Reports are surfacing that solidify a connection between
social networks and e-commerce. Not surprisingly, people who hang out together online sometimes talk about shopping,
and discuss products, and share recommendations. Some branding efforts are starting to incorporate the building of
online community into what previously were static sites. But the door is wide open for the development of dedicated
online shopping communities that are explicitly about consuming stuff--but still encourage photo sharing, profile
building, and other standard perks of social software.
One of these is Yub.com: "Meet. Hang. Shop." It doesn't get plainer than that. Yub incorporates
elements of social networking with tricks borrowed from affiliate marketing and multilevel marketing (MLM), all packaged
in a sort of virtual Sam's Club. E-Commerce partnerships with such brand heavy-hitters as Dell, Apple, Macy's, Home
Depot, Sony, Target, and many others provide cash-back opportunities for network members that exceed 10 percent in some
cases.
Yub has been around for a while, and is operated by Buy.com (note the backward spelling), and is an
acronym for Young Urban Buyers.
Online Communities and eCommerce
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Tribe is a social-networking service where product recommendations are incidental. Tribe members join local communities around shared interests such as finding the right job, a new place to live or fellow Apple computer enthusiasts. However, a lot of products are recommended in these communities, even though that is not their explicit purpose. Common sense implies that this content must have some significance to the online buying behavior of Tribe members.
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http://www.yourcityoffice.com/package_london.php
Posted at 7:51AM on Nov 19th 2007 by galin
3. Other sites are approaching the "social networks and e-commerce" from the social network side, and then building in the e-commerce facility as a part of their revenue model. This approach is something we're currently considering for Rogue Connect.
MySpace is running closer to this model now that they've begun selling albums. Essentially an existing user base with (some) members passionate about music, marketed an album that not only touts good music but also gives you extra features to use on the site.
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1. Photo sharing, social networking and bookmarking are on the rise, it's no surprise that e-commerce sites are getting a bite into it.
It's the first time I have heard of yub though.
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Virtual Office
Posted at 1:47PM on Jul 5th 2008 by dave