The Process of Starting a Niche Social Networking Site

**Ctash** · 05-19-2009 05:52 PM

I am curious if anyone has undertaken the task of creating a SNS. There has been a good amount of article published stating that sites such as Facebook and Myspace are on the decline, and internet users are wanting a more personalized site. What do you think the costs would be in developing a site? I have read that the majority of funds raised are after a good amount of people have signed up for it. What do you think?

**clabrat** · 05-19-2009 06:38 PM

I'm been experimenting with my site. So far it's been a great experience. Other than the basic costs of registering a domain and finding a hosting company, I haven't incurred must costs.

**Ctash** · 05-19-2009 06:56 PM

I have created a mock up of the layout I want to use and I'm in the process of writing code for it. I've seen number from 10k to 50k, which to me seems pretty high. Surely a basic site at first would not need that much investment, but as features are developed more funding is required.

**discountedclothing** · 05-20-2009 05:05 AM

There are a lot of new social network sites and I guess the competition is really high.

**Ctash** · 05-20-2009 06:43 AM

I have checked various websites that lists SNS and I have to agree, there are a good amount of them. However, what my SNS is in a specific niche and is unlike anything developed currently. I am currently in the process of writing a business plan, however the most crucial section is how my SNS will generate revenue. I want to establish a new revenue stream that other SNS do not use.

**nonrate** · 05-20-2009 09:28 AM

I build CMS sites but they may be out of the range of what you're looking for. I was thinking of writing a guide and selling it for $20, a step-by-step guide for getting something like Wordpress installed and configured (even the cheapest of teenage hackers will charge a hundred bucks to do this for you) as well as get your domain name and everything running.

Would you buy something like that?