08-12-2024, 08:57 AM
To preface, in 2008 I started my social network community with Joomla. I had a nice, family friendly site all ready for people to join. Then it was hacked. That led to me choose a paid script, figuring that would be more secure (that was just my thought back then, as a novice). So, I looked around and found phpFox. I chose it over SocialEngine at the time because it had an active community support forum and the bundle pricing was appealing. I went on to be very active in their community, eventually getting hired, and then becoming a manager. Worked there for several years and then left to work for SocialEngine as a Chief Evangelist for several years. I left there and now am working for Bello Dynamic.
Now to the crux of the post. The climate these days, due to sour US politics and a volatile atmosphere, has led to social networks getting labeled as bad entities. That can be true on some networks that allow things to fester, but generally, social networks can be a great tool to meet people and stay connected. However, it's much harder these days to make them work. Facebook is like super glue - once stuck, it never lets go. Users flock there, or to other big networks. What's a start up to do? How can you get ahead with a social network community these days? How do you avoid the mistrust that has been sewn by some towards "social networks" and grouping everyone together?
I say, just do it. Move ahead with your idea. Create your social network and call it a social community, community network or anything else, avoid calling it a "social network". Perhaps that will help distinguish it from the bigger networks that are taking the brunt of the attacks.
Start with a definite plan. Make sure you focus on a niche you have experience with, something you know well. Having a niche can help to draw in people from the generic, unfocused social sites and to yours where they can focus on something they enjoy and perhaps get away from whatever negative stuff is being thrown around the big networks. When promoting your site, or writing your site copy, focus on the fact that they can unplug from the noise and enjoy whatever it is your site is focused on.
Be sure you make a good Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy. Your Terms of Service is going to be where you need to ensure you spell out what is and what is not allowed in your community. If you do it right, you'll be able to moderate your site without worrying about some of the things going through the Supreme Court regarding "freedom of speech" and such. We won't delve into all of that stuff. Just be sure you dot your I's and cross your T's in your TOS.
Social network communities are still relevant but need a new name now. Build your network and get people socializing again. People want that and need it these days. If you build it, they will come (~Field of Dreams, also attributed to the Bible and Noah's Ark).
As a parting note, a friend created a small role playing site for herself and her friends and then posted about it in her small FB group. Word got around and within a week, she had 10,000 members. Within a month, she had 100,000 members. It's a huge site now and still going strong. Not saying that'll happen to you, but why not shoot for the moon.
Now to the crux of the post. The climate these days, due to sour US politics and a volatile atmosphere, has led to social networks getting labeled as bad entities. That can be true on some networks that allow things to fester, but generally, social networks can be a great tool to meet people and stay connected. However, it's much harder these days to make them work. Facebook is like super glue - once stuck, it never lets go. Users flock there, or to other big networks. What's a start up to do? How can you get ahead with a social network community these days? How do you avoid the mistrust that has been sewn by some towards "social networks" and grouping everyone together?
I say, just do it. Move ahead with your idea. Create your social network and call it a social community, community network or anything else, avoid calling it a "social network". Perhaps that will help distinguish it from the bigger networks that are taking the brunt of the attacks.
Start with a definite plan. Make sure you focus on a niche you have experience with, something you know well. Having a niche can help to draw in people from the generic, unfocused social sites and to yours where they can focus on something they enjoy and perhaps get away from whatever negative stuff is being thrown around the big networks. When promoting your site, or writing your site copy, focus on the fact that they can unplug from the noise and enjoy whatever it is your site is focused on.
Be sure you make a good Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy. Your Terms of Service is going to be where you need to ensure you spell out what is and what is not allowed in your community. If you do it right, you'll be able to moderate your site without worrying about some of the things going through the Supreme Court regarding "freedom of speech" and such. We won't delve into all of that stuff. Just be sure you dot your I's and cross your T's in your TOS.
Social network communities are still relevant but need a new name now. Build your network and get people socializing again. People want that and need it these days. If you build it, they will come (~Field of Dreams, also attributed to the Bible and Noah's Ark).
As a parting note, a friend created a small role playing site for herself and her friends and then posted about it in her small FB group. Word got around and within a week, she had 10,000 members. Within a month, she had 100,000 members. It's a huge site now and still going strong. Not saying that'll happen to you, but why not shoot for the moon.
