Predictions

Predictions

by Joseph Weisenthal




Soccer-Themed Social-Networking Site May Score

from the gol! dept

For some time, Yahoo has argued that while Google may be better at selling targeted search advertising, its own network of sites are better for promoting a brand. Google may now be muscling in on that space by launching Joga.com, a Nike-branded social networking web site targeting soccer fans around the globe. Like MySpace, users will be able to put up a web page, share video clips, and communicate with each other. Nike will seed it with viral videos and other content that appeals to soccer fans. What makes this venture interesting is that could attract a large number of users by targeting a niche. It could also appeal to people who would otherwise have no interest in social-networking web sites, but do have an interest in this area. Even if it's just elaborate marketing, it's marketing that people really like. The videos that Nike has already released are incredibly popular, with fans creating their own versions and posting them to the web. While the plethora of social-networking sites may induce some fatigue in this area, combining users passions with a well-loved brand could prove a hit.

3 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments

(Flattened / Threaded)

    Mar 20th, 2006 @ 3:20pm
  • Pinky and the Brain?

    by ./Decius

    News at ten, Google execs sign a contract with Pinky and the Brain, for world domination.

    Sorry had to get that out.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 20th, 2006 @ 4:27pm
  • Are you thinking what I am thinking?

    I think so Brain, but it's a miracle this one grew back....
    -------------

    I think this could begin a wave of social-networking apps and "partbership sites" from google. Heres a good philosophy, "Find ways to connect people with what thier interested in, and then become the best at it. Weather its entertainment, knowledge, websites, or social-networking.... then study thier habbits, email and obsessions and hit em with targeted ads that the advertising world will gladly pay out the nose for."

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  • Mar 20th, 2006 @ 5:30pm
  • It makes sense

    I don't want to say "I told you so" but...

    I saw this coming. I had thought about creating a website due to the fact that the Wolrd Cup was coming.

    By the way, I am hoping to either sell my domain name www.smoothplayer.com or find a partner who is flexible in working with me.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML
Save me a cookie
  • Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced by break <br> tag, all other allowable HTML is intact
  • HTML: No formatting of any kind is done without explicitly being written in
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <p> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Close
Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now.
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie

Search Techdirt
And now, a word from our Sponsors..



Subscribe to Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Related Stories
Close
E-mail It