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RedHedd.com - social networking for…. redheads.

RedHedd.com is a social network for redheads, which as their press release states, is modelled on MySpace. Well, yes, it looks like a red-themed MySpace clone, and seems to have all of the same features, as well as a niche vertical to appeal to and generate buzz around.

But: is it a business? IMHO - no. Its attempting to monetize what could as easily be a Facebook group by building it inside its own walled garden. No doubt it could garner a small, yet dedicated following, but I don’t see it as sustainable in the long run.

This isn’t a critique of RedHedd specifically, btw. That’s a critique of vertical social networking as a business model in general. The only organizations that are capable of cashing in on vertical networks are white labeller / aggregators like Ning that can pool miniscule revenue streams from thousands of properties; even that model is marginal IMHO.

At the end of the day, why join another network when your existing memberships (Facebook) provide the same group features and social networking functionality with a larger member pool to draw on, and without the added overhead of another membership?

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