The Future of Social Networks (Review Report)

Table of Contents

• Overview
  • Catalyst
  • Summary
  • Methodology
• Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • The outlook for social networks (Market Focus)
  • Exploiting explosive growth & fostering opportunities in social networking (Strategy Focus)
  • Routes to reliability and user adherence in social networking (Technology Focus)
  • The future of social networks in North America (Databook)
  • The future of social networks in EMEA (Databook)
• Table of Contents
• Table of figures
• Table of tables
• The outlook for social networking (Market Focus)
  • Summary
  • Global growth in social networking will plateau in the next five years
  • Three distinct paths to success have emerged for social networking services
    • People-based sites
      • People-based sites - offline relationships
      • People-based sites - online relationships
    • Content-based sites
    • Special-interest sites
    • General success factors for social networks
  • Major enterprises have committed to social networking as a marketing channel
    • Building a presence in existing social networks
    • Leveraging brand to create social networking properties
    • Adding selected social networking components to existing web sites
  • A nascent value chain is emerging
  • Innovation will continue at a high pitch
• exploiting explosive growth & fostering opportunities in social networking (Strategy Focus)
  • SUMMARY
  • Social networking startups should isolate the fundamental need they intend to serve
    • People-oriented services: off-line friends
    • People-oriented services: on-line friends
    • People-oriented services: crossing the line between offline and online friendships
    • Content-oriented services
    • Special interest services
    • Opening APIs
  • Social networking services should be prepared for a long tail of regional audiences
  • Search firms & media properties should maintain an aggressive acquisition strategy
  • Brands should decide whether to buy, build or partner in social networking
  • Technology providers should isolate elements in the value chain that they can own
  • Consultants and systems integrators should guide customers through a confusing and chaotic landscape
• routes to reliability & user adherence in social networking (Technology Focus)
  • Summary
  • Scalability and availability are critical issues for social networking services
  • Social networking service of all stripes should be preparing their mobile strategies
  • The ability to port content and contacts between non-competing social networking services
• The future of social networks in north america (Databook)
  • Introduction
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in North America
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in Canada
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in the US
• The future of social networks in emea (Databook)
  • Introduction
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in EMEA
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in France
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in Germany
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in Italy
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in Russia
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in Spain
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in the UK
  • Social networking revenue & membership growth in the rest of EMEA
• APPENDIX
  • Definitions
    • Social network
    • Social networking service
    • Membership
  • Methodology
  • Further reading
  • Ask the analyst
  • Datamonitor consulting
  • Disclaimer
  • List of Tables
    • Table 1: Global social networking revenue, 2006-2012
    • Table 2: Global social networking memberships, 2006-2012
    • Table 3: Social networking revenue & membership growth in North America
    • Table 4: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Canada
    • Table 5: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the US
    • Table 6: Social networking revenue & membership growth in EMEA
    • Table 7: Social networking revenue & membership growth in France
    • Table 8: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Germany
    • Table 9: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Italy
    • Table 10: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Russia
    • Table 11: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Spain
    • Table 12: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the UK
    • Table 13: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the rest of EMEA
  • List of Figures
    • Figure 1: Global social networking revenue, 2006-2012
    • Figure 2: Global social networking memberships, 2006-2012
    • Figure 3: Social networking memberships in the United States, 2007
    • Figure 4: Social networking memberships in Taiwan, 2007
    • Figure 5: Social networking memberships in France, 2007
    • Figure 6: Social networking memberships in Belgium, 2007
    • Figure 7: Social networking memberships in Tunisia, 2007
    • Figure 8: Social networking memberships in Mexico, 2007
    • Figure 9: Social networking memberships in Colombia, 2007
    • Figure 10: Social networking memberships in Hong Kong, 2007
    • Figure 11: Three tier server model
    • Figure 12: Social networking revenue & membership growth in North America
    • Figure 13: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Canada
    • Figure 14: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the US
    • Figure 15: Social networking revenue & membership growth in EMEA
    • Figure 16: Social networking revenue & membership growth in France
    • Figure 17: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Germany
    • Figure 18: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Italy
    • Figure 19: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Russia
    • Figure 20: Social networking revenue & membership growth in Spain
    • Figure 21: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the UK
    • Figure 22: Social networking revenue & membership growth in the rest of EMEA