DISQUS

Matt McAllister · 1 year ago

Good article, thanks Barak! Social network monetization is certainly still in the early stages, but there is one solution you did not mention that is quickly gaining traction: virtual currency monetization. You say "On social networks, people are primarily concerned with communicating with their friends, not looking to buy items or services," but the whole idea behind virtual currency is that people ARE willing to buy items or services that contribute to their communications with friends.

http://myofferpal.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/a-ne...

hypermark · 1 year ago

Some further fodder for this topic in a post I wrote called:

Why Social Nets Struggle to get Advertisers to "Show Me the Money"
http://thenetworkgarden.com/weblog/2008/06/why-...

Here is an excerpt:
Bottom line: you can not PUSH ads at this audience. What you need to do is give them reasons and contextually clear paths to engage with a brand and its products/services. Whether that means giving consumers the tools to pick the types of products/services they want on their pages, incenting them to place them on their pages (or share with friends), giving them clear action paths to GRAB BROCHURE, GET COUPON or REQUEST INFO or other methods, it is more of an opt-in, or consumer PULL, type of model than a push based one. Until that model starts to take hold, lots of confusion, waste-age of eyeballs and fiscal pain lie ahead.

Check it out if interested.

Mark

william · 1 year ago

Great Article
We have built a Social Network that generates revenue for members through "Conversations" that members have with one another.
Many of the service on adelph.us were built around concepts from the" Clue Train Manifesto" as well as Marshall McLuhan "The medium is the message"

We understand that the value is in members "Conversations" with one another and that advertisements are an interruption.

Some things about www.adelph.us

1. You are not a share cropper- Break the chains
2. Be a rebel
3. Change the game
4. Believe in the possibilities
5. Do good


At adelph.us "Open" means :

1. Whenever possible using Open Source applications
2. Whenever possible offering the hosted use of applications free of charge to members
3. Always writing code using existing Open Source standards that are not proprietary or owned by a company ie (Face Book and the rest)
4. Empowering the community (Individuals, Groups, Non Profits, and Companies) with tools that help them to save time and resources
5. Evening the playing field
6. Giving back to the community
7. Giving back to Open Source
8. You control all access of your account
9. You control all access to your conte

Engago team · 1 year ago

The best business models on the Internet are commission based.
Social media doesn't involve payments, thus no commission.
If people would pay to get into contact with others, then a commission could be charged. However nobody will pay if your contacts are not high value people.

Ian Hendry · 1 year ago

I think there is more scope to advertise to business audiences engaged in social networking on niche sites, it isn't the way forward.

My view is that if there is quality and value in what you offer, then people will pay a premium for it. I use many Web 2.0 sites and most of those I could live without. With WeCanDo.BIZ we are aiming to make business owner/managers feel it is a key part of their marketing and something they could not do without. We want them to see what they get from the site, sales leads and business referrals, and be able to easily place a value on that. As long as we are charging less than that perceived value and delivering consistenly then we have a valid revenue model.

That may not work for all social networks, but perhaps it will make them wonder what beyond fad is keeping them being used.

Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz

Mike_at_Wanna_Develop_COM · 1 year ago

Agree. There are just too many networks... Not to say they are all worthless, but each should deploy their own strategies in order to monetize the traffic. There is no "standard" in this business. It is still evolving... Things are still much up in the air as far as performance and long term results go.

Best,
Mike

Cristiano Nogueira · 1 year ago

Consider Tubespree's video monetization platform... it pays the creator of the "SpreeVideo", as well as the distributor... quick sign up and lots of affiliate products to promote.

AndyBG · 9 months ago

While it's free to use it attracts millions, Social Networks are built on a model that cannot accommodate such a paradym shift to provide lucrative marketing, Banner ads etc. proved that 10years ago; sheer numbers don't turn profits. Privacy/copyright/human rights issues will stop any alteration to the basic 'conditions of use' so it is doomed to failure just like the 'easy money' dot com boom of the '90's. Enjoy it while it lasts until the backers pull the dollars.

edhardy622 · 2 months ago

British law student sues Abercrombie-Fitch for disability discrimination.
http://www.abercrombieshop.us