Starting a social network like facebook?

Starting from scratch is pretty brave since there is a free/open-source Facebook-like platform called Diaspora that you could easily use and customise to your needs, maybe adding additional features. (joindiaspora_com)

Others have already said, the best thing to go for is a micro-niche of users that cant/don't currently connect with the usual social networks. Once you've identified a niche then you can target your marketing to attract those people, through things like Adwords campaigns for keywords relevant to that niche.

Do not let anyone tell you that you can not do something. Ever. Good luck OP!

There is always going to be some sort of competition out there; it isn't just Facebook you're competing with. Do what you can to make your idea grow, even if it doesn't become some dominating social media site overnight. Facebook started out as a place for students and has grown since then, considerably.

WOW i don't even know where to start.... I guess i want to say putting people down is just wrong.. i am just trying to do something and was just asking for help not put downs.. so yeah thanks guys..... no need for names...

Hey guys im not trying to take over facebook, im just trying to be one of the other 1000s of sites meetme.com, match.com and so many others, you know theres 1000s of other sites who do good. and my site does offer more. i have a super cool video chat and you can also post blogs, options to have timeline or not, i also am working on free SMS and free world wide phone calls. this sites slogan is "Built for the people by the people"

i just hate the fact that facebook is making changes its members don't want. Wait till your fan page with 100,000 likes is worthless because of facebooks new paying to post your updates will be shown to 10% of your likes members. The battle to get traffic from facebook will get harder and harder and more expensive.

All im tying to do is give the members what they want. and im working on....

Any suggestions to get the name out there would be appreciated. A list of blogs, forum, idk give me some ideas not put downs....

Start with student communities, that's often where innovative products and services start (open mindedness and strong connectivity of members, etc..)

Sorry to disappoint you man ,but its too late to beat something like facebook or google they've grown to mighty , any new feature you make and you make a good response they just steal and infuse it in their own , facebook has implemented a number of changes just to make sure they do away with any type of competition !

lambofgods said:

Sorry to disappoint you man ,but its too late to beat something like facebook or google they've grown to mighty , any new feature you make and you make a good response they just steal and infuse it in their own , facebook has implemented a number of changes just to make sure they do away with any type of competition !

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Is this forum's members just filled with hate and negativity.....

All the best.
I can be your first share holder.
Better give me some insides so I know what I am investing on.
I also have some ideas.
PM me if interested in a partnership.

p.s. I am not joking

Good marketing and Organic traffic!
A good social networking site generates it's own traffic.

lambofgods said:

Sorry to disappoint you man ,but its too late to beat something like facebook or google they've grown to mighty , any new feature you make and you make a good response they just steal and infuse it in their own , facebook has implemented a number of changes just to make sure they do away with any type of competition !

Click to expand...

Too late to beat something like google or facebook? It is never too late to beat someone, what if every new company had the same mindset as you do? There would be no Vkontakte, no Duckduckgo, no Reddit, etc. Competition is always needed and there are plenty of sites like google and facebook making more money than members of BHW would only dream of. To the op, if you belive in this idea go for it, fuck all the negative responses about that the niche is already filled or that it will be impossible to compete, don't listen to people with limited beliefs who fear competition and will never accomplish something big in their lives. Remember that it took years for some websites to get where there are today, they dont grow in a month.

First pm me the site, ill join and check it out.

second. promoting it on blogs/ forums wont do much for you. If you really want it to grow as a social network you need to spread it via friends and be social with it. Try printing out a couple hundred post-card sized ads, go downtown w/e city you live in and spread the word.
You cannot target international traffic, you need to target communities at a time. That is how facebook grew, and why they were soo successful.

Nowadays Facebook relies mostly on people returning organically! But they started through word of mouth first! Start small and scale up, GOOD LUCK!

I agree with akzzz, trying to mimic FB 100% would serve no purpose. It would have to be a completely new kind of social media outlet. I believe there are ideas out there that could possibly do significantly well given the right targeted audience.