Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

news.ycombinator.com

11–20 of 30 posts

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#11

The usual strategy is to make it very exclusive, but let it be known that it exists. Exclusivity is a powerful motivator. Start with one group of very interesting and highly motivated people and move outwards.

This is true. Uncertainty lies in discovering a large, highly motivated group of interesting people. Any ideas?

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#12
post #9

Before i can lend an opnion i would like to know what is the aim of this site.Are you creating another facebook or what? And why would people want to use your site ,whats in it for them?

A wise man, you are. Not another Facebook!

My network specifically scratches a personal itch by allowing extensive "profiling" of people in my social network. FB is focused on allowing self expression through an aging set of rigid channels (Wall, Games, Notes etc.).

My network will be based initially on letting you add to a user's profile with wiki-like ease. For instance, you'll be able to add private margin notes that only show for you on Friend A's profile. That's just the beginning.

Why people will use my site? Not sure, yet. More important is building a site I want to use! Hence my desire to add "passive" user profiles. This way, I can visualize my entire social network whether they exist online or not.

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#13

Don't.

I understand your dislike but this is NOT about mis-using personal data to inflate my network. Think about this: What's the good of having a social networking application without a complete social network??

Its simple: I desire a solid option for creating "passive" profiles so that the early majority of users can see the not-yet-active late majority. See the vision?

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#14
post #12
post #9

Before i can lend an opnion i would like to know what is the aim of this site.Are you creating another facebook or what? And why would people want to use your site ,whats in it for them?

A wise man, you are. Not another Facebook! My network specifically scratches a personal itch by allowing extensive "profiling" of people in my social network. FB is focused on allowing self expression through an aging set of rigid channels (Wall, Games, Notes etc.). My network will be based initially on letting you add to a user's profile with wiki-like ease. For instance, you'll be able to add private margin notes t…

I still dont understand exactly what you are trying to ''sell'' but i understand that you might be trying to protect your idea with some vagueness. In view of the above i can say the following. 1. Use facebook connect and allow users to post their activities on their wall (not automatically though because you'll be banned) 2. Target 2 schools close to each other and ensure scholars in those schools use whatever it is you ''selling'' 3.Get inside info on the popular kids in that school and pay them to use your app for a month or 2.

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#15
post #11

The usual strategy is to make it very exclusive, but let it be known that it exists. Exclusivity is a powerful motivator. Start with one group of very interesting and highly motivated people and move outwards.

This is true. Uncertainty lies in discovering a large, highly motivated group of interesting people. Any ideas?

You said high school? Who likes to gossip most...

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#16
post #13

Don't.

I understand your dislike but this is NOT about mis-using personal data to inflate my network. Think about this: What's the good of having a social networking application without a complete social network?? Its simple: I desire a solid option for creating "passive" profiles so that the early majority of users can see the not-yet-active late majority. See the vision?

It makes perfect sense, but there's a problem with this approach. The information in the passive profiles will be nothing new to most users, who already have their friends' contact info and an idea of what they all look like. So a pre-populated social network like the one you're talking about would be much closer to a phone-directory than anything truly "social."

And I know that passive profiles are supposed to be there as a crutch for early adopters, but it doesn't seem to add much in the way of value or positive UX. If anything, having the site start as a directory might just perpetuate its use as one.

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#17
post #8

At one point I ran a social network around cars. Basically people would upload pics of their ride and attach all the gear that went into the car. I personally didn't own a car or know much about them, so what to do? I ended up going in person to a bunch of meetup groups in the SF area with a Polaroid and digital camera. I'd ask dudes if they minded if I took pictures of their cars for my website. I'd take a bunch wit…

Brilliant! Only difference is that I need each profile, actively used or not, to represent a specific individual. Any ideas?

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#18
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is true. Uncertainty lies in discovering a large, highly motivated group of interesting people. Any ideas?

You said high school? Who likes to gossip most...

Excellent point! Thanks...

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#19

You may want to consider a service like ProComments: http://www.procomments.com

Its interesting but my network is a closed network. Besides, why would I build a product that needs "fake" users.

My aim is not to build a network that seems active but to build something active users will benefit from immediately.

Re: Ask HN: How to "seed" new social network with non-users.

#20

It's common for bar and club owners to hire models to hang out in newly opened establishments to attract people. I'd do something similar.

Thanks for your input but I'm not into trying to spoof people into using my product with dollars. I really just want to build a social product that is worth using (more than FB).

Or, Maybe I can get popular students to actively use my network. Who knows?

Post reply on HN