22974 ha ha ha keep rubbing it in! :)

Why do we go to bars ? For more than a few drinks.

Why do we join Tennis Clubs ? Because I got kicked out of that bar for two many drinks.

Why do we join dance clubs ? Because the Tennis Club didn't have a bar.

But seriously.

What it really comes down to is the following:

People will join my elgg site (insert your site name here) if they think that it will enhance their lives in some way in the foreseeable future.

This can mean many things but in general helping people in some way or another makes your site sticky!

At least I'm not obsessed with obtaining large numbers. I think I would freak out if I had more than a few hundred.

Joshua Schachter, the creator of Delicious, has this to say:

“If you need scale in order to create value, it’s hard to get scale, because there’s little incentive for the first people to use the product. [...] The system should be useful for user number one.”

Words that are very true.

@Dhrup no your not making it too heavy and academic.

Understanding what we can do with ELGG requires many of use to fill the shoes of several different roles beyond developer... I noticed in one your post you you stated how you were getting good at marketting. But the truth is, right now, in the era of infancy and the web, this is the modern day gold rush. This has been true about the internet since it became a public playground.

Someday the web won't change radically in what is possible every time turn around. Today that constant transition is the opprotunity of a lifetime for a good many of us, including myself. I want to make a mint, donate something back to ELGG (because dude, they deserve it) and die knowing my family can eat several generations later.

So understanding this process is huge. One thing I am in the midst of doing with cryspace.com (a network for social support groups) is thinking of how much social media is just really subcultures, and using the connectivity between facebook and things like twiter enhances the overall experience of the average user online simply because it makes it easy to become involved. One extra step I have taken was creating a fan page on facebook, as part of this process, and instaneously, cryspace is starting to appear in all my friends home page on facebook. This works for free.

I believe the best course for what I build is take advantage of win-win plans that really work with how the mass user works. I have no inclination of taking from facebook or any entity that inspires me to provide a fluid path between what I do and what they do, rather that its an opprotunity to provide a subculture in this universe.

I personally adopt the HCTS method in marketing and expanding membership numbers... 

What is HCTS you ask...

Well, it is when you have one member and you ask them to send a message to everyone they know.. that message reads:

Ha ha ha ha!

that is a very effective way to do things. lol.

@Carlos why do I have the feeling i would never want to be in a contest of who could drink who under the table with you?

oh D, I am very happy to hear of FBFK's success.  It's very wonderful and I hope more and more come and have a safe place.  This is a great thing, good and great go hand in hand.  I hope you and MJ report bad you have built the most successful kid safe enviroment on the internet.

Jess

@Zak... LOL... thank you amigo.. you give me hope that I'm still good at least at one thing..LOL

On a serious note.. and I believe we talked about this before.. Social Networking success is reliant, to the larger extent, on a niche, sprinkle a little clever touches here and there, and you're sure to succeed.

FBFK has no way to go but success... it has become every parent's nightemere to think that their children are being victimised over the web... this is because cheildren are being victimised on the web.. and we know about it, thanks to our friends in the media.. therefore, FBFK is an expolit of the main stream social networks.. It detected an opportunity, which is kid's security, and capitalised on that opportunity, very successfully I may add.. this along with a very clever name, ensured that Adult facebook users, who see all kind of shit on the web, are now keen to have their kids on FBFK because they wont be exposed to the shit their parents experience.... So, tell me, why wouldn't a smart concept like this one work..?? 

FBFK will have more than 250,000 by 2010.. and It would not surprise me if schools start promoting it for students.. in which case, MJ over there will wave hello to us as he passes by in his Ferari.

I absolutely agree with you Carlos

First thing i did (which oddly coincided with my friend's daughter's request for a facebook account) when I saw all the deserved hype for FBFK was let my friend know about something for her to take advantage of online.

This is a good and much needed place online and I am glad its doing so well.

@Carlos Don't be ridiculous Ferrari What a bunch of ****

To think I would be so ostentatious, gaudy,  and crass

Ferrari indeed how uncouth, how common.

Only a lamborghini would do