The Social Media Wall of Shame
By Laura Baumann, Intern
Since the early 2000s social media communication has profoundly changed the way we interact with one another and the world around us. Today you can connect to someone through networking sites that cover virtually every special interest out there. In fact, there are even some social networks with user bases larger than the population of most countries. While the phenomena of social media is still relatively young, there have been many attempts to recreate the success experienced by the more popular sites. Sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube attract millions of users every day. But for every Facebook and Twitter that becomes a success, there are other sites that fail due to bad planning or bad luck. In the beginning of the year The Washington Times ran an article listing a few of the biggest social media failures to-date. Why exactly does a networking site fail? And how do you know if your idea is the right idea? Below is an excerpt from the article with some insight into why certain sites just don’t make the cut.
The Loser Circle:
Quora
A question and answer site which was supposed to build up a foundation of knowledge. You could ask and answer questions, vote for the best answer, choose your areas of expertise, and ‘follow’ people.
Why it failed: Two reasons. First, we already have a site like that – Yahoo Answers. Yes, Yahoo Answers is a haven for teenagers asking for homework help, but there are plenty of legitimate questions, too. And second, a user can get their answer better and faster through Google, friends on Facebook, or emailing a friend.
When brainstorming ideas for a new networking site you have to remember to think entirely outside of the box. Sites similar to their potential competitors are not going to end up attracting users or generating much revenue.
Winner Circle:
A site which lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.”
Why it succeeded: It is a new concept and it is easy. How many of us see things on the web we could save for later? Recipes, decorating ideas, clothes, and shoes are all things we comes across every day that we would love to recall later. Pinterest makes it easier than ever to create ideas and inspire others.
To read more social media failures view the full article here
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