Start shaking your money tree!

It's been some time since we've stood up here on our soapbox and spoken about MONETIZATION. But the time has returned! Things are really heating up here at the LAB and SocialGO as the POWER TOOLS start come off the production line.

We have just released LabAffiliate, the powerful companion to LabConnect. These two products empower you to do something that is NOT currently possible on other hosted platforms -- You can create you own network of related sites with universal login (LabConnect) and then utilize the Master Site as an SEO and Marketing portal to direct, track, and report all members sent through to the Sub Sites. Using our LabAds, you can then further monetize by creating an advertising banner campaign that spans across your entire network syndicate. Our upcoming LabCommission will let you further expand your empire by providing affiliate rewards for site members who refer new paying member to your network syndicate

With SocialGO and the tools from WidgetLaboratory... you truly CAN become a Social Network Mogul!

But wait, there's more! Take it one step further....

Evil Genius walks you through the installation and use of LabAds...the ultimate monetization tool for your network!

LabAds provides you with a built-in capability to host, manage, and track all of your ads and rotating banner images using Google Analytics.

Sometimes the greatest storytelling and marketing uses no words at all...

 

Who-IM is a "must have" feature for any site. It provides immediate information about who is actively browsing, and a way for members to instantly send private messages to each other.

Fast, simple, and optimized for your site, it requires virtually no setup. Simply drop into any position in your SideBar (Zone A) and you will have a feature that will increase member participation exponentially!

Who-IM can also be "bridged" to an existing Ning site as a way ease your members' migration to your new SocialGO or Zocku home.

Seth Godin has another great post this morning that graphically demonstrates the dynamics of growing a popular Social Network with this video from the Sasquatch Music Festival.

Watch closely up to the 1:00 mark. First there is an early adopter, then a second guy who joins in. But ultimately, it is the third person who opens the floodgate. After that, all hell breaks loose.

It is this 3rd brave soul that is ultimately seen by the rest of the crowd as representing the "safe spot" where group-think takes over and they can jump on in as well.

What is the lesson here?

IF you want to create and grow a popular niche Social Network, then you have to be brave enough to be Guy #3... the one who is neither too far out ahead of the crowd, or just another early adopter. Instead, you have to establish your niche as having one foot ahead of the crowd, and one foot in with the crowd.

BE the Tipping Point.

If you are, then you will open up the floodgates of membership to your site.

Read More >

ForumLiving.com has done an incredible job of using their SocialGO community as an integral part of their Student Housing Matching program. The site was created by Optisite.

Read More >

Anyone who is struggling to find the justification for starting their own "niche" network should take a moment to read Kevin Kelly's post called 1,000 True Fans.

The same concept applies to those who create Social Networks with the idea of monetization. One only needs potentially 1,000 "True Fans" to turn a hobby site into a livelihood.

From Kevin's post:

A creator, such as an artist, musician, photographer, craftsperson, performer, animator, designer, videomaker, or author - in other words, anyone producing works of art - needs to acquire only 1,000 True Fans to make a living.

A True Fan is defined as someone who will purchase anything and everything you produce. They will drive 200 miles to see you sing. They will buy the super deluxe re-issued hi-res box set of your stuff even though they have the low-res version. They have a Google Alert set for your name. They bookmark the eBay page where your out-of-print editions show up. They come to your openings. They have you sign their copies. They buy the t-shirt, and the mug, and the hat. They can't wait till you issue your next work. They are true fans.