Niche Social Networks

I just found an example of probably one of the best niche networks that I have seen to date. A  niche network can either be one singular domain or multiple domains connected together. The network always begins with one theme or topic and then drills down vertically to exploit the theme. These networks can go deep if built correctly, this is why they can also be called vertical networks. This is an excellent example of a niche network using a interconnecting domains.

NICHE NETWORK EXAMPLE:
Theme: Motorcycles
Domain: Motorcycle.com

Millions of people world wide ride and love motorcycles and this site is paradise for those motorcycle fans. But that’s not all!

If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will discover a very detailed listing of another twenty four motorcycle websites. As you jump from one site to the next you will notice something interesting.

The layout is identical. They essentially used the same software and simply cloned the site only changing the skin or design of the site.

HOW THEY DID THIS:
This niche network appears to be built out of vbulletin forums. Vbulletin.com an online forums software with a lifetime license starting around $185.00 per year.

So essentially they launched an entire niche network off of a budget of around than $5000

* Don’t forget to add design fees, photo royalties, server, bandwidth, domains etc..

LETS LOOK AT SOME STATS:
www.v-twinforum.com = Members: 64,887
www.1130cc.com = Members: 24,429
www.harley-davidsonforums.com = Members: 1,715
www. buellchat.com = Members: 106
www.ktmforums.com = Members: 288
www.victoryforums.com = Members: 177
www.gixxer.com = Members: 104,260
www.gsxr.com = Members: 33,008
www.sportbikes.net = Members: 81,000
www.esportbike.com = Members: 52,492
www.sportbikeworld.com = Members: 54,580
www.r1-forum.com = Members: 87,481
www.ducatimonster.org = Members: 24,449
www.ducati.ms = Members: 16,445
www.apriliatalk.com = Members: 221
www.triumphrat.net = Members: 19,509
www.twowheelforum.com = Members: 20,514
www.r6-forum.com = Members: 37,558
www.kawiforums.com = Members: 31,073
www.vulcanforums.com = Members: 697
www.zxforums.com = Members: 13,682
www.600rr.net = Members: 31,420
www.1000rr.net = Members: 11,166
www.r6messagenet.com = Members: 31,516

Total Network Membership Base: 742,673

THE POWER IS IN THE NETWORK
If you notice they only have one very valuable domain. Motorcycle.com
Everything elese is so niche it fades out on it’s own.

BUILD FROM THE CENTER OUT:
You will notice that the main key is to build your network out from a center point.
One theme, one main idea or niche concept. You could do exactly the same idea with scooters, bikes, Hobbies, etc.

HOW TO CASH IN WITH MEMBERSHIPS:
Once you establish a network like this you have the potential to make alot of money. Each of these micro niche sites offers free accounts but for $15 you can get a premium membership and for $40 a lifetime.

SO LETS DO SOME MATH JUST FOR CURIOSITY SAKE (THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL)

Imagine If:

8% of each membership group gets a lifetime membership
15% of each group get a premium
77% of all members are Free

750,000 x .08 = 60,000 x $40 / year = $2,400,000.00
750,000 x .15 = 112,500 x $15 / year = $1,687,500

Estimated Total Yearly Membership Revenue: $4,087,500.00

____________________
IMPORTANT: THIS IS ONLY AN ESTIMATE TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BUILDING A MICRO NICHE NETWORK OUT OF ONE IDEA CAN MAKE YOU A TON OF MONEY.

ALL OF THE MEMBERSHIP STATS WERE PULLED FROM THE SITES LISTED ON 8/15/08. THIS INFORMATION IS IN NO WAY CORRECT. ONLY A MATH EXAMPLE OF POTENTIAL SALES
—————————-

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
1. You need great content to attract members
2. Don’t forget domain name expenses, dedicated servers, bandwidth, technical support. et

3. This stuff takes time to build, it doesn’t happen over night.

BUT IF DONE RIGHT IT WILL LAST A LONG TIME AND PAY OFF BIG!!

* OH… Don’t forget revenue from google adwords and sponsored banners

One way to build your database it to give away valuable products in what is known as an ethical bribe.

You offer valuable online products for free and the online users opts into your email database giving you permission to market to them.

These products are very valuable because they help you gain long term relationship with consumers around the world.

These products can range from:

• ebooks
• reports
• articles
• ecourses
• videos
• audio
• Teleseminars
• Webinars

  Qualities of Free Products
  

• The Product must be of value to the online user

• The Product must represent you are an expert in the field you are selling

Methods Used to Attract Customers to Consume Tangibles

• word of mouth
• paid advertsing
• adwords
• articles
• organic listings
• affiliate relationships
• promotional give aways

• Targeted Squeeze Pages
  

• Delivery of Tangibles
  How do you get tangibles to the customer?

• Digital Downloads

• Direct Mail

Things You Need to Start:

1. Website
2. Client Database
3. Tangible Product

The Goal: Build a database and exploit it.

• LMS - Website
• Tangible Product

Despite what you might read on the web establishing and creating a niche market is relatively simple.

1. Identify A Need

2. Create Your Product

3. Make Your Pitch

4. And Sell

Now what you haven’t been told is this:

You Need to First Find Your Audience.

