Cal Newport has been writing about this:
In [long tail social media], users don’t want to connect with everyone they already know, but instead want to connect with small groups they find really interesting. Similarly, they don’t need access to massive libraries of low-quality content, but instead want access to curated collections covering topics they really care about.
[The old model of social media] requires massive audiences before a given platform becomes useful. The new model does not.
Of course, long tail social media isn’t a new concept, but it seems to be gaining traction.
Which means there’s 💰💰💰 to be made.
Newport again:
The example networks I saw were focused (a couple thousand users at most), and typically charged subscription fees from the users (eliminating the need to sell ads or harvest data).
3 examples of such networks:
- Farnam Street Learning Community —> 750 members paying $149+ per year = $111,750
- LGBTQ Chat —> 5200 members paying $200+ per year = $1,040,000
- World Future Society —> 1800 members paying $200 per year = $360,000
If you’re interested in building your own long tail social media network, you might find this niche generator helpful to get started.
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