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I went down a little curiosity rabbit hole today.
Thinking about product offerings for niche communities:
(Thread)
Thinking about product offerings for niche communities:
(Thread)
Level 1: Utility
These are products that help people participate in the niche, or help them participate more efficiently.
They fulfil core material needs, or strict solutions to well-defined, niche-specific problems.
These are products that help people participate in the niche, or help them participate more efficiently.
They fulfil core material needs, or strict solutions to well-defined, niche-specific problems.
Level 2: Identity
These are products or experiences that help you do the following:
- express your outer-identity inside the niche-world
- express your niche-identity to the outside-world
- status boosters within the niche-world
These are products or experiences that help you do the following:
- express your outer-identity inside the niche-world
- express your niche-identity to the outside-world
- status boosters within the niche-world
Level 3: Belonging
These can be:
- places to help you feel normal for your niche interests
- a way to explore your niche interest further with likeminded people
- off-ramps for connecting with similar people in areas beyond just the niche interest
These can be:
- places to help you feel normal for your niche interests
- a way to explore your niche interest further with likeminded people
- off-ramps for connecting with similar people in areas beyond just the niche interest
Some interesting dynamics to consider between the different offerings:
Let& #39;s take curious cross-disciplinarian learners:
Utility - @RoamResearch helps easily map what you& #39;re learning
Identity - @substack gives you space for expressing that identity to niche & outside worlds
Belonging - @whatstheii is a home for connecting with similar souls
Utility - @RoamResearch helps easily map what you& #39;re learning
Identity - @substack gives you space for expressing that identity to niche & outside worlds
Belonging - @whatstheii is a home for connecting with similar souls
Another example, Gamers:
Utility - @Steam to get access to new games
Identity - in-game avatar customisation to reflect your outer-identity within a niche world
Belonging - http://epal.gg"> http://epal.gg for creating a marketplace for strangers to connect over a game
Utility - @Steam to get access to new games
Identity - in-game avatar customisation to reflect your outer-identity within a niche world
Belonging - http://epal.gg"> http://epal.gg for creating a marketplace for strangers to connect over a game
From the above framework, what makes @reddit interesting is it& #39;s created a space for anyone from any possible niche (past, present and future) to feel a sense of belonging.
[cc @alexisohanian].
[cc @alexisohanian].
But there& #39;s still an opportunity in creating vertically integrated communities by offering a core utility for a niche.
This is something @gregisenberg talks about here: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg/status/1264971317507428359?s=20">https://twitter.com/gregisenb...
This is something @gregisenberg talks about here: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg/status/1264971317507428359?s=20">https://twitter.com/gregisenb...
This was inspired by a lot of the conversations I& #39;ve had over the past weeks.
Thought I& #39;d share this framework in case it inspires someone who is currently building for niche communities.
DM me if you want to talk more about this - I& #39;d love to build a better thesis for this.
Thought I& #39;d share this framework in case it inspires someone who is currently building for niche communities.
DM me if you want to talk more about this - I& #39;d love to build a better thesis for this.
Also s/o @liamdanielduffy for entertaining some of these thoughts at 3 am EST
