Emerging sites
It seems that almost every day a new social platform launches and garners attention for a short time. Those that catch on can go on to enjoy almost limitless success. Despite the billions being poured into these launches, the vast majority disappear with nary a wimper. And some, such as LiveJournal—one of the original platforms that lost market share to Facebook—return to live another day.
The sites listed here are some that MAY be useful to you. If you intend to use a site for business purposes, it can be tricky deciding whether to become an early user and thus become extremely influential or invest in a site that bombs and can taint your own reputation.
The sites listed here are some that MAY be useful to you. If you intend to use a site for business purposes, it can be tricky deciding whether to become an early user and thus become extremely influential or invest in a site that bombs and can taint your own reputation.
BRICKFLOW
This is a Lego-like app that lets you "curate" live social media hashtag posts and transform them into stories. It's an interesting way to create a visual diary of similar posts to get your point across. CHIRP
After you take a photo you'd like to send out, Chirp emits a brief, high-pitched robotic noise (like a sonar ping). All of the other smart phones within audio range will get a copy of the photo and maybe even a message. This has huge application potential for businesses because Chirp can instantly send out notes, info graphics, podcasts, and other materials to those who quickly need them. CHIRPIFY
This online service founded in 2011 enables users to buy products through social media sites with one click. Here’s how it works: You sign up for Chirpify—which you can do in less than 30 seconds via your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram accounts—sync it with your PayPal account, and start shopping. Adidas, for example, has sold attire on Twitter using Chirpify. In February, Chirpify enabled Facebook users to purchase country singer Tim McGraw’s new album by simply typing “buy” in the Facebook comments section attached to the record. People can also use Chirpify to make purchases on Instagram. Why you should care: More brands will be interested in the ease of selling goods via social media. SPREAKER
Spreaker is an audio platform that allows anyone to create, broadcast and share a personal live podcast across the Internet in a simple and accessible way. Spreaker offers a set of tools which include a web-based mixing console, a music & sound effects library and the ability to broadcast live audio through a widget which can be embedded across websites, social networks and blogs. Users can create their own podcasts and then share them with their fans and friends on Facebook through the Facebook social graph. This a great platform for marketers and brands to easily create audio content and share it with their customers and prospects. SNAPCHAT
Snap a photo or a video, add a caption, and send it to a friend (or maybe a few). After viewing, the snap disappears from the screen—unless they take a screenshot! If you want to share a Snap with all of your friends, add it to your Snapchat Story, where each Snap "lives" for 24 hours until it disappears, making room for the new. The images might be a little grainy, and you may not look your best, but that's the point. Businesses are using Snapchat to send confidential info to employees. However, it's also being used for illegal or immoral activities, so be sure you know what you're doing. Why you should care: As people become aware that their digital trail lasts forever, apps promising message anonymity or a limited lifetime are appealing. However, that occurs only if the recipient plays along. If someone grabs a screenshot of a message, it may technically disappear, but it can then be forwarded or used for other purposes. Just be careful. SOUNDCLOUD
Soundcloud, based in Germany, is the largest community of artists, bands, podcasters, and creators of music and audio on the web. Soundcloud allows members to post their sounds and share them with friends, fans and followers everywhere. It has a built-in community where you can build an audience. Soundcloud has their own mobile app to record music or users can try one of many third-party apps to create music. Users can share their music or sounds easily across social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest. They can also use simple widgets to embed sounds in their website or blog. I can imagine brands taking advantage of undiscovered talent and licensing their music or sponsoring their band. |
SECOND LIFE
This niche site is a free 3D virtual world where users can socialize, connect, and create using free voice and text chat. MEDIUM
Medium is a blogging site, though its founders describe it as an extension of Twitter. “A place where you can find and share knowledge, ideas, and stories—specifically, ones that need more than 140 characters and are not just for your friends,” the site promises. The About Us page of Medium is packed with lofty language stressing that the site favors quality over quantity. Here’s how it works: You write a long, carefully-crafted blog post of "deeper value," which appears in one of the site's many "collections"—such as "Advice to New Graduates" or "Airport Stories"—or on the site's homepage. Users vote (or "recommend") posts. How prominently a post is displayed on the site depends on how many votes it receives. Anyone with a Twitter account can log in and read/comment, but you’ll need an invite from the folks at Medium to actually write something. It plans to open up the site in the future. Why you should care: Medium was created by Evan Williams and Biz Stone, the guys who started Twitter and Blogger. POPULR
