So you all know what social networking on the Web is, and have probably used at least a couple of these services to keep in touch with friends and ex-colleagues. But before you get down to building your social network, spend some time analyzing the purpose, intent, and the audience makeup of these social networks. Once you understand these, you'll be able to customize your network, accordingly.
In very simple terms, there are two kinds of social networks:
1. The indifferent social network: These are the ones you've all probably used. MySpace, Facebook, Orkut are all examples of the indifferent social network. These networks have no bias, or prejudice, against their users. Whether you are joining to reconnect with old friends or to make new ones, you are welcome all the same. They don't give preferential treatment to users of a particular profession and are, in fact, totally disinterested in what you do. You get the idea! I am sure you are on one such network and so are your peers.
2. The niche network: On the other hand, you have discreet networks like Within3 [https://www.within3.com/]. Within3 is a community of physicians and health researchers. As per its website, Within3 also helps members recruit patients for clinical trials, and keep them informed of the latest medical advancements. Registration on the website is by invitation only, and is open for physicians or researchers in the health sciences, or for students training for an advanced health science degree. But registration-by-invite isn't the distinguishing feature of a discreet network. It's their scope, which is big enough for the members, but limited for a general audience. An example of this is U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama's social network MyBarackObama [http://my.barackobama.com/]. Anyone can register on this network, but you wouldn't find many Republicans there, now would you?
This book will help you build your own niche social network. Niche doesn't necessarily mean small. Dedicated networks can have as many members as publicly accessible social networks. The idea of running your own social network isn't to give MySpace or Facebook a run for their money. A customized social network is a virtual manifestation of scratching a common itch.