Top 5 Specialized Social Networks

A niche refers to a distinct segment of a larger group, so a niche social network is one that focuses on a particular audience. As platforms like MySpace and Facebook have grown too vast, some users feel lost among the masses. This is where niche networks come into play. These platforms let users engage with a smaller group of people who share similar interests, hobbies, or professional connections. Due to their focused nature, these networks often have community guidelines. For instance, these guidelines may encourage specific language or behavior and might prohibit unwanted actions such as harassment or spam. Some niche communities are so tight-knit that members use insider jokes and shorthand, just like close friends would.

It’s important to mention that most social platforms generate revenue through paid ads, and niche networks are perfect for advertisers due to their targeted audience. For instance, a network dedicated to pet enthusiasts would be an ideal spot for ads promoting pet food. In 2006, advertisers spent $280 million on social networks, and by 2010, this figure was projected to reach $1.9 billion [source: Holahan].

What exactly are these niche social platforms, and which types of hobbyists do they attract? Let’s explore five remarkable online communities.

5: Kaboodle

Kaboodle is a free social platform designed for individuals who enjoy shopping. Established in 2005, its goal is to help people recommend, share, and explore products. Unlike typical shopping websites, Kaboodle goes beyond product listings by offering users tools to organize their shopping and find the best deals.

With over 12 million monthly visitors and more than 800,000 registered members, Kaboodle doesn’t sell products directly; instead, it provides a space for users to exchange information and connect over their love for shopping. Many users say that the community introduces them to products they wouldn't have discovered otherwise [source: Bergstein]. The platform is funded by paid advertising.

After signing up for Kaboodle, users can create personal profiles and add items from any shopping website to their lists. This feature eliminates the need to manage multiple wish lists across various platforms. Users can make lists for anything — shoes, gifts, handbags, toys — and share them with others. They can also showcase their personal style by compiling 'style boards' with their favorite looks. Blogs and articles cover trending products and the best offers. Users can even create polls to ask the community questions like, "What shoes pair best with this dress?" or "What should I get the 7-year-old boy who has everything?" A feedback feature allows users to 'heart' others' blogs or style boards to show appreciation.

4: Ravelry

Ravelry is a free online community for knitters, crocheters, designers, spinners, and dyers — essentially anyone who works with yarn and patterns. The platform aims to help users "organize, share and discover" within the yarn crafting world. It was founded to fill a gap that the creators themselves experienced — the need for a centralized and easy-to-navigate space to find and share information about patterns, yarns, and everything related to the craft. They built a community where users could come together to share knowledge and passion for knitting, crocheting, and more.

Launched in 2005, Ravelry.com now boasts 350,565 registered users [source: Ravelry]. Currently, Ravelry operates on an invitation-only basis and is supported by ads. Users must request an invitation and typically receive one within a few days. Despite still being in its testing phase, the site has gained immense popularity.

Ravelry offers a space for users to manage their active projects — documenting the patterns and yarns they’re using, posting photos of completed or in-progress works, and allowing fellow users to provide feedback and suggestions. Forum discussions cover topics ranging from "How do I use double-pointed needles?" to "Have you seen the new Star Trek?"

Several small business owners attribute their success to Ravelry, especially for helping them launch their businesses. Maggie Simser, the owner of Dyed in the Wool Handmade, a shop selling hand-dyed yarn and spinning fibers, says that Ravelry’s affordable advertising options played a key role in growing her online store. Customers enjoy discovering the latest products in her shop, and when they use her yarn in their projects, that activity appears in their profiles, further promoting her business to potential customers [source: Simser].

3. imeem

Imeem is a free social platform centered around music. Users can post and discover new artists, share playlists, and watch videos. By creating personalized playlists, or "social mixtapes" as imeem calls them, users can share their favorite music with the community. Other members can explore and comment on playlists, making it a collaborative experience. imeem provides streaming access to songs from most major and independent labels, making it easy to find your favorite tracks. While the music is free to stream, users can buy songs from iTunes or download ringtones if they find something they love.

Once a user discovers a song, they can rate it based on how much they enjoy or dislike it. Users can search for music by its highest ratings, most added to playlists, or most discussed. Community members also create fan groups for their favorite artists, exchanging information through discussion forums, photos, and blog posts.

The site, which is currently supported by private investors, launched in 2003 and now receives around 25 million visitors per month [source: Sandoval]. When a user streams or shares a song from the site, imeem compensates the song’s record label with licensing fees. These costs can accumulate, and many music-focused social networking sites are struggling to develop a sustainable business model.

Musicians and artists are encouraged to create profiles on imeem. They use the platform to share and promote their music by uploading tracks that others can embed on their blogs or profiles. Artists can also post updates such as tour dates and interviews. Additionally, the site has expanded to attract filmmakers, offering a space to upload short films and videos, which users can comment on and rate.

Imeem offers statistics to its users, allowing them to track the performance of their content. They can see who’s visiting their profiles, monitor the popularity of their playlists, and find out if anyone is embedding their music on blogs or websites.

2: Classmates.com

Classmates.com is an online platform that connects both current and former classmates. Launched in 1995, it was one of the pioneers of social networking sites. The site offers free basic services, enabling users to search for and view alumni from their high schools or colleges. However, to access detailed profiles or send messages, users must upgrade to a paid "gold" membership.

The alumni network has 4.6 million paying users and 40 million registered accounts [source: Tartakoff]. It is especially popular among people looking to organize class reunions or reconnect with classmates they’ve lost contact with. Users can create profiles that include their high school or college and graduation years, making them searchable by others. The site also features message boards where classmates can share information or organize reunions.

Classmates.com offers "interest groups" where users can connect based on shared topics. Users can network in forums about various subjects such as business, the military, sports, and more. The site’s message center allows users to contact one another without revealing personal email addresses.

In an era where free social networks like Facebook are rapidly growing, some question whether Classmates.com will soon become obsolete. However, as a niche site, Classmates.com continues to attract both members and revenue [source: Tartakoff].

1: Flixster

Flixster is a free community site designed for movie enthusiasts. It offers details on upcoming and current movies, actor profiles, fan clubs, celebrity news, movie-related gossip, video clips, and interactive features such as forums and user quizzes.

Launched in 2006, Flixster now attracts over 15 million unique visitors each month who have collectively provided nearly two billion movie ratings [source: Flixster]. The site is funded by private investors and advertising revenue.

When users set up a profile on Flixster, they can rate movies, list their favorite actors, films, and videos. They can also browse the site to discover other users with similar tastes. The site features specialized forums where members can talk about movies by genre, along with other subjects, some of which are movie-related, and others aren't. There’s even a user-curated wiki that delves into the history of cinema, covering topics like indie films, comic book-based films, and blockbusters. Users are encouraged to contribute their own articles to the wiki.

One of Flixster's standout features is its integration with Facebook. Facebook users can add the Flixster app to their profiles, enabling them to rate films and take quizzes. Any Flixster activity is automatically posted to the user's Facebook feed, encouraging other users to join in. Additionally, Flixster offers an iPhone app that lets users watch trailers, rate movies, and search for local showtimes from anywhere.