Ways to promote a new social network

28 replies
I have recently launched a new social network bongal.com

The idea is that it connnects members based on their interests and location. I thought it filled a niche in the social networking arena and all those that have joined so far seem very pleased with it. We are just struggling to grow it past 20k members.

Any tips for growth?
#network #promote #social #ways
  • Profile picture of the author Margo Tuul
    It looks cool. Advertise. Get some paid advertising. Try Facebook or other social networking sites. Advertise where you audience hangs out.
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      There is one small problem. We were have already spent 20k on ads and taken some really rubbish advice. I now need to go it alone really. I have been told that there are some really good heads in here who could help.

      PS thanks for the compliment on the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    I am sure you are already, but...you should advertise on other social networks like Twitter. Every time I go there, the sheer level of SPAM annoys me. I am sure people are looking for alternatives. The day Twitter allowed automated updates they shot themselves in the foot.
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      Originally Posted by thebitbotdotcom View Post

      I am sure you are already, but...you should advertise on other social networks like Twitter. Every time I go there, the sheer level of SPAM annoys me. I am sure people are looking for alternatives. The day Twitter allowed automated updates they shot themselves in the foot.
      I find that on twitter you are just advertising to other spammers so it doesnt work. I really think they are in trouble if they dont flush the spammers.
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      • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
        Originally Posted by oliverjones View Post

        I find that on twitter you are just advertising to other spammers so it doesnt work. I really think they are in trouble if they dont flush the spammers.
        Very true. In my opinion it had very brief success. Eventually, many will leave and you are giving them a place to go. Just don't make the same mistakes they made. Nice site. You definitely seem to be filling a unfilled niche. And, yes, this is a great place to get advice. Sometimes, however, it takes threads a while to get going.
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  • Profile picture of the author leuven6
    Its a cool site hope you find a solution on the problem regarding getting more members
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  • Profile picture of the author Aryan
    You have any contact importer installed in your site?
    If no, do that asap! After some point you have to make your members bring new members. 20K is a decent number. If each member brings you 2 new members, you'll get extra 40K members with no effort.

    Check this free contact importer: Open Inviter - Free Import contacts from email providers like Mail2World, MSN, GMX.net and many more

    If you already have any contact importers installed, promote that within your site effectively!
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  • Profile picture of the author theentry
    Try to make a viral video, people love to watch those..
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      Guys this feedback is so nice of you.

      We do have an importer (open inviter) but getting people to use it is another matter. They all think we are trying to scrape their email addys.

      Any ideas on how to get them to use it?

      Also we did a viral vid but it is a bit lame so i am ashamed to link you lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
    I knew the vid would put you off lol
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  • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
    Any other ideas guys? Your help is much appreciated.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonMills
    No the vid was alright man, give me 5 mins to think
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      Originally Posted by JonMills View Post

      No the vid was alright man, give me 5 mins to think
      We got quite a bit of stick for it. Was a bit out of order really. At least we are giving it a go!
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      • Profile picture of the author howinfo
        I think that the video was quite good. And the site itself looks very good.

        Yes advertising is one way to go but it can be quite expensive as you have already found out. You just need to come up with some sort of link bait, something cool on the site or some new clever video that would make people to link to it and send it to each other to make it go viral in big way.
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        • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
          Originally Posted by howinfo View Post

          I think that the video was quite good. And the site itself looks very good.

          Yes advertising is one way to go but it can be quite expensive as you have already found out. You just need to come up with some sort of link bait, something cool on the site or some new clever video that would make people to link to it and send it to each other to make it go viral in big way.
          Hmm nice idea. Just need a vid now lol.
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          • Profile picture of the author howinfo
            Originally Posted by oliverjones View Post

            Hmm nice idea. Just need a vid now lol.
            It will take some brain storming to come up with something interesting. I think that humour is the best way to go. If you look on youtube, the videos that will get most views are funny videos or some really grotesque, bizarre and horrific ones but you don't want that. Go for funny, Funny videos will always get passed around and are included in TV shows like Rude Tube and that would give you lot of free publicity.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonMills
    I give you your due, at least your doing it.

    See thing is you face what many other people face when they start a service.

    You got to get people in the door, to create a buzz which then pulls others in.

    Facebook did it by using universities one by one and a startup capital firm, and there was really only 2 social sites, friendster and myspace around at the time

    Now days there are just so many god damn social sites.. around that people barely have the time or energy.

    I mean there are those who have stepped away from the BIG facebook just because its taken up too much time etc but then there are others who are joining every day.

    Facebook handles interests, im not sure if the angle your providing is clear cut enough as to not look like a weaker version of facebook.

    Now again it takes time to get things going.. Heck think of all the major social places online many people are still only asking the question like " What is twitter" to me and you its old news.. but to others its taken them years to only just hear about that. And that was a first of its kind sort of

    Instead of looking at focusing all your attention on driving more people there i would either

    A. See how you can make it more unique. Maybe 1 interest, go after a group, aim your site at that group only instead of a one shot all interests place which has been done. If that works then expand out from there. See the problem with facebook is it takes everything under one umbrella but doesnt cater to individual groups well. Get a company who comes in and focuses on one group and they can create something that exceeds what facebook could do. Then take system/model and its simple to multiple it into different markets. Ending up with a more robust super focused model.
    B. Run a survey on your current users, ask them why they joined, how often they use it, why they use it, what they like, what they dont like. Track how often they use it on the backend
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      Originally Posted by JonMills View Post

      I give you your due, at least your doing it.

