How To Start A Social Network Series

How to Start A Social Networking Website Part 18: A Two-Pronged Marketing Plan

September 1, 2008

I am convinced that the really hard part, the critical part, of a success niche social network is a two-pronged marketing. Entrepreneurs come to me having spent thousands of dollars with developers and numerous hours designing their network.  When I ask about marketing, they wave their hands and say “viral marketing,” or “I’ll worry about that [...]

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How to Start a Social Networking Website Part 17: Whither Social Networks — "Walled Garden" or "Public Utility" Revenue Model?

August 7, 2008

Where are social networks going? What’s the trend in revenue models for these sites?  How does this affect those who want to start a niche social network? I just discovered Bernard Lunn’s provocative post “The Fork in the Road for Social Media,” thanks to my Seattle friend Robbin Block.  Lunn is skeptical about the viability [...]

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How to Start A Social Networking Website Part 16: Report on Revenue Streams

July 4, 2008

Just learned about a report by the Online Community Research Network entitled Online Community ROI and Revenue Techniques. Key findings reinforce what we already know: advertising and subscriptions are the main revenue models for content-based sites.

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