Block parties made easy

An article in the New York Times outlined the social network called "Nextdoor." It is meant to serve as a platform for communication among neighborhoods and small communities. This can be useful for help on finding dog-walkers and babysitters, recommending repairmen, and so much more. The author describes it as "a modern, more attractive version of a community email list service." Maybe it's just my neighborhood, but there is very little communication among the people who live around me and I've noticed it decline over time. The sense of community is lost and I don't know a lot of my neighbors. Nextdoor hopes to build that up as a product of people using it for other services.

I think this is a great network because it builds community and the uses are plentiful. If you are new to a neighborhood, particularly one that isn't very friendly as a whole, finding help can be very difficult. For local services like driveway maintenance, landscaping, and contracting, getting recommendations online from your neighbors is the easiest way to do it. Even if you don't know the person who's asking and you know a good landscaping company, typing a response is so simple. Nextdoor could also slowly integrate new members into your neighborhood and serve as a start of friendships with neighbors. It could be beneficial when you are selling something like furniture, looking for a lost pet, or need someone to take your garbage out if you'll be away. Even, as the title of this post suggests, serve as a base to plan a block party or other neighborhood affair. All of these are much easier to find help for when you can communicate with everyone who lives so close.

Another big service Nextdoor can provide is easy communication between local government and citizens. If a storm is coming, precautions and emergency notices can be broadcast quicker and more effectively than via television news. The government can just post to the neighborhoods the information that needs to get out and the alert will surely be received. Alerts can also be sent out for local crimes and utility issues. Overall, social networking is a better way to reach a large audience and since this network is restricted by neighborhoods, messages can be more direct to whom they need to reach.

This is a great idea when it's laid out because it is simple and very useful. Where it runs into trouble is money (of course). The creators can't develop, run, and improve Nextdoor cost-free so they need to keep it afloat and earn a salary. The company is contemplating a testing ways to make money off of their product. They're not going to charge people to use, so clearly they need advertising. What's different about Nextdoor's business plan is that they don't want to spam users with ads because that weakens the messages that are posted and defeats the purpose. They have discussed allowing local babysitters, contractors, tutors, etc. to post ads that are available to users who post about needing one. Now, rather than a group of people all replying with the same handyman, the inquirer can be presented with a post about a handyman who is local and previously recommended. They don't want to overbear users with ads and lose the purpose of the network, but they need to make some profit. They are going slow and testing different options but making sure not to let advertisements and money distract them from the real utility of Nextdoor.