Next2Friends Puts You Next To Friends?
Social networking sites are nothing new, but they have certainly picked up in popularity these past few years. From Orkut to MySpace, Friendster to Facebook, new sites are going up all the time. And let’s not forget about the community created by sites like YouTube, where users can upload and share new content. On the surface, Next2Friends — the subject of this ReviewMe request — sounds like just another copycat, but they promise to be revolutionary in their approach. They also seem to have more of a mobile focus than other social networking sites. Does this make them better or unique?
No Social Networking Yet
Honestly, I have no idea whether the Next2Friends social networking site will be a hit or not, because it has yet to launch. It is not yet possible to peruse through the profiles of other users, not yet possible to join groups and share content. Heck, you can’t even register for your own (free) account yet. In this way, this isn’t really a ReviewMe review; it’s just another branch of their marketing machine.
The live beta of Next2Friends is scheduled to launch on December 24, 2007. This is still almost two months away, but that doesn’t mean that you should just sit on your butt and twiddle your thumbs in the meantime. Instead, they highly suggest that you pre-register for the service and for good reason: they’ve got some rather hot prizes to give away.
Win an iPod Touch or Dell Inspiron Laptop
Every month leading up to the launch, Next2Friends “will give away a new Dell Laptop every quarter, and an iPod Touch each month.” In order to enter this give-away, you don’t need to blog about the site using a particular anchor text or fork over an undisclosed sum of money. All you have to do is pre-register with Next2Friends and this can be done quickly and easily through the main page. Once registered, you will be entered.
The next drawing for the iPod Touch is scheduled for November 15th, whereas the next Dell Inspiron 1720 is being given away on December 15h. I’m not sure if these prizes will continue to be given away after the site launches, because there’s no mention of continuity nor is there mention that the contest will end.
To increase your chances of winning, refer more friends to Next2Friends. Underneath the main registration form is an area where you can enter the email addresses of up to five friends. They will receive an invitation to pre-register and should they follow through, you get an additional contest entry for every friend that signs up.
Although it’s still not clear exactly how Next2Friends is going to work and what features are so “revolutionary”, the main page makes mention of “many other benefits in becoming a founding member.” You will be eligible to “receive substantially more cash and rewards”, in addition to having first dibs on account names.
Blogging About Community Development
If you want to keep up the latest on this new social networking site, head on over to next2friendsblog.com. It’s a rather plain-looking blog, using the same Wordpress theme as the one currently implemented by Chris Bibey. Considering how great the Next2Friends promo page looks, it’s disappointing that they went with a generic free blog template. I also find the “Digg” widget to be kind of annoying, seeing how they dugg every post. Many entries show a Digg count of 3 or less.
In terms of blog content, it’s not all directly related to Next2Friends. The blog talks about how to copyright your music, overcoming creative blocks, improving vocal technique.
Make Money Online with Next2Friends
Although it’s largely being marketed as a (mobile?) social networking site, Next2Friends could also prove to be a valuable money-making opportunity. In a recent blog post, they mention a chance for artists to promote themselves for free. Next2Friends won’t make any money right away, but when they do, they’ll “share advertising revenue with you, the content provider, in a paid-for-play type structure.”
Video- and revenue-sharing will represent “30% of the total package that Next2Friends will offer. Next2Friends will be much much more.” And we won’t know how much more until December 24th. Until then, pre-register and win an iPod Touch or Dell laptop.
- Posted in Reviews, Technology, Wordpress
- 39 comments what's your take?
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It sounds good. So let us try it. Sometimes we have to work with try and error to get success
Reply to this commentI randomly navigated to Next2Friends because of the laptop and ipod offer.
Reply to this commentfree is good
Reply to this commentI have already pre signed up a while back, but they are still not released for action. I think it was around 2 weeks back.
The best part is there are winners already if you notice on the right of the website.. 
Reply to this commentI wonder if they’ll actually develop with the prizes.
Reply to this commentWhat do you mean by ‘develop’? Better prizes?
Reply to this commentnothing to lose to join
Reply to this commentLets wait and see
Reply to this commentAbsolutely. Please see my comments too. Thank you.
Reply to this commentYou may think that their Blog uses a generic free theme, but it’s actually designed by Nick La, the owner of Next2Friends.
Reply to this commentHa that’s a good catch. I was wondering about that too
Reply to this commentlol… Nick La is our Lead Interface Designer. Not the owner.
Thanks,
Anthony Nystrom
Reply to this commentCTO and Architect
Sounds cool! I can’t wait for the Ipod. Im going to win the Ipod no matter what
Reply to this commentYet to launch but already PR4, even tho I am not a big fan of social networking sites, I will give it a try. Being first of something successful it has its advantages
Reply to this commentThere are loads of social networking sites out there.. I wonder what they have to be different than others?
