New SN being billed as 'anti facebook' taking off.

www.ello.co

made the news today, being billed as an 'anti facebook' by users

no adds, no profile data sales etc... 

according to papers it was launched to 90 friends of the owner, now over 30k user requests daily hitting the site!

Looks very basic / simple, effective maybe...

Time will tell if it will last or not, just goes to show though it doesnt take much for people to latch onto an alternative still... maybe still space for another 'big' SN?

My question of course is; adverts in the future?  FaceSucks started out without targeting users and look at them now. All sites have to have some means of revenue so it will be interesting to see what they do in the future; if they make it into the future.

GG beat me to it... 30000 members a day very soon adds upt to a very expensive server array... What happens when the money dries up??? As much as I would dearly love to see another SN do well, without revenue or investment it could all implode just as quickly......

Some sites do well on donations. My cousin for example has a game server and the donations he receives cover way more than just the cost of the server. Since this network is a friends-of-friends network, it could be that they receive enough donations.

Without ads on my site I would be unable to keep it going. However, by selling services and the modules I write for my own site, in combination with those ads, I'm able justify the time spent on it.

Talking about ads, I've just released an ad rotator module. It's free to download and use.

http://www.boonex.com/m/simple-ads-manager

At the mo, this site is 'invite only', you can register interest then have to wait for acceptance while its in beta. 

They push you to share their site advert (manifesto) when you apply though so they are actively looking to increase still above 30k requests a day...

They say they will monetise the site with paid premium sections, may or may not work.

I have seen other community sites get crowd funding on some of the big funding sites, one was a niche community, just built on a CMS like this, not much unique about it other than its niche target. 

They had about 150k users, then went to crowd funding just so they could 'redesign' which I think meant 'new template'.

They made over 200k in donations or a redesign!

If you're not looking to take over the world, but just live off your work, then I think there are means and ways to do so without getting consumed with the server costs etc...

I think many sites / social networks start out with all good intentions and not wanting ads on their sites but the truth is at some point they will need some form of revenue to keep going especially with such growth ... When sponsors and investments etc dry up; how will such a network survive ?! Do they have armies of people willing to work and develop the network for free ?!

This could be a case of 'make the world think we are different until we are too big and popular for people to leave us' idk ...

I do like how simple the actual site is!

Also, it maybe taking off very good and 'anti Facebook' BUT as much as I hate to say it ... Facebook is #1 and FB will easily fight back and possibly look for ways to take apart any real competition put forward to them.

damn ... this same social network received ^$435 thousand investment from FreshTracks Capital !!

source: CrunchBase

bang there you go. 

That should pay the servers for a while :-)

Like I said in previous post, crowdfunding, investor is a real option with the right approach.

It's amazing what some investors give money towards...

The thing with crowd funding is many many people have to believe in your vision and the individual needing the funds is left to draw the attention needed themselves mostly. Also, from a past experience with crowd funding in the UK, those that donate to your cause expect something / reward in return that benefits them or others in someway ...

If an investment company "invests" in your project then they pretty much got you by the balls.... they will own a large chunk... But without investment there is very little chance of success...

Luckily our (team fruitloops) new site does not rely on investment, adds or sales... but has a very good chance of making a great deal of profit... unluckily fb API has thrown a planet sized spanner in the works... Just need to find a way around it now....

took a look... ohhhh that's basic, but the rebellious message they send out will bring in millions of members... just hope they can back it up with something solid.... Oh, have asked them about an API... If they do grow then an ello inviter might be a good idea eh....  

Well... It looks like they are already running into server issues... i had an e-mail this morning saying that if to many people are allowed to join that they will have server melt down.... Its good to get the members but its unprofessional to leave then waiting to be accepted and unable to log on because of lack of resources.... shame......

Damn; for their $435,000 you would have thought server issues was the last of their issues LMAO

Maybe I should get in contact and offer them some REAL servers :))) I could be on to something here! hehe

I am starting to think this new SN is just a sort term hype .. seriously!

yep. 

Just shows you can get all the hype and publicity you need, then fall on your face being un-prepared for members!

Wander if this will be their un-doing already.

 there are many many once 'big names' gone and never spoken of!

Put it this way... I applied to join 3 days ago.... Now, if I had 300000 people waiting to join my site and it wasnt happening I would be pulling my hair out (if I had any)... seriously, I would be throwing a right one..... It is very, very bad business... Put some frickin add on your site, earn some cash, sack whoever is responsible and rent a ton of servers....

I'm going to open a new "anti-walmart" and give everything away for free.. I think it'll be a hit.

Yeah, I'm sure it will be until your cleaned out lol ...