Question

Topic: Social Media

Starting A Social Network + Forum

Posted by lorenz on 9/17/2015 at 4:01 PM ET 500 Points
How do we attract our initial audience to a new niche social media community? I imagine there is nothing worse than starting with an EMPTY community.

I've read about paid forum posting, but I am not sure we'll get quality posts that way. I want to get true fans, but also make sure there is enough user activity to get the community growing.

Some background:

It is my aim to start 1 or more social networks based on very specific niches. These particular niches are personal passions of mine and currently have no major competition from specific niche communities.

The social community would be setup as your average community: create and fill out your user profile, connect and share with others, create and join groups, etc. I also plan to offer some extra features that will enable users to communicate in their preferred environment (e.g. a forum).

Thank you for your help,

Lorenz
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 9/17/2015 at 9:29 PM Accepted
    Are there already email lists or the like in these niches? If so, see if you can talk them into converting over to your new social media site.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 9/18/2015 at 8:32 AM Accepted
    Perhaps start the forum more as an online publication of information to attract readership, then use the forum as an add-on offering for people to share knowledge, discuss the information, etc.
  • Posted on 9/18/2015 at 10:44 AM Accepted
    You are probably going to have to "prime the pump" with [paid] articles and other content to attract the target audience. The mission should be to encourage online interaction with the content. Then invite a few more people to contribute content -- still paid -- and engage them in building the community.

    This may take a while, so be sure the view is worth the climb. If it is, there will be a tipping point at which people volunteer content and the community grows exponentially.

    Side question: How do you plan to monetize this? If not for profit, what's it worth to you? Important to know that so you don't over-invest.
  • Posted by Shelley Ryan on 11/9/2015 at 5:46 PM Moderator
    Hi Everyone,

    I am closing this question since there hasn't been much recent activity.

    Thanks for participating!

    Shelley
    MarketingProfs
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