Neeetz: create a social network pixel by pixel

Story byErnst-Jan Pfauth

Ernst-Jan Pfauth is the former Editor in Chief of Internet at NRC Handelsblad, as well as an acclaimed technology author and columnist. He a(show all)Ernst-Jan Pfauth is the former Editor in Chief of Internet at NRC Handelsblad, as well as an acclaimed technology author and columnist. He also served as The Next Web’s blog’s first blogger and Editor in Chief, back in 2008. AtDe Correspondent, Ernst-Jan serves as publisher, fostering the expansion of the platform.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

More TNW

About TNW

Creating a group within a social network

First thing I told them is they could start a LinkedIn or Facebook group, to check how many people are really interested in actively participating in (another) online community. Main advantage is that most people already have an account, so it’s a one-click matter. Also, they don’t have to check more than one social network. A major disadvantage is the lack of engagement. Most social network users see a group just as some sort of tattoo for their profile page: this brand/ politician / food represents my image. Users hardly check what’s going on in the (most of the times dead) community.

Ning versus Neeetz

So this lack of engagement might make you want to choose for creating a community of your own within a service like Ning. They offer you the possibility to create your own social network with a few mouse clicks. You can give it a custom-made look, without loosing the basic features of a social network. Neeetz takes this a littlebutbit further by letting you build a network pixel by pixel. That would convince me to opt for this service, as the more you give a social network its own face, the sooner people will feel connected to it, as it looks like a more distinct community, instead of yet another Facebook group rip-off.

And then, once you’ve built an active community, you might want to consider building a network yourself.

TNW Podcast: Phill Robinson, Boardwave on Europe’s pathway to success

Space rover tests ‘natural intelligence’ based on insect brains

Discover TNW All Access

How your online world could change if big tech companies like Google are forced to break up

Vay secures €34M to bring remote-controlled cars to the streets of Europe