In September 2009, the Nielsen Company, marketing and media information specialists, found that the amount of time people spent in online social networks had tripled in just one year. Nielsen’s data suggested that the average internet user spent 17% of their internet time at a social networking site.
For advertisers and marketers this defines a place to reach an audience that has been turning away from the traditional advertising spaces of newspapers, television and radio. But it also suggests that people with a shared interest could found a worldwide social networking community online using any one of a number of the many social networking software applications now available.
Starting an Independent Social Networking Site
Creating an independent social networking site doesn’t have to be expensive or require a technology degree. There are free social networking software applications to suit most small groups. For larger groups or if the intention of the site is to generate business revenue, investing in better quality software applications may be required.
There are literally dozens of social networking software applications available. The hard part will be narrowing down the selection to determine the best solution.
Define the Social Network’s Intention
The ultimate goal of the social networking site will be what determines the type of application required.
A site created to generate revenue from product sales or advertising will need different tools than one designed for chat about a hobby or interest. The very first step to setting up a social networking site is to fully understand the mission and scope of the site.
The more complex the goal of the site, the more likely it will require advanced technical skills. As a site grows, the greater the need for someone with technical knowledge will become. Assess the level of skill available and determine if it will be necessary to hire help now or in the future.
Business Social Networking
Setting the foundation for what will become a large social networking site for customer relationship management, that generates revenue, or that markets a product will require a premium application.
These applications range from moderate pricing to enterprise premium solutions. Free applications have limitations and may be abandoned by their creators at any time.
Setting Up a Small Social Networking Community
Plug and play social networking readily available, many of the applications are free and don't require much technical knowledge to administer.
However, these free applications often mean that the site may have to carry ads that generate revenue for the creator’s company. Usually free applications cannot be hosted on a private domain (although it is possible to redirect traffic from a domain to the hosted application page). And, in some cases, there may be limitations to the type of material that can appear on the site.
An internet search will turn up many social networking software packages ready to use. Compare the features of several packages before making a decision on which application to use.
Marianne Lepa - Marianne Lepa is a communications professional with extensive experience in technology and publishing. She is the founder of Arts News ...
