Niche social networking sites...ElHood

The rise of niche social networking sites and dating sites has been done from a smart marketing perception to seek to create places where there is a unifying characteristic that members share. As the CNN article on ElHood points out, this works. Where it is very important is when it comes to promoting music :

"A lot of Latin artists are plugged in," (Eric) Monterrosa said. "So if you want to find them it's easy. If you go to sites like MySpace, you have to go through all sorts of genres, types of music, and languages."

About 56 percent of Hispanics in the United States use the Internet, compared with 71 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 60 percent of non-Hispanic blacks, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. But the number of Hispanics online jumps to 67 percent among 18- to 27-year-olds -- the group most likely to visit social-networking sites and one coveted by advertisers.

A good majority of us want to feel as if we "belong" somewhere, and these niche groups start out with providing the basics of that feeling of a unique perspective of a community.