Currently developing a site which allows users to sign up, invite friends etc. My network's redeeming factor is that it allows active users to manually add people within their network to their list of "contacts" even if they aren't yet registered.<p>This action will automatically creates a wiki-like profile for non-active users until they sign up. Only then will that profile become dynamic, actively allowing friend requests and message activity.<p>My dilemma? Even if well built, an empty social networking application is not a social networking site at all. So, let's say I have a school network of 4,000 people. What is a good, legal method of placing these people (photos and all) into the directory before they become active users?
At one point I ran a social network around cars. Basically people would upload pics of their ride and attach all the gear that went into the car. I personally didn't own a car or know much about them, so what to do?<p>I ended up going in person to a bunch of meetup groups in the SF area with a Polaroid and digital camera. I'd ask dudes if they minded if I took pictures of their cars for my website. I'd take a bunch with the digital camera and then take one with the polaroid. I'd then write down a user/pass on the back of it along with the site's URL. Then I'd go home that night and build separate profiles for each car.<p>We got hundreds of user profiles this way. After a couple months we had a decent little community. Enough to scare our largest competitor into making an offer on the site.<p>When it comes to social networks, it's often much easier to market outside of your terminal.
To the best of my knowledge, there's no way to do this. Which is good, because I'd be very annoyed if you added me without explicit consent.<p>Also, there are <i>few</i> general social networks, and there are good reasons for that.
The usual strategy is to make it very exclusive, but let it be known that it exists. Exclusivity is a powerful motivator. Start with one group of very interesting and highly motivated people and move outwards.
Before i can lend an opnion i would like to know what is the aim of this site.Are you creating another facebook or what? And why would people want to use your site ,whats in it for them?
I'd suggest e-mailing students from the school network as a marketing strategy, providing them with a Facebook Connect link, and hoping they'll be interested enough to sign up.
I've had people search for my email address on facebook, which I have an account for but really don't use. I've also recently gotten an email indicating someone was looking for my email on Twitter. I considered signing up for it but couldn't get the info I needed to feel comfortable with it so never finished the process, even though I was flattered that this person was interested in following what I am up to. Maybe you could do a notification email like Twitter sends when someone searches and you don't yet have an account but with a better explanation of it all so the invitee feels more motivated/comfortable? IE try Twitter's approach but try to improve on their model.