Commercial Social Networking Products
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Contents |
Hosted Social Networks
Hosted Social Networks are social network build around attracting a large audience. Membership is usually free, while the companies running the social networks control the social network's brand. Revenue is often generated through advertising.
- MySpace [1] - Predominately a teen hangout, in 2006 surpassed 100 million accounts. Members can customize aspects of their profile with HTML. Well known for the chaotic design of user profiles. Often profiles are brashly visually designed, with no sign of professional visual design. Ability to personalisation profiles with expressive amateur nature of graphical layouts may lend to its appeal. Negative aspect is usability and consistency of experience over different profiles.
- Facebook [2] - Initially targeted at university students has continued to extend its appeal to a broader range of age groups.
Current market leader. Profiles more visually consistent. Ability to extensively enhance profile with many available applications that become part of a mebmers profile
- LinkedIn [3] - A social network for aimed at professionals. Focused on enabling people in industry to connect.
Includes ability to do formal introductions between members.Profile configuration is less extensible than the likes of Facebook and MySpace.
- Eons [4] - VC funded (approx. $32 million) social network aimed at elders: Eons.com is the online community for "BOOMers" those of us born between 1946 and 1964 and beyond, who want to learn and do more to make the most of every stage of life. Our community is the place for you to explore your passions and interests, keep in touch with friends and family, connect with interesting people to share life experiences, and most of all - have fun! Provides standard social network features and emphasized was aimed at elder market.
- BOOMJ [5] - A social network targeted at an older audience, specifically "Baby Boomers & Generation Jones”. On top of normal social network functionality has added ability to shop for products and take part in a points reward scheme. Carries extra non-user generated content in the form of articles about Health, Movies, Finance, Lifestyle, Politics, etc.
White Box Social Networks
White Box social networks are a commoditization of social networks into software products. These software products enable interested groups and companies to setup and run their own branded social networks. Social network software is either sold as a software package, which can be installed and run on servers, or as with "Software As A Service" model. In the “Software As A Service” model an independent company operates and runs multiple social networks; as a service for other companies.
Key players in the white box social network market include:
References
- ↑ http://www.myspace.com
- ↑ http://www.facebook.com
- ↑ http://www.linkedin.com
- ↑ http://www.eons.com
- ↑ http://www.boomj.com
- ↑ http://www.ning.com http://www.ning.com
- ↑ http://www.kickapps.com http://www.kickapps.com
- ↑ http://www.pluck.com http://www.pluck.com
- ↑ http://www.pringo.com http://www.pringo.com
- ↑ http://www.socialengine.com http://www.socialengine.com
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