Creating a social network like OBN for your customers

From the dizzy heights of the Manchester Wheel, David and Tom discuss the opportunities for businesses to create their own social networks like Oldham Business Network.

By identifying a common interest and nurturing an active community, companies can leverage a number of benefits while creating value for their customers. This is a great way for a business to increase brand awareness, learn more about customers and even make a few sales! While at the same time providing a valuable resource for your customers.

To view the show notes and associated links for this video visit the CandidSky blog here:
http://www.candidsky.com/blog/creating-a-social-network-for-your-customers/

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Tags: Customers, OBN, Oldham Business Network, Social Media, Social Network
Location: Manchester Wheel

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Comment by Danny Callan on January 13, 2012 at 19:52: Sure! would be great to have a brew with you guys! Im based in Manchester and i think you are? so it should be easy meeting up :) you could always use absence to fund part of the site... just a though... :)

Comment by David Beharall (OBN Co-Founder) on January 5, 2012 at 16:58: Hi Danny

Sounds like you are doing some interesting stuff, would be good to meet up sometime over a brew if you are up for it.

In answer to your question how OBN is funded, to date it's been funded by myself and Phil and Tom but we are looking at ways for it to sustain itself now.

Comment by Jo Howlett on December 27, 2011 at 15:16: Can't believe I've not seen this before! What a great vlog. Certainly food for thought for 2012.

:-)

Comment by Danny Callan on December 25, 2011 at 10:35: Totally agree with what you are saying you just need a big enough client! At the moment we have the university of Manchester and they have already built their own networking etc.... but as you say it all is very dependant on how big your client is and also if it will benefit that certain niche. I am part of a team called Manchester Entrepreneurs and we help between 1500 - 2000 students get involved with businesses around Manchester. The way how we communicate is through Facebook groups.

We mainly specialize in SEO and social media marketing - but we do build website etc.
We would probably find it easier to build a fourm rather then a social network but it all depends on your niche as you said! and also your demographic :)

The OBN is build on ning.. as you can see it is using their API, all you would need to do is build a skin for that platform and their you go! i would probs would like to have a go at what ning is doing and selling the platform on... because then you have a full understanding of how the whole thing works!

How is the OBN funded?

DC

Comment by David Beharall (OBN Co-Founder) on December 23, 2011 at 22:47: Thanks for your comment Danny. I think it largely depends on what clients are trying to achieve, I certainly wouldn't say never. We've done it for clients of ours in the past (Dulux was one of the biggest successes) and it boils down to centering it around a niche.

Also your on a niche network now, OBN was created by me because I wanted to support the local business community and also get and a bit of a name for my agency CandidSky. I actually have a few other networks in totally different industries so it really does work.

As for the big three - Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter it's harder to be niche on these types of networks. Therefore one option is to centre a new network purely around a niche away from the big three. This has now been widely reported by the likes of Mashable, Techcrunch etc as being the future of social networking.

In saying all this I am not saying don't use Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, actually I'm saying use them along side your own network.

I do understand that for the vast majority of businesses this will be too big a challange and more often than not a one they don't want to take on. However there can be big benefits and a lot to gain from trying to go down this route.

Danny I think for yourself it boils down to the size of your clients too, if you have one or two big businesses on your books this can be a very viable option. Community creation is a very good service to offer and one we do very well with at CandidSky. Feel free to get in touch if you fancy meeting and sharing a few ideas.

Comment by Danny Callan on December 23, 2011 at 12:37: I think it's pretty cool, but i would never recommend to a client go and get a social platform for their customers..... mainly because you could just create a group on Facebook or on LinkedIn and then talk their. In my eyes its like reinventing the wheel. I met Reid Hoffman the other week and he was explaining to me that it is extremely difficult to get it of the ground, but once / IF it takes of its all good but it all matters what type of demographic you are trying to aim at!! BTW i would never go on that big wheel.... to high for me! :D

Comment by Liam Linacre on July 28, 2011 at 10:45: Great video, really interesting concept and nice to see it delivered in a creative way. Keep up the good work guys :-)

Comment by David Beharall (OBN Co-Founder) on July 28, 2011 at 10:03: Thanks Tom!

Lisa, I must admit I've actually heard that from a few people :-)

Comment by Lisa Gee (Moderator) on July 28, 2011 at 9:27: Love the idea of filming on the wheel. And I have to just say I love the way you say 'Twitter' ;-)