Banned! Inside919 kicked me out!
July 2, 2009
I just got banned from a social network. But let me start at the beginning. Inside919 is a startup local online social community build on Ning (mistake #1, I will explain below). It was started by Pat Howlett here in the Triangle who plans to create area-code based (mistake #2) “Micro Business Social Communities” in all 268 US area codes. The reason I was banned was that I used my blog logo on my profile rather than my picture. Here are both, I think you can figure out which is which.
The apparent reason for the picture requirement is that “This is NOT your typical Social Network with millions of members where logos and avatars are the norm and it’s okay to be anonymous.” That’s a quote from an email Pat sent me. I’m not sure how I make myself anonymous by putting my name and other identifying information next to a logo. I think the picture requirement points to mistake #3.
My reasoning for using the blog logo was that many local people know me from my blog; its simply part of my online presence. As a point of recognition, I think the logo is more important than my picture because the blog is about Startups, not about me. (And if you must see my picture, go to the About page.)
Before I had a chance to respond, I found myself banned. The Inside919 URL diverted me to http://inside919.ning.com/main/index/banned and I saw this message:
I sent a polite response to the Administrator (also Pat), but heard nothing back. I quickly fixed the diversion to the “banned” URL by deleting the Inside919 cookie. I could register again (I didn’t), even with a fake name and somebody else’s picture and Pat would never know.
So what’s wrong here? I see at least three things that will be problematic for any online social community:
- Mistake #1: you can’t build an online community on the back of someone else’s online community. Although Ning is a platform for social networks, it is intended for small, specific, non-commercial networks. If you get too big or too successful, you could threaten your host and find yourself without a platform. There are plenty examples of this happening. Marc Freedman (aka LinkDaddy) got booted from LinkedIn when he turned his DallasBlue group on LinkedIn into a business and it got too successful too fast. And Robbie Allen, the local founder of StatSheet, found his StatTweets accounts suspended on Twitter. When you own the store, you can kick people out.
Mistake #2: area codes are so 1980’s. People that are connected online use mobile (smart) phones, and area codes just don’t matter anymore. Basing your social community on a relic of the wireline past is a clear sign of not understanding your audience.- Mistake #3: in online communities you don’t need to set requirements (other than prohibiting profanities, etc). Instead, the community will blossom from the benefits of compliance. The more complete and meaningful your profile is, the more likely that other members want to interact with you. If you contribute to the overall community, you will benefit individually. For example, on LinkedIn, a complete and detailed profile (with a picture) will get more interest form recruiters. On eBay, leaving buyer and seller feedback will create more credibility as a buyer or seller.
Inside919 will find more members, but with its flaws and with the increasing proliferation of online social communities, Inside919 and its other area code copies, will struggle. To be successful in this space you need critical mass and for that you will need to give your customers what they want, not what you want.
