Web 2.0, user-generated social networks
In these days of Web 2.0 and user-generated content (UGC), "online communities" are becoming more and more popular as a way of marketing products and services in a cost-effective, viral fashion. One of the main benefits of these communities is that if they are set up correctly, they can virtually manage themselves.
Websites that use "viral marketing" are designed to spread themselves in such a way by providing users with incentives for recommending them to their peers. This type of system can penetrate the market incredibly quickly - witness the speed with which social networks like Facebook have become popular.
Online communities also provide a way for large enterprises, charities, collectives, user groups and interest groups to inform, communicate with, entertain and thus retain their members. Intranets, extranets, social networks and tools for online data sharing or collaboration can all be described as online communities.
At BeansBox, we can help you conceptualise and develop your ideas for an online community in a similar way to our application development service. We can also build it, and when it is built we can then manage a coordinated marketing campaign to build up the membership of the budding community.
Please contact us if you would like to find out more.