'Change likely' in social media
Social networks 'embracing niche communities'
Monday, 03 Mar 2008 11:43
The model for social networks is changing and people are signing up to more specialist sites, an expert has suggested.
Editor of online resource
Social Media Portal Tim Gibbon stated that in the future it is likely people will sign up to communities which are more "tailored" to their specific interests, such as hobbies.
"Whether it's pets, lifestyle or entertainment, they will go there rather than something that's friend-based and where you're going to find it more difficult to find something [that] interests you," he continued.
Advertising to social networks will need to be careful because if users feel they are being plagued" by it, they will simply switch off from the site, Mr Gibbon added.
Recently, the Integrated Marketing report
The Impact of Social Networking in the UK, published by Hitwise and Experian, predicted that such online communities will have a "significant" impact during 2008.
This means no company, government or agency should ignore them, it noted.
