How does a site like Facebook become so big?

People behind facebook did a very great idea about this site. Good ads done a big part of the popularity of course. I actually don't have any idea about it, its my friend who told me about the site, words of mouth would be one of the reason of facebook's success.

 

Word of mouth...one person joins and tells 5 friends then each of those 5 tell 5 and it just goes on and on...

There is a new hot social site coming out that is all video called VidEngage. I'm a member, and recommend you check it out. You can create a video profile, send video messages, video comments, and you can even hold live video conferences with up to 10 friends.

Plus they do have a spot for you to advertise using video called the Video Bazzar.

Then even offer video dating, and video resumes. I believe this will become one of the big boys.

 

it became so popular right after I joined

 

At first it was a closed community. It wasnt available to everyone. Users had to be members of one of the 30,000+ recognized schools, colleges, universities, organizations, and companies within the U.S, Canada, and other English-speaking nations. That way it was a safer place for college students only. It had also a simpler design.
Then the big money came in and there where the real popularity started. It received several funds like from, $500,000 from Peter Theil, co-founder of PayPal, $13 million from Accel Partners and $25 million from Greylock Partners.

 

Why did it become so popular? Because I joined.

 

Personally I think most of those sites tend to be a waste of time albeit ones like linkedIn for business.

(bear in mind my one RULES in my opinion, but thats probably because I own it, lol)

 

Facebook isn't English based as well, it supports a number of languages, which means it's used by not just england/america, so it's got a much wider user range to most social networking websites, I've seen it on TV, bannars etc. Stuff like "free facebook on vodaphone mobile" (Not sure if it was vodaphone but you get the idea)

 

Virality, they had a smaller user base of college students who invited their friends to keep in touch, who then invited their friends, it spread and spread, quite simple really. + better than myspace.

 

C'mon guys, don't be so foolish.

Funding

Total $516M

Angel, 9/04 2
Peter Thiel
$500k

Series A, 5/05 3
Accel Partners
$12.7M

Series B, 4/06 4
Greylock
Meritech Capital Partners
The Founders Fund
$27.5M

Series C, 1/08 5
European Founders Fund
$15M

Series C, 3/08 6
Li Ka-shing
$120M

Series C, 10/07 7
Microsoft
$240M

Debt, 5/08 8
TriplePoint Capital
$100M

http://www.crunchbase.com/company/facebook

 

They are also famosu as they allow advertising on facebook using their in build ppc systems.

 

I have seen a script where sites ask for your hotmail/ yahoo email address and password and they "invite" your contacts to join you on the site. A lot of social networking sites do this. I am not 100% sure facebook did this but I believe this is an effective marketing technique. I am unsure of the legitimacy of it though.

 

I have had a myspace pg for a couple of years but recetnly I joined facebook- I like it a lot better-easier to use