Everybody is familiar with the web’s most popular social networks, sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have become a regular part of daily life for many people. But in addition to these gigantic, general purpose platforms, there are many smaller social networks targeted at specific niche audiences, often based around areas of interest such as professions, taste in music or a shared love of a particular pastime. The opportunities for developing niche social networks are huge. Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn have to be all things to all people in order to cater to such large audiences, which means they often cannot serve the more specific needs of particular interest groups. So if you can create a networking site that does meet the needs of such a group, you stand a good chance of success.