This last year has been the big year for online social networks, especially MySpace and now Facebook. The trend this next year will be towards smaller, more niche-based social networks. I can see a social network for artists. I can see a social network for painters. I can see a social network for painters that do plein-aire. I can see a social network for painters that do plein-aire in the Pacific Northwest.
Get the idea?
This is not a new idea. There already exists such organizations. Many of these exist online as forums or email groups. I went to Yahoo! Groups and within seconds found the Pacific Northwest Plein-Aire Painters Group. Imagine a format like Facebook where you can add friends, easily email or write on “walls”, join sub-groups, and all the many other services these provide. Online social networks are about getting together with your friends, sharing, communicating, seeing what everyone else is up to… everything you do with offline social networks.
On Monday we’ll look at some of the tools that are available right now for building your own social network.
Chris O’Byrne
OnlineArtsMarketing.com
2 comments ↓
Hi Chris,
As I was reading, I was thinking these do exist. Perhaps you are right … one thing though that these other groups give … a potential customer base … whereas the artist only groups don’t do that as much.
But interesting thoughts!
~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog
Diane,
I have an upcoming post on using social networks to sell your art. It will talk about identifying markets, among other things. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about it, so it is still in draft form. (I almost wrote “daft form” which might be more appropriate!)
Chris
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