Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These are social media sites we all know and love. ? Their popularity has only increased over the past few years with research showing that 79% of people have at least one social networking profile. ? While the big three are here to stay (for now), there’s something hot on its heels. Niche social networks.
What is a niche social media network?
- Niche social networks target a select segment of the population. It’s something that Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can no longer do successfully because they’ve all grown so large. These niche networks allow users to connect with like-minded individuals who share the same interests and hobbies. ? Some of the most up and coming niche sites are Houzz, Vero, Steemit, and Caffeine.
- Some niche networks are so tight knit that they create community guidelines and forbid certain types of behavior. A good example of this is the niche social media site Nextdoor, a site that was created as a neighborhood hub so neighbors could exchange helpful information, goods, and services. Their community guidelines basically rely on one underlying principal: everyone treats each other with respect.
These sites offer unique experiences that larger social media platforms can no longer offer. Meaning there’s so much room for opportunity on these new sites.
But… should you invest in them?
There are pros and cons to everything in life…which means that there are upsides and downsides to these niche social media networking sites. ? We’re going to dive into the good, bad, and ugly, and whether or not you should take the leap.
Pros. The landscape of social media communities is constantly changing. You can thank our digital world for that. As people’s priorities shift, so do the Internet realms.
- Feeling connected. People want to feel connected and are constantly looking for a sense of belonging. Niche social media sites allow people to express themselves and connect with specific types of social media communities.
- Which gives way to…advertising potential. This is a big one. Niche platforms allow brands to better connect with highly targeted audiences. The more targeted the audiences are, the better the conversion rates can be. For example, Houzz, a site for all things home and design, started off as a side project, but has grown to a community of more than 40 million strong. It ALSO allows brands to connect more efficiently with members to create a lasting bond.
- Niche content. The beautiful thing about having a niche site is being able to create more specific content. You can create specific messaging and hone your voice because you’re not talking to a large and broad audience.
Cons. The thing with niche social media sites is that they can be…tricky. ?
- There’s no guarantee the niche site will stay small. As we have all seen with sites like Facebook, all it takes is one small community to talk and before you know it…billions of people are on the site. Your niche site that you love COULD stay small or it could skyrocket in an instant. It’s completely unpredictable.
- The niche could become obsolete. Depending on the niche you choose or are following, there’s a possibility that it could become null and void. That’s why it’s so important to choose carefully and monitor them before investing both time and resources. Continue to check in with the performance of your content and engagement to make sure it is still delivering in the way that you want.
Now that we’ve laid it all out there for you, it’s time for YOU to make up your own minds about niche social networks! Happy reading. ?