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Title:

Behind The Velvet Rope Of Exclusive Social Networks

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Jason Schwartz, TheEastEnd.net
Description:
To attract a mainstream crowd, online social applications need to emulate a real life counterpart. Real social networks do not have “everyone can join” policies. Learn how exclusivity creates value for users while attracting a non-geek crowd. Four invitation-only sites will give you a look inside.
Questions
Answered:
  1. What is the key to making a social application for a mainstream crowd successful?
  2. How can an invitation-only policy improve a community?
  3. What value does exclusivity create for users and advertisers?
  4. What is an exclusive social network?
  5. What do the leading invite-only social networks look like on the inside?
  6. How involved does the founder have to be in the real life community?
  7. Does exclusivity improve the longevity of a site?
  8. How do you build a userbase with an invite-only policy?
  9. When is an invite-only policy wrong?
  10. Does an exclusive community get diluted as you expand?
Level:
Intermediate
Category:
Community / Social Networks
Type:
Panel
Event:
SXSW Interactive 2009
AJ Vaynerchuk
on 8/8/08
Very interested to hear and learn more about this model!
Nate Westheimer
on 19/8/08
Fresh idea. Who are other social networks which will be involved? A Small World is a good example here.
Jason Schwartz
on 21/8/08
The tentative lineup is: http://aSmallWorld.net, http://aPrivateClub.com, and http://LateNightShots.com.
Jon Feldman
on 25/8/08
I'd like to know how premium sites see them selves in terms of executing premium services, aka technology. It seems like ASW has really fallen behind the pack - it's positioned as a luxury brand, but it's UI and overall product is inferior to even MySpace, let alone Facebook, which is really the Rolls Royce in terms of technology in this space.
Lindsay Edelstein
on 25/8/08
I'd like to know more about this - can't wait!
Evan Bartlett
on 26/8/08
Sounds interesting. Wonder if facebook benefited from the exclusivity when it launched? The lineup sounds good because they are more niche and most people won't know about them, maybe include something about exclusivity in the big leagues (facebook, myspace, etc). Give an example of how it works or doesnt work for them?

Anyway, look forward to seeing it!
candace allenson
on 26/8/08
As a Professor at F.I.T.- I am always interested in ways of bringing our community together. I am looking forward to this presentation.
lee tachman
on 27/8/08
I saw Jasons Presentation last year and he is a great speaker, Plus this topic sounds interesting.
Babette Pepaj
on 28/8/08
Hi Jason... I'm not too sure about this topic. I personally feel that what's so great about the web is that it's a place anyone can go - if all your friends are exclusive and you go to an exclusive club.. then aren't you just hanging out with the same crowd? I'm not sure if a red velvet digital rope is a good business model. How does one choose who gets to join? Isn't that a bit subjective? I am for connecting people who have similar passions, but invite only feels stuffy - I'll either only be hanging out with the people I already know or I'll be forced to hang out with the people my friends invite. I'll take Lee's word for it that you're a good speaker.. maybe if this makes it into the format I'll check it out and see where you take this.
Abigail Johnson
on 22/9/08
Can anyone invite me to Elixio?
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