10 Emerging Social Platforms and How Businesses Can Use Them:
1. Gowalla:
Gowalla is a location-based social networking service created by Alamofire. Users ‘check-in’ at Spots in their local vicinity, either through a dedicated mobile application or through the mobile website. As a reward users will sometimes receive items from check-ins.
2. SCVNGR:
The platform enables users to earn badges and points for checking in to places. Users can also earn rewards, in the form of discounts and freebies, through completing challenges, such as snapping a picture, saying something, or completing a social check-in.
3. Whrrl:
Whrrl is a social location-based game that launched in late 2007 and now boasts over 300,000 users. Unlike other location-based apps, Whrrl is based on Societies. Users check in to locations and complete recommendations inputted by other users in order to join Societies.
4. Loopt Star:
Users check in to locations to earn rewards, including points and discounts, based on a set of factors designated by the establishments. A business owner can target by time of day, day of week, and number of times a person has previously checked in, for example.
5. Brightkite:
It enables users to check in and post comments at any location. It also features photo-posting, messaging, comments, tips, tiered rewards, and group chat capabilities.
6. Aardvark:
Aardvark is a question-and-answer platform recently acquired by Google. A user simply asks a questions, and then Aardvark algorithmically determines the best person within the user’s network to answer the question.
7. Quora:
Quora is a Q&A platform that enables anyone to ask or answer a question. Users can follow people, questions and topics. If you don’t find a topic of interest, you can create new topics.
8. Help a Reporter Out:
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is an excellent source for journalists looking for sources or experts looking to get free press. Journalists submit queries and sources respond to those queries, which are sent out in an e-mail newsletter thrice a day, as well as via HARO’s Twitter feed.
9. NewsBasis:
Having launched just one month ago, NewsBasis has already attracted 3,300 registered sources and 580 journalists, of which a majority are active.
10. StatusNet:
StatusNet, in the words of the company, is an “open source microblogging application, aiming to be an alternative to Twitter.” It’s main benefit is that it “helps you share and connect in real-time within your own domain. With StatusNet you can encourage collaboration, build and engage your community, and be in command of your brand.”