Furthermore, I think Facebook is pretty strong in this area, while Friendster is established and MySpace has loads of people!
Reply to this commentI don’t know if this one will make it, but I will sign up if just to get a chance to win the stuff
Reply to this commentI don’t know if I can handle another social networking site. These things keep popping up like weeds.
Reply to this commentI wonder if this has anything to do with the “Win a Dell Laptop” spam I’ve been getting lately.
Reply to this commentYou have got me thinking! I hope that John will do some due diligence.
Reply to this commentI should point out that I’m not saying that the site itself might be spamming me, just that I think if they’re offering incentives to get you to refer people, spam may be coming from users trying to win laptops. Either way, I’m not even 100% sure that the spam I got is related at all, but it’s a hell of a coincidence.
Reply to this commentUnless someone is spamming you on our behalf (that would be amazing:) I’m pretty sure it’s not us. If you’re talking about the plague of spams that run the bulletin boards on Myspace and the like, I totally hear you. So, unless another employee is setting up elaborate spam tactics without my knowledge (that would be amazing as well:) it is not us hitting you with the Dell Laptops. We ARE, however, really giving away a Dell Laptop quarterly. It’s real, I saw it!
Hans
Reply to this commentI figured you guys wouldn’t spam, hence my last comment about it being a user of yours if related to your site at all. I really don’t want to spread any rumors, though. =)
Reply to this commentI would normally sign up and refer a few friends too. I am however skeptical as I find your review rather ambiguous. Moreover, I am upto my eyebrows with social networks and can ill afford to get involved in one more. Neither the ipod nor the lap top attracts me.
Reply to this commentYeah I dont really understand why they would order a review me when they havent even got the site up. and then of course there are millions of sites like it just out there.. of course there he is offering prizes and thats all well and good but I dont know if I would take the time to go to the site when its not even opened yet… perhaps if he upped his prizes in cash value that would peak my interest…
Reply to this commentSubscriber count down again…same story?
Reply to this commentI checked mine. Same story since google fetcher is missing from the pie chart.
Reply to this commentwhat about twitter?
Reply to this commentMichael Kwan got most of this right. Thanks Michael! Next2Friends is fusing Social Networking with Mobile Technology in ways that do not currently exist. I know the promo site is vague and I understand people’s concern about signing up for something they essentially know nothing about, but let me just say that upon launch you will be able to do things with your mobile phone through Next2Friends that no one else can do. The technology is real. Right now, I’m not allowed to go into the ins and outs of the innovations, but in a very short time I think all will see that there is truly something unique here.
And to set the record straight you CAN sign up for a free account. The purpose of the Pre-Registration is to allow people to secure their desired user name. They are quickly being snatched up. Feel free to contact me with any questions and I will try to answer them as best I can.
Hans Erik
Reply to this commentContent Marketing Director
Next2Friends
First impressions, the site looks nice and sleek. Very web 2.0.
Reply to this commentI’ll check out Next2Friends and see how it is…you never know.
However, the Dell laptop prizes do sound pretty sweet.
Das Brain
Reply to this commentSocial networking sites are a dime a dozen. There are so many people trying to mimic the social networking success of sites like facebook and myspace. But, how many social groups can you belong to?
Reply to this commentClickforNick-My Blogging Life
I hear you Nick. The thing is we actually aren’t trying to be Myspace or Facebook…or rather, we are, but for a technology that doesn’t exist yet:) But I really think once it’s out people will find it infinitely useful, or just plain fun!
BTW- I read your blog, nice work! I’ve wondered that myself, how long before we start turning on the mirror on ourselves and actually make a living blogging about blogging. Lol. Good luck,
Hans
Reply to this commentContent Market Director
Next2Friends
Yes, I came over this very nice looking site I believe already a couple of month ago. From it’s looks I find it promising. You should not underestimate the importance of appearance. If you stay long on this networks it should not be tiring on the eyes. I find sites like technocraty and del.icio.us to messy to figure out. This site looks promising only in that sense. What the new features and technology are remains of course to be seen. I wanted to try it out some weeks ago, but like the idea of making educated decisions so I browse around to see if there are other “happenings” that should rather get my attention.
Reply to this commentYet another Social Networking Website. The only thing that keeps SNS from flooding the internet is that they require programming knowledge, otherwise it would happen the same as with blogs.
Reply to this commentFree is good until they start getting greedy for $$$
-Mike
Reply to this commentI’m going to wait for a few more user opinions before wading in myself. There are so many social networking websites around that it is all getting rather confusing for me right now.
Reply to this commentThis looks promising, that is why i joined their pre sign up invites.
Reply to this commentI’m extremeeeeely skeptical that this site will survive.
Reply to this commentThe free laptop offer is pretty nice though..
-Raymond
nothing to lose to join except your time
Reply to this comment