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    Posted January 2, 2013 by
    APax62
    Location
    90210, California
    Assignment
    Assignment
    This iReport is part of an assignment:
    Tech talk

    More from APax62

    Success of Niche Markets Pivotal to Web Growth: Introducing SlingerVille

     
    The immense success of the Internet has extended its sphere of influence to a point where it isn’t just the “World Wide Web” but rather a world in itself. One could argue this point rather simply by looking at Massively Multiplayer Online RPG’s, which have entranced so many subscribers that in the most extreme cases, players forget to maintain their physical bodies in exchange for their “avatars”. The total subscription spending for MMO’s are over 1.4 Billion dollars and that doesn’t include sales outside of the United States.

    The infatuation and success of these games and websites is the ability to read the statistics and trends far easier than what we can research outside of the digital realm. It allows a quick way of matching your target audiences needs with the “beat” of your site. The only firewall one might find with this method is finding a niche that is relatively untouched. Internet entrepreneur and business tycoon James McGibney is a perfect example of how there is always an area and hobby untouched. McGibney is a former U.S. Marine and the founder of the “Ville” websites taking the country (and now into other countries) by storm.

    Slingerville.com in particular is a perfect example of success by niche market. For those who haven’t been on the site, it is the very first fully functional social media site for tattoo enthusiasts. McGibney found an area heavily underrepresented on the Internet to laypeople and opened up an entire site for those who want to post on it. There are many sections of the site including a place where patrons can post tat-do’s and don’ts for all to comment on and entertain themselves. A featured artist section is also represented, where ink slingers who don’t have the privilege to be on the reality television can be spotlighted for their talent in the field. A personal favorite aspect of the site (too often my tattoo is misinterpreted) is the section where you can blog about “the reason” you got a tattoo.

    In addition to Slingerville, McGibney owns KarmaVille, BullyVille, CupidVille and the wildly successful CheaterVille websites. Each site successful for finding an area much needed of a voice for the normal folk. It used to be a smart decision to appeal to mainstream markets, but now it is more important than ever to find the intricate ones because when discussing the world population nothing is THAT tiny.

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