Niche Social Networking Targeting Devoted Industry Fans

 

micro-networksNiche Social Networks are more targeted and typically smaller versions of the major Social Media Websites online today. They are highly effective at targeting the fanatical, dedicated audiences of a particular interest or industry. The very nature of the Internet has made it possible for people to band together, to create an online community dedicated to their shared passions. Overcoming geographic limitations, Niche Social Networks allow people to discuss and share their mutual interests and passions in an inclusive community setting.

Choose an interest area, something related to what your company specializes in, and odds are there is already a niche social network full of passionate people enthusiastic about the topic. Are you an artist looking to share your work and learn from others? deviantART allows members to create profiles, set up galleries, and build a fan base through their community. Do you work in publishing or are you an author? Goodreads is a niche social community devoted to sharing book recommendations and information. Is your brand looking to reach an audience of parents, or moms? Social sites like Café Mom and Spoonful are where you need to be. Foodies of the world are also uniting online, taking their reviews, recipes and discussions to sites like Food Gawker and Foodspotting. These are just a few of the thousands of niche Social Media Communities out there that harness the passionate dedication of a group, and generate great results for brands.

How do they work?

In much the same way that larger Social Media Communities allow members to interact and share, Niche Social Networks do the same thing, just on a more specialized playing field. Micro Communities are an effective and important way to reach the people who are already interested in your brand’s line of work. While reaching large audiences on general Social Media Websites is important, targeting dedicated people on specific niche online Websites will drive the right people to your Website. These Websites are great ways to build your brand awareness with those already passionate about your industry. Niche Social Networks allow you to pursue targeted branding opportunities with the influential voices talking about your industry.

As with all Social Media platforms, it is important to remember that Niche Social Networks will not tolerate spam. Even though the members of these online niches are obviously interested in your industry and probably your brand, it doesn’t mean they want to receive your sales pitches in their communities. You need to distribute worthwhile, creative resources to get their attention and dedication. The possibilities seem limitless within niche Social Media Communities. But you can do more harm than good when you try to take advantage of them.

How do you know which ones are worth it?

Social Media Marketing is a time consuming, long-term approach to marketing. Knowing which Websites to target can be tricky, and if you choose the wrong ones, you can waste valuable time and resources.

So how do you know where to put your effort, especially when dealing with online niches? There are a number of factors to consider when choosing Niche Social Networks. Determining the number of members is important, even though you’ll be dealing with smaller communities than Facebook, it is still important to verify how many people you will be gaining access to in a certain community. It is also important to establish your goals for the Niche Social Networks you choose to work with, and then make sure that you’re targeting a Website that will allow you to meet those goals. It goes beyond finding an online niche that your company fits into. You need to understand what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it. On Niche Social Networks, make sure that you choose a community that will allow you to reach the goals you have established within the resources you have available.

(Source: http://www.epower.com)