This startup is based in Nashville. It's becoming popular among businesses and individuals who want a really quick (and basic!) single page Web presence. They claim "it's the easiest way for professionals to create and share information through single web pages called POPs. Each one-pager is fast to create, and our intelligent layout and design engines ensure they look professional. POPs can contain rich media such as video and embeds, plus every page is mobile optimized. Most important, they are easy to share through any channel including email, social, text—anywhere you can post a URL." SPREECAST
Spreecast is a social video platform. It connects people through video conversations. Users can use Spreecast to discuss current events, explore their interests, meet celebrities, host business meetings and conferences, and engage with customers. You can even privately chat with friends and family. Brands can use Spreecast to engage with customers by promoting special events, announcing new products, and building their social presence. Businesses can also use Spreecast to host video conferences and interactive meetings. Spreecast may become a great new and inexpensive platform for webinars and meetings where participants are in various locations. Why you should care: Video is fast becoming the preferred communications method, especially among young people. However, recipients can "stop" a video or turn down the sound. NEXTDOOR
This site connects users within the same neighborhood. Used in more than 8,000 U.S. neighborhoods, the social network has de facto come to be used largely as a digital neighborhood watch group. Users must prove that they live within the area designated by the local administrator, and each such area must have at least three members. The second version of the Web-only social network created a dedicated page for safety and security content. It also allows users in one neighborhood to share some of their content with users in nearby neighborhoods. |
KEEK
Think about Instagram but with video instead of photos. Keek is an easy way to share video updates with friends, fans or followers. Users can upload video status updates (“keeks”) using their webcam or the Keek app for Android, iPhone, and BlackBerry. Keek allows users to post video and text comments and send private messages. It has a dashboard and a customizable activity stream that is very similar to Instagram. It also has a notification center, a built-in analytics tool and it allows users to subscribe to favorites. This is a great new platform for brands and marketers who are already using Instagram. Think about how much more you can do with video instead of still images! LIVEJOURNAL
This venerable early blogging site "died" a few years ago as it was eclipsed by Facebook and Twitter. However, it's since become the "go-to" social platform in Russia. Users may create an online blog, diary, or journal in any of five user levels. Why you should care: Prominent and influential Russians prefer LiveJournal. And it's returned from the dead. Its success may prove instructive to those hoping to turn around failed media sites. JELLY
Jelly is a new phone app that's been highly-anticipated. Cofounded by Twitter's Biz Stone, it's been hyped as a new way to search based on your network of friends. To use Jelly, you take a photo of something and ask a question about it, then send it out to your network. You can also draw on the photo to annotate exactly what you want answered. Friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter who have Jelly accounts will be able to see your question and answer. When you receive an adequate answer, you select "thank you" (similar to a Facebook like). VINE
Vine is a mobile app that enables its users to create and post video clips. Video clips created with Vine have a maximum length of 6 seconds and can be shared or embedded on social networking services. Though it was available initially only for iOS devices, Twitter is working on bringing the app to other platforms. Why you should care: Younger people prefer viewing video uploads than reading text. The widespread use of cell phone cameras means that anyone anywhere can now shoot video that can go viral. SINA WEIBO
Sina Weibo is billed as China’s Twitter—except it has twice the users as Twitter. Brands such as Pizza Hut have embraced the site, as have celebrities, including some Western celebs like Tom Cruise, who has more than 4.2 million followers on Sina Weibo. There’s even a U.S. version of Weibo, though that’s mostly indecipherable (unless you understand Mandarin Chinese). There is at least one service, called Transfluencer, helping American brands post to Weibo. It has been called a Twitter clone, but it’s far more than that. China’s preeminent homegrown microblogging service has a decidedly different feel than Twitter, and despite the fact that it’s carefully censored, it has become the premier platform for important political and social discourse in China. It may not be the most profitable social media site on China’s web, but it it just might be the most important one. Why you should care: According to Mashable, 22 percent of China’s population of more than 1.3 billion people are signed up for Sina Weibo. That’s a lot of people. RAVETREE
This free social networking site is billed as one that respects users' privacy. They claim that their powerful apps (such as a calendar) have built-in social features and privacy not found in other sites. They claim to not scan your calendar events and won't embed ads. |