networks will make it more difficult for marketers to connect with their audience.  I don’t think so.  As long as appropriate keywords and tags are used, as SEO technologies improve marketers should be able to find what they are looking for.  But if marketers are to participate, they should do so in an impactful way that does not disturb conversations, is contextually relevant, and targeted.