Why did facebook succeed, while classmates.com and reunion.com just became spammers?

[Mahaguru]

Classmates.com almost had the same idea as facebook, minus the networking part. But since 1998 all they have been doing is just spamming and putting banner ads on websites.

Do you think the CEO of that company looks back and says, damn we almost had that idea.

 

[SunnyD]

Microsoft bought facebook.

 

[legoman666]

because of the exclusivity of facebook in the beginning. If it came into being in its current state, it wouldnt have gone anywhere.

 

[FoBoT]

what is facebook

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

ding ding ding

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

winnar

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

That's exactly why I never bothered with classmates.com

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

That's exactly why I never bothered with classmates.com

same. when i found out they wanted you to pay i skipped it.

for my high schools 10 year Reunion the people in charge at first were only using classmates.com to let people know where/when it was. then they got hit with a LOT of negative backlash. people called the school/paper etc. finally they sent out invitations and tried to contact as many people as they can.

 

[Rudee]

How is the answer not obvious? Facebook is free. Classmates charges you money for anything but the basics. It's like asking why everybody doesn't drink bottled water.

 

[Mahaguru]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

I get that, and I guess I wasn't clear with my question. Classmates started back when dotcoms were popping up like crazy and were just trying to maximum exposure, no matter how much it costs. Paying for website services was still a bit uncomfortable for people. Does the CEO for classmates look back and say well we should have been free, and we could have made our money some other way.

I don't doubt classmates.com makes money, since they have been in business for so long. But they are not worth millions.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Mahaguru

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

I get that, and I guess I wasn't clear with my question. Classmates started back when dotcoms were popping up like crazy and were just trying to maximum exposure, no matter how much it costs. Paying for website services was still a bit uncomfortable for people. Does the CEO for classmates look back and say well we should have been free, and we could have made our money some other way.

I don't doubt classmates.com makes money, since they have been in business for so long. But they are not worth millions.

i bet he does. one reasons classmates is not worth millions is they charge. so not as many people use.

 

[Canai]

facebook is spammy shit, I dunno what OP is talking about...

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
I think what Facebook had going for it was that it was/is completely free. With Classmates, you couldn't do anything without upgrading to a membership level so a lot of people were like, "eff that!" and moved on.

Not to mention, it was spread by advertisements! A lot of people are put off by places that just try and run a market out of something like that. Facebook surged as my generation approached college - that is, those like a year or two older than me and the same for those younger - as it seems we swarm for anything that a few trendy kits caught on too, and when a few of the cool kids mimicked out of curiosity it all went to hell. It's the tech savvy generation thing I'd say. And it'll continue to get worse as the kids get more spoiled it seems too, let alone by the growing numbers of tech savvy kids.

 

[rocadelpunk]

I don't even remember what it was like before facebook :0

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
I don't even remember what it was like before facebook :0

I do.

 

[sonambulo]

It was exclusive at first so that's why. It built up its name steadily and then when it opened its doors people came flooding in.


Wake me when they figure out how to make money.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
I don't even remember what it was like before facebook :0

I do.

For me, shamefully, it was Xanga, Myspace, then Facebook. I still have all 3, but just because I don't visit the first two anymore. Love facebook though. Really is perfect for college as it seems anyone you ever run into, will have a facebook. Great for communicating to so many people.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: sonambulo
It was exclusive at first so that's why. It built up its name steadily and then when it opened its doors people came flooding in.


Wake me when they figure out how to make money.

Um.... they do? They advertise on their pages, and hell that little gift thing is the funniest little scam ever.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
I don't even remember what it was like before facebook :0

I do.

For me, shamefully, it was Xanga, Myspace, then Facebook. I still have all 3, but just because I don't visit the first two anymore. Love facebook though. Really is perfect for college as it seems anyone you ever run into, will have a facebook. Great for communicating to so many people.

Yeah, Facebook is almost universal. There's no better way to keep in touch (or be able to) with people. You'll find a lot of idiots on this forum bashing Facebook, but it's revolutionized communication for our generation (IE people under 25). Virtually everyone under that age cutoff really does have a Facebook.

FB has taken a significant role in politics as well.

 

[marvdmartian]

I never paid for anything on classmates, but a classmate of mine must have, cuz they used the contact information I had there to get ahold of me for our 25th reunion, a couple years ago.

Damn, I'm getting old!!! LOL

 

[LongCoolMother]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: destrekor

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
I don't even remember what it was like before facebook :0

I do.

For me, shamefully, it was Xanga, Myspace, then Facebook. I still have all 3, but just because I don't visit the first two anymore. Love facebook though. Really is perfect for college as it seems anyone you ever run into, will have a facebook. Great for communicating to so many people.

Yeah, Facebook is almost universal. There's no better way to keep in touch (or be able to) with people. You'll find a lot of idiots on this forum bashing Facebook, but it's revolutionized communication for our generation (IE people under 25). Virtually everyone under that age cutoff really does have a Facebook.

FB has taken a significant role in politics as well.

true. while im no facebook junkie (tons of people look at facebook in class :roll, I still realize and understand the huge impact facebook has had. its extremely useful. even some job recruiters communicate on there.

 

[puffff]

The never ran any stupid ads like "He!... married her!?? And had six kids?!?!" God that banner is so annoying.

 

[state 08]

I remember the old days when facebook had massive slow-downs at night, and it was fastest during the day when people had class.

 

[n7]

Facebook was fine till about half a year ago when it became infested with retarded applications & ads.

Now i don't use it much, though it is by far the best of the social networking sites, no question.