Hi Bobbie7 - I need your help with my question this time.
I am wanting to ascertain how many communities are online that use
existing social networking and community web portals for communication
and managing their affairs AND how many communities are yet to go
online?

By social networking and community web portals I am referring to
current solutions like Google Groups, Yahoo 360, MySpace etc.  It is
my opinion that these type of Web Portals are predominantly used by
youth and niche groups and that mainstream communities are yet to go
online. By mainstream I mean sporting groups, schools, hobbies and
common interest groups world wide.  To contextualise my request,
assume I have to prove a case for the development of a new software
program that makes it easy to build unique and highly functional
communities online.  Call it the Community Builder application.  The
target market would be "mainstream" communities who aren't yet online
because the current solutions offered are too restrictive and not
customisable enough. How would I ascertain the size or number of
mainstream Communities that are yet to go online compared to the ones
who are already are?

I've priced the qestion at $20 to start with and if you can provide
both clarification AND some credible stats I am very happy to pay you
much more.  Either as a tip or as a question price.  Cheers Greg
(DinkyTwist)

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 26 Jun 2006 14:20 PDT

Dear Greg,

I have been researching your question and unfortunately I haven't been
able to assemble an answer for you.


The following articles might be helpful:


?Web 2.0 and the Future of Social Networking and Online Communities?
ECOM-ICOM Experts Address Series
March 14, 2006
http://www.ecom-icom.hku.hk/seminar/20060314/Bebo_20060314.pdf

Socializing for Dollars 
Business Week Online 
04/16/06 
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/49962.html

 
The Web Gets More Social
February 9, 2006 
http://www.clickz.com/experts/media/media_buy/article.php/3583361


Boompa Enters Growing Automotive Social Network Market
http://www.bloggersblog.com/cgi-bin/bloggersblog.pl?bblog=612062

Best regards, 
Bobbie7

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 26 Jun 2006 14:25 PDT

Venture Capital Investments Up 12%

BIZ REPORT -- Apr 25 -- 

"The pace of venture capital investing is off to its fastest start in
four years, propelled by a high-tech comeback that's again pumping
cash into the Internet. VCs committed $5.63 billion in USA in 761
deals completed during Q1, up 12% on last year."

"Web 2.0" 

"Entrepreneurs and VCs seek to capitalize on "Web 2.0" - a euphemism
used to describe the social networks, software services and media
alternatives that have been cropping up on the Internet and winning
big followings during the past two years. Over the past year, VCs put
$3.1 billion into Internet companies; ~14% of the $23 billion invested
in all industries

http://www.bizreport.com/news/9804/

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 27 Jun 2006 13:37 PDT

Greg,

I suggest you close this question and repost it without my name in the title.
Hopefully one of my colleagues will be able to provide you with an
answer to your question.

Best regards, 
Bobbie7