Say hello to niche network

If you thought social networking is only about liking someone’s status or tagging your friends in a photo, we suggest you read on. Brewing a new trend in online social relationships are numerous websites, which are driven by “eccentricism” and are targeted at users’ varied interests, professions and backgrounds. These “niche” social

networking sites (as they are called) provide networking opportunities keeping in mind a user’s needs and preferences. Whether it’s sports, music, games or career, you name it, they have it.
This new crop of social networking websites is increasingly becoming popular among Web users unlike the old crop (read Facebook, Orkut, Hi5 and Twitter) as they are strictly subject oriented and thus helps a user meet like-minded people with similar interests.
“I’m a rock climbing fan and you’d be surprised to know that a lot of trekking trips are organised over social networking sites. In fact, thanks to www.worldwide-climbing.com [1], I have had many beautiful experiences in my life,” says Debojyoti Pyngrope, a BPO employee.
Yogesh Bansal, CEO of www.apnacircle.com [2], which boasts of being a professional networking website says, “It’s different from other networking sites as we strictly focus on doing business with the right kind of connection in the virtual world. For example, on Facebook, you might not accept an invitation from a stranger even if he is from the same profession as yours, but here you will be more willing to do so.”
Terming these websites to be wonderful concepts for previously untouched subjects on Internet like theatre and acting, Vikrant Patnaik, senior marketing manager for www.nowpos.com [3] says, “These would be the future of social networking as they bring together individual’s over their fields of interest.”
Citing the Internet’s vulnerability to change, social media marketer Vivek Behl says, “One thing that always remains constant in the Web world is change. Nothing is stationary on the Internet and in a bid to cater to huge number of users, things keep on evolving. For example, some people have obscure interests and by creating a website dedicated entirely to that subject these websites are bring them together.”
However, when asked whether these websites would take over websites like Facebook and Twitter in terms of popularity, experts are of opinion that they though improbable, they would definitely give them steep competition.
“Websites like Facebook and Orkut gives much more to its users than what they expect. In fact one can have their own group dedicated to a subject or cause within these websites. So that one need not go searching for other options,” adds Vikrant.