Friday, August 10, 2007

Social networks for dogs, bikes & sneakers

We've all heard of social networks like Friendster, Multiply, MySpace and Facebook. Then there's also LiveJournal, a blogging site which is also a social network. And just recently, I encountered MyLot, a social networking site, which pays its members for blogging, posting comments and recruiting new members of the MyLot community. Also simulating the social networking concept are ebay and youtube (wherein you also have profiles). Actually, I have accounts in all of the said social networks (a fact I'm not sure I'm shy or proud of). And just when I thought I've already had enough social networks, I come across Dogster.com, Catster.com, Boompa.com, Sneakerplay.com, Velospace.org and Motortopia.com.

Dogster.com is an online community featuring pet photos posted by owners along with pooch videos, diaries and travel tips. Cat people can also go to Catster.com; car lovers can put their ride on Boompa.com, and there's Sneakerplay.com for those who are crazy about ... well, sneakers. Obsessed with your bike or motorcycle? Give them a profile on Velospace.org or Motortopia.com. (For more details, click here)

Whew! I wonder what niche social network they could think of creating next! In the future, it probably won't be farfetched to have social networks such as mothers.org, fathers.org, seniors.com, bosses.com, singers.org (where they'll trade info on gigs, mp3s of minus ones and performance tips), actors.org, lawyers (actually we're thinking of one), medsters (for those in the medical profession), bookworms (for booklovers), and what-have-you.

Come to think of it, this is actually good for advertisers, marketers and manufacturers. This is clearly an opportunity for more targeted marketing (what they used to teach us in BA as niche marketing). Because online ads would now be more targeted, marketing research companies could now find a greater link between increase in market share in a particular niche and a particular investment for online advertising.

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