Zaang Lets You Socialize In Worlds: Collaborate, Concentrate and Converse With People
January 19, 2010 by Sardar Mohkim Khan
This took me quite a while before I could actually post here at Chaotec. But better late than ever and here I am with Zaang, the startup puts the idea of socializing online to practice. It isn’t a revolutionary idea but the way it has been modified speaks volumes. The idea is simply to modify how conversations happen in a way that members don’t cross talk on random topics spreading the conversations everywhere and making them irrelevant even for those they who can actually benefit from these. How is that done? Well you do that.
You come across a a topic or lets say a controversy that has been there for ages, you search for destinations where there are groups dedicated to talk and share thoughts on. What if you could actually create one destination for the like minded and have conversations and not just like, share. That is exactly what Zaang is about. Collaborate, concentrate and converse that is how it happens at Zaang and you are sure that it’s only those who actually can add value are present. I mean why would someone who barely likes Alfred Hitchcock join my group?
Isn’t that similar to what you can do with creating pages on Facebook or groups on Twitter? Well to some extent, but do you think you have any visibility when you begin a page? Plus Facebook isn’t only about groups and this particular aspect would very well disappear. I might be wrong here, but to me Zaang is a social place for groups and it provides you a directory too. You can search for the one you are interested in; from cooking to bodybuilding, the startup already has tens of groups out there for you to begin with and just in case you don’t happen to find one, create it. The rest is all up with how people associate to the group and how you make it grow on your own utilizing the social aspects of the startup.
The startup is funded and it has a great offer already. Those of you who think they have a great group to begin with can hop in and create one as Zaang will be giving away $1,000 Launch Challenge where the creators of the most engaging page will grab cash prizes. The competition is to end on March 15 April 1, 2010 so hurry up there sooner you create one the better are the chances: you can join my group to talk about Web Startups. Chaotec Readers simply drop in a comment what group they would like to create or join and get one the 100 invites we have!
The startup consists of six people including two founders and hats off to Michael Markarian [one of the founder] for giving me a tip on this one. Just to give you an idea, follow the screenshots:
Comments (14)
I like the concept. It is more on the lines of creating a specific community for discussing certain topics
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Intresting startup but i dont find it much different from twitter and facebook ! i guess it is not going to go far off
Thanks Verda and Mohammed Ali. I liked the concept of the site as well. And yes you might be right that the social networking site resembles the functions of Facebook and Twitter but it helps it make conversations even more systematic and organized.
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Thank you for sharing Zaang. I have created an account and created a world for young entrepreneurs. I look forward to sharing ideas with a group of people who think alike.
This is a fantastic idea. I am sick of having general conversations on Web 2.0 platforms. I can’t wait to see how this pans out!
I do agree with some of the criticisms that it is similar to facebook and twitter, as are all social networking sites. I think there is a strong idea here, somewhat of a more interactive version of wikipedia mixed with facebook. Obviously will need to create significant traffic to become successful, good luck, like the idea.
I really like the concept of Zaang and what Zaang is trying to do!!!! I think it creates a great opportunity for similar people to come together and share their interests. This would be an amazing site just as long as it has many users.
Good Luck Zaang Team!!!!
Wow!…just checked out the site…it is phenomenal! A fun place to converse with people with similar interests. Look me up; I’ve already started the worlds of bodybuilding and mash up music.
@Evan you are absolutely right. If you go into an absolute unique idea, i tell everyone this, its impossible to come up with one not because startups aren’t creatively thought upon, but the Web is such a flourishing bazaar that you are bound to find certain bit of similarities in everything.
As I have said in the post, it might be similar to Facebook and Twitter, but it does combine the social aspects of any social networking site and adds its bit by creating more refined groups so you know where exactly to talk about your idea or liking.
Hello,
Thank you Mohkim Khan for giving me the access to visit your website and try it out and here is a much awaited feedback
Well honestly speaking, I really dont see a unique selling point when I compare this to Facebook, Twitter as well as other forums including Google wave!
Right now in your website you dont have many “worlds” which looks good but I am sure you are aware of the fact that when people start using the site, they will create very similar names for different worlds such as Starbucks and Lovers of Starbucks, GEO or GEO to aisai .. and thats when things get really messy and out of control! but then apart from these worlds, you dont have anything else on the website do you?
Why do you think people would turn to your site and leave facebook? or leave any other forum? whats so good about it? whats the unique selling point?
I will think about something you may perhaps like to add in your website but till then thats all i have.
Thanks,
Ali
hello Mohkim Khan,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to preview Zaang. I loved it and nice to see some good initiatives coming out
however, what it lacks is the killer feature which I believe is important for users to start visiting your website instead of normal forums, facebook or google wave!
Another problem that i see is that right now you don’t have a lots of “world” in your website which makes the website very clean! but when you have lots of “worlds” specially weird and duplicate ones such as “Starbucks” and “I love Starbucks” or “Intel” and “Intel Inside” then things get messy and confusing! – I wonder if you will control this but that would stop people from visiting the site! and beside these “worlds” what else does your website has to offer?
I am thinking of something that might help create that killer feature on your website and if I do come up with any, I will let you know but you have to find one yourself and build it to have that innovation which currently lacks!
Thanks,
Ali
@ Ali you are right about the USP here. But to be honest you can’t really compare sites to Facebook and Twitter, especially the startups. The point here is creating a place for dedicated discussions, Facebook, Twitter, Google Wave do offer those modes but they aren’t really very open and or categorized which creates a lot of problems.
What I would really like to happen in the startup is that they are able to keep an eye on ‘World Duplication’ for example there is a group of Web Startups and there should be none other created to ensure there is no spam/randomness/and duplication at all. That way it will get to have some uniqueness added to it and have people flock in for the right purpose.