Soccer-Themed Social-Networking Site May Score

from the gol! dept

For some time, Yahoo has argued that while Google may be better at selling targeted search advertising, its own network of sites are better for promoting a brand. Google may now be muscling in on that space by launching Joga.com, a Nike-branded social networking web site targeting soccer fans around the globe. Like MySpace, users will be able to put up a web page, share video clips, and communicate with each other. Nike will seed it with viral videos and other content that appeals to soccer fans. What makes this venture interesting is that could attract a large number of users by targeting a niche. It could also appeal to people who would otherwise have no interest in social-networking web sites, but do have an interest in this area. Even if it's just elaborate marketing, it's marketing that people really like. The videos that Nike has already released are incredibly popular, with fans creating their own versions and posting them to the web. While the plethora of social-networking sites may induce some fatigue in this area, combining users passions with a well-loved brand could prove a hit.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  1. identicon
    ./Decius, 20 Mar 2006 @ 3:20pm

    Pinky and the Brain?

    News at ten, Google execs sign a contract with Pinky and the Brain, for world domination.

    Sorry had to get that out.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    benmcnelly, 20 Mar 2006 @ 4:27pm

    Are you thinking what I am thinking?

    I think so Brain, but it's a miracle this one grew back....
    -------------

    I think this could begin a wave of social-networking apps and "partbership sites" from google. Heres a good philosophy, "Find ways to connect people with what thier interested in, and then become the best at it. Weather its entertainment, knowledge, websites, or social-networking.... then study thier habbits, email and obsessions and hit em with targeted ads that the advertising world will gladly pay out the nose for."

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Kevin, 20 Mar 2006 @ 5:30pm

    It makes sense

    I don't want to say "I told you so" but...

    I saw this coming. I had thought about creating a website due to the fact that the Wolrd Cup was coming.

    By the way, I am hoping to either sell my domain name www.smoothplayer.com or find a partner who is flexible in working with me.

    link to this | view in thread ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.