Build it and they will come?

**VCNetwork** · 03-01-2009 06:58 PM

Alright what are you guys thoughts on a new social network. Do you believe that if you build it they will come? So would you start the network out as a highly professional looking site ready for the compacity of millions?

OR

Build it as they come? This site is smaller feels more personal, maybe not a "corporate" feeling, and build it as they come in. Start adding features as members join to keep it stimulated.

**Foxhound Network** · 03-01-2009 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by VCNetwork

Alright what are you guys thoughts on a new social network. Do you believe that if you build it they will come? So would you start the network out as a highly professional looking site ready for the compacity of millions?

OR

Build it as they come? This site is smaller feels more personal, maybe not a "corporate" feeling, and build it as they come in. Start adding features as members join to keep it stimulated.

With me owning a social network myself, I add features as well as categories by request.

**mikek** · 03-01-2009 08:31 PM

with all the social networks out there it is still possible to get thousands of regular visitors. i would say to build it as they come as well. if te site fails at least u wont have invested alot of money

**Foxhound Network** · 03-01-2009 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by mikek

with all the social networks out there it is still possible to get thousands of regular visitors. i would say to build it as they come as well. if te site fails at least u wont have invested alot of money

I agree.

That way, you wont have to wonder what works and what doesnt.

**Moneymaka** · 03-04-2009 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by Foxhound Network

I agree.

That way, you wont have to wonder what works and what doesnt.

Yes you do, how will you otherwise improve if you don't know what's working and what's not?

**akula** · 03-04-2009 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by VCNetwork

Alright what are you guys thoughts on a new social network. Do you believe that if you build it they will come? So would you start the network out as a highly professional looking site ready for the compacity of millions?

OR

Build it as they come? This site is smaller feels more personal, maybe not a "corporate" feeling, and build it as they come in. Start adding features as members join to keep it stimulated.

i've done a large scale sn play and have first hand experience with this stuff

the way you pose the question ignores what social networking sites are, how they get traction and achieve growth. to correct this gap in understanding you ought to read case studies like this one: » Facebook Case Study: Offline behavior drives online usage - Startup Review Blog

essentially, you need to appreciate that the future of your sn venture has little to do with your GUI or how successfully you are able to foster new online communities. on the contrary, the key to success with sn plays is being able to transfer existing offline communities to an online environment

at any rate, if you can appreciate this simple point on a sophisticated level, you will start to understand the dynamics of marketing in so far as it relates to these types of ventures...for example, you need to reevaluate the role of new features in keeping site members active (tip: it's negligible)

**ticky** · 03-17-2009 08:28 PM

Give someone an incentive, and they will come =)

**itzpaul** · 03-17-2009 09:21 PM

I don't believe in the whole build it and they will come scheme. It's much harder than that. I think coming up with the project is the easy part but actually get it going with active members is the tough part.

**timscullin** · 03-30-2009 01:28 AM

If you build too much before they come by the time it gets big enough then half of the things you have set up may become out of date.. better to build enough for it to be a benefit to the user and add as they go. Seems to be the consensus right?

**financeblogger123** · 04-19-2009 09:10 PM

I agree with timscullin if you build they will come, but you cant build too much at once. it takes stagees and if you do it correctly it will bound to suceed. people dont know what they want until you give it to them.

**chrispalko** · 04-19-2009 09:55 PM

I would think you'd have to do better than what's out there right now, or why would anyone bother?

It's like with any business. If you're not doing something faster, better, or cheaper than the next guy, then what makes your operation better?

**Dr_Placebo** · 04-27-2009 03:41 AM

I recon you should build as they come, as it will allow you to react to the users needs.

**inexorable** · 05-03-2009 12:00 PM

1. Make sure your social network's features can serve the basic needs of your niche target market, and that your target's needs are being unmet by existing networks (which lack the specific focus and features of your network).
2. Address the chicken and the egg problem: there's not much natural incentive to participate on a social network without existing users. How will you get the first X users?
3. So, you've got your first X users? Great; now take feedback and add features. But resist feature creep and use your own judgment to determine what adds value to the system as a whole. Users are good at suggesting features, but some of these will turn out to detract from your system's overall value.

**StartMeUp(coffee!)** · 07-05-2009 09:00 AM

we are "building it as they come". also, almost no need for capital - start-up cost about $800, when we break even we invest another $600-$800, and so forth. Allows us to incorporate user feedback / see what works/what doesn't, and only invest in things that will give us real ROI. Forced to 'build it as they come' because we did not have start-up funding, but VERY happy with this model, and would not do it any other way - even if we did have funding.