3 ms·

How did Facebook grow so big suddenly?

1 points by master54 19y ago

master54 19y ago
I remember at one point of time they were smaller than bebo, hi5 etc. Suddenly, they obliterate these people
zizou 19y ago
i guess the key is a combination of various factors,one probably is the no-nonsense design and features, it really is what they claim as social utility,next gud move was opening up to genral public..and then the media attention they've been receiving..
dawie 19y ago
Facebook is inherently viral. They are clever about this and don't get in people's way. Also they make it really easy to find friends through other friends, which I don't think the other companies does.
- master54 19y ago
  hi5 is inherently viral too. heck, i receive lots of invites through this
kyro 19y ago
What Facebook did was smart. They initially marketed it to the 'older' and 'more mature' group, meaning those who just entered college and older. They made us feel as if Facebook was a way of establishing ourselves in a new and more sophisticated community, a 'community where we weren't pestered by annoying high schoolers like on Myspace.' Then when the time was right, they opened it to all.
bootload 19y ago
'... How did Facebook grow so big suddenly? ...' It didn't. It's been bubbling along for a long time (Facebook launched in February of 2004 ~ http://www.facebook.com/press.php http://www.facebook.com/press.php ) Facebook is also doing a lot of things right, namely Connect, Connnect, Connect. The mantra of the new, post multi-tasking adoption of the always connected. For example: - choosing a demographic (gen z) that values communication as an opportunity - attaching themselves to organisations that are already wired and communicating (schools & universities) - choice of technology (open) ~ http://developers.facebook.com/opensource.php http://developers.facebook.com/opensource.php - continuous innovation ~ http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=2207522130 http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=2207522130 - enabling ~ http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html - and finally, making something that people want and the best tool to do this at the same time! Of course the story on Facebook is still being written. Zuckerberg is really taking the long term view for Fb with a $USD12M dollar funding (and the service shows this money well spent with lots of details covered, api, reliability, etc ~ http://tinyurl.com/2ug3p8 http://tinyurl.com/2ug3p8 ) When the market cools and users wane (a'la Friendster) will the reported $USD1B offered by Yahoo! and rejected, be seen in hindsight as a good idea?

1 points by master54 19y ago

I remember at one point of time they were smaller than bebo, hi5 etc. Suddenly, they obliterate these people

zizou 19y ago

i guess the key is a combination of various factors,one probably is the no-nonsense design and features, it really is what they claim as social utility,next gud move was opening up to genral public..and then the media attention they've been receiving..

dawie 19y ago

Facebook is inherently viral. They are clever about this and don't get in people's way. Also they make it really easy to find friends through other friends, which I don't think the other companies does.

master54 19y ago
hi5 is inherently viral too. heck, i receive lots of invites through this

kyro 19y ago

What Facebook did was smart. They initially marketed it to the 'older' and 'more mature' group, meaning those who just entered college and older. They made us feel as if Facebook was a way of establishing ourselves in a new and more sophisticated community, a 'community where we weren't pestered by annoying high schoolers like on Myspace.' Then when the time was right, they opened it to all.

bootload 19y ago

'... How did Facebook grow so big suddenly? ...' It didn't. It's been bubbling along for a long time (Facebook launched in February of 2004 ~ http://www.facebook.com/press.php http://www.facebook.com/press.php ) Facebook is also doing a lot of things right, namely Connect, Connnect, Connect. The mantra of the new, post multi-tasking adoption of the always connected. For example: - choosing a demographic (gen z) that values communication as an opportunity - attaching themselves to organisations that are already wired and communicating (schools & universities) - choice of technology (open) ~ http://developers.facebook.com/opensource.php http://developers.facebook.com/opensource.php - continuous innovation ~ http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=2207522130 http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=2207522130 - enabling ~ http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html http://www.cit.cornell.edu/policy/memos/facebook.html - and finally, making something that people want and the best tool to do this at the same time! Of course the story on Facebook is still being written. Zuckerberg is really taking the long term view for Fb with a $USD12M dollar funding (and the service shows this money well spent with lots of details covered, api, reliability, etc ~ http://tinyurl.com/2ug3p8 http://tinyurl.com/2ug3p8 ) When the market cools and users wane (a'la Friendster) will the reported $USD1B offered by Yahoo! and rejected, be seen in hindsight as a good idea?