      See thing is you face what many other people face when they start a service.

      You got to get people in the door, to create a buzz which then pulls others in.

      Facebook did it by using universities one by one and a startup capital firm, and there was really only 2 social sites, friendster and myspace around at the time

      Now days there are just so many god damn social sites.. around that people barely have the time or energy.

      I mean there are those who have stepped away from the BIG facebook just because its taken up too much time etc but then there are others who are joining every day.

      Facebook handles interests, im not sure if the angle your providing is clear cut enough as to not look like a weaker version of facebook.

      Now again it takes time to get things going.. Heck think of all the major social places online many people are still only asking the question like " What is twitter" to me and you its old news.. but to others its taken them years to only just hear about that. And that was a first of its kind sort of

      Instead of looking at focusing all your attention on driving more people there i would either

      A. See how you can make it more unique. Maybe 1 interest, go after a group, aim your site at that group only instead of a one shot all interests place which has been done. If that works then expand out from there. See the problem with facebook is it takes everything under one umbrella but doesnt cater to individual groups well. Get a company who comes in and focuses on one group and they can create something that exceeds what facebook could do. Then take system/model and its simple to multiple it into different markets. Ending up with a more robust super focused model.
      B. Run a survey on your current users, ask them why they joined, how often they use it, why they use it, what they like, what they dont like. Track how often they use it on the backend

      Thanks so much for you feedback. We feel that what makes our offering different is that the site promotes other users and groups to you depending on your interests. So if you join and u like snowboarding and fine wine for example, the site will show present you with groups and users who share those interests. This is a way for you to meet new people without having to seek them out.

      Facebook is all about friends and only the ones you know in the real world. It is not acceptable to add random people on Facebook. We want to do the opposite. Make a site where people add each other because they are into the same things. I dont think there is another network doing this? It has been painstaking creating the algorithms to do this and we do feel we are unique. Its just so difficult getting that message across.
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  • Profile picture of the author DNChamp
    Since you spent 20K already why not put aside $500 and go to Fiverr and go to town. You could get so many different people to do so many different things for you even those who do the work for you would probaly sign up!
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  • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
    Well as you can see from the above vid we tried and failed with a Viral vid. I would really appreciate any other tips you guys could offer?
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  • Profile picture of the author Devid Farah
    Some ideas:

    1.College campuses. If you live near a college campus, try posting up flyers for your social network (legally of course - ask the administration first!). This will hopefully get some people excited about it.

    2.Viral video. It's hard to get a video to go viral, but if you do, you are all set! Look at articles like http://techcrunch.com/2007/11/22/the...-viral-videos/ for tips on getting a video to go viral.

    3.Advertise - but wisely. There's a difference between advertising to your target population (via other social networking sites, public interest forums, etc) and throwing money at a dead end. Find your target population and put all your advertising money at the sites they frequent!

    Best of luck - the site looks super cool, and I hope it becomes successful!
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  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Michal
    submit press releases EVERYWHERE big and small, and do an email blast to as many radio and news stations as possible telliing everyone how this new up and coming site just might be the facebook killer! Chances are you wil land a couple interviews on smaller stations probably late at night, but if you make an impression people will tell people and you might be able to get a bigger station to pick you up for an interview. also, if you can use a pr distribution firm and see if you can get your press release on google page one/ news for facebook alternative that gets over 12k monthly searches. Just my $0.02
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  • Profile picture of the author quiescen
    Hi Oliver,

    Just took a peep. Here's my idea. When you first go to the homepage, you get a good idea of what the site is about but ... you don't have any relevant action to take to draw you closer to connecting with people who share your interests.

    Before you get them to register on your site, you need to sharpen the interest. Allow visitors to search first and then register. Get them involved with your site before you get them registered.

    That way, you will have people who not only are prequalified, but who will spread the word for you - once you enable that.

    P.S. If you don't want to go that route, offer a cookie ... some kind of reward for registering for your site. I don't see any on the homepage.
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    • Profile picture of the author oliverjones
      That way, you will have people who not only are prequalified, but who will spread the word for you - once you enable that.

      P.S. If you don't want to go that route, offer a cookie ... some kind of reward for registering for your site. I don't see any on the homepage.[/QUOTE]

      Hey thanks for the advice. So how do you see that working? Let the user search a keyword?? Then show them all the groups and other members they would get involved with if they joined? I like your way of thinking but just not sure how you see it working?
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  • Profile picture of the author quiescen
    Yes ... let them search. Find a way to get them involved and 'hooked' on your service. Then you'll have no problem getting people to register.

    P.S. If your site does get huge and you use my idea, don't forget.
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  • Profile picture of the author wmcfer17
    How about going to other social network. Start posting their and other people will click on your link and start spreading it. Or make a contest on you sn.
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  • Profile picture of the author karen7
    It looks cool. Advertise. Get some paid advertising. Try Facebook or other social networking sites.
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