Before you do anything else, find your audience. Building your database of clients is the absolute most important thing you can do. It needs to become your number one priority.

Even if you just have one product and a small one page website it will not matter. If you have a strong and reliable database be prepared to make money.

Begin capturing names and emails today. I highly suggest using either Awebber or 1shopping cart as reliable email services. These services offer strong standards of double opt in email which guarantee that your list receives your email.

If you’ve been watching the online trends of recent you have more than likely noticed that the word ‘niche’ is appearing more and more. Often times this is tied into niche social networks, niche membership sites, niche products, and or niche marketing.

People around the world are jumping on the on the opportunity to claim their share of the next internet gold mine by creating their very own specialized niche and stepping forward to become the expert representative of their so choosen niche.

Often times these sites usually begin as small focused websites. Eventually with time and consistency they grow into highly specialized vertical networks.

Finding a niche is the solution to avoiding overly saturated online markets and the begning of creating long term forms of income and recurring revenue.
Often times the process of identifying a niche can take time and require careful observation and diligent research. Sometimes it’s sitting right in front.

The trick is realizing that though you might be the only person in your town or state who has the specific interests that you do this does not mean that your idea does not have niche value and or an ability to become monetized.

Despite challenging economic times finding and creating a niche can often times be a much better long term investment than choosing to either work a conventional job or do nothing at all.

What is a niche social network?
A niche social network is a highly specialized social networking or membership based website intended to target specific individuals and or organizations. These niche networks are vertically networks because they focus on the depth and quality of a niche services. Often times these specialized micro niche sites become membership based charging fees and or selling specialized services to it’s members. More and more people are seeing the value in building and establishing micro niche social networks.

Why you might ask?
Because they work! People around the world are looking for more and more specialized information. Information of value and substance. They are even willing to pay for it.

So do the math:

Imagine you love bird. You know all about them and have even written an ebook on building and making your own. You might have a blog and you might have an email list. Well if you do it’s time to think about creating a niche membership site.

To begin with you get 50 members each paying you $25 per month.

That =’s $1250 USD not bad for a start.

After three years your site will could potentially have 500 members = $12,500 per month.

Now you are not only living well but hopefully you have created one of the best sites in the world for your micro niche.

So start today!!

Below you will find information to begin your journey.

Here is a list of membership site software and providers. The main question to ask is do you want a managed service or do you want to manage your service your self. If you plan on having under 100 members you might just want to look into something like joomla which is essentially free. If you are looking at thousands of members you need something which is managed.

Here is a list of providers
Membergate, Webjam, Subhub, Omin-secure, Membermanger, Joomla, Phpfox

Here is a list of white label social networking software. Software available for you to launch your own social network today.
Sharepoint, Five Across, Community Server, Peopleaggregator, Social Platform, Sitelife From Pluck, Affinity Circles, Kick Apps, Web Crossing, Crowd Factory, Collectivex, Elggspaces, Metromojo, Me.com, Onesite, Phpfox, Select Minds, Small World Labs, Social Network Server, Sparta Social Networks, Phpizabi, Leverage Software, Going On, Momo, Drupal, Awareness, Haystack, Omnifuse, Prospero, Liveworld, Userplane, Ning, The Port, Joomla, Efriends, Intronnetworks, Dzoic, Boonx, World Web, Dave Networks, Village Engine, Neighborhood America, Movable Type, Lithium Technologies, Group Members International, Vibe Capital, Social Groupware, World Dating Partners, Kwiqq, Go Lightly, Atlassian Confluence, Converdge, Rsitez, Pringo, Friendsite, Sixapart, Satmetrics, Mixxt, Plone, Diso (wordpress), Krem Social Networks, Social Engine, Intronetworks, Vitrue, Wild Apricot, Acquia, Corespeed, Flux, Higher Logic, Tamtamy

Social Networks are not just myspace and facebooks. Social networks can range any type of group and gathering online. From your church youth group to your writers block focus group.

Here are some examples below of different types of social networks

Intranet Social Network, Office Social Network, Professional Social Network, Religious Social Network, Niche Social Network, Marketing Social Networks, Medicial Social Networks, Corporate Social Network

Here is a list of the top 50 and most interesting niche social networks. Yes you can make a living building your niche. View these sites here.

Americabookshelf.com, Booksconnect, Bookcrossing.com, Bookhopper.co.uk, Bookins.com, Bookmooch.com, Booksalescout.com, Bookswim.com, Connectviabooks, Goodreads, Paperbackswap.com, Pazap.com, Read It Swap It, Revish, Shelfari, Socialbib, Advisorgarage, Artbreak, Blogtronix, Commutal, Companyloop, Connectbeam, Decorati, Domystuff, Doostang, Fast Pitch, Ikarma Inc., Imagekind, Jambo, Jigsaw, Konnects, Lawyrs, Linkedin, Mediabistro.com, Pairup.com, Ryze.com, Spoke.com, Visible Path, Webcrossing Neighbors, Xing, Amiglia, Cafemom, Cingo, Commongate, Family 2.0, Famiva, Famster, Geni.com, Genoom