LiveWorld offers new private-label social networking edition
LiveWorld, a social media marketing agency that's trying to expand its business into social networking, announced Thursday that it will offer a new edition of its Community Center 2.0 software, which is intended to provide businesses with a lower-cost social networking option for creating an online community around a company's brand.
Dubbed Community Center 2.0 ProEdition, LiveWorld's software includes moderation tools, widgets, community segmentation features for a more robust social network, and community-optimized search engine optimization. Most importantly, the ProEdition also includes LiveWorld's API to let companies create a unique social network that runs over the LiveWorld platform. According to the company, the average social network can be deployed in a few weeks.
"Brands realize that creating a loyal, active online community to engage their customers is critical to marketing in the 21st century, and all the more so in a tough economic climate," Peter Friedman, LiveWorld's Chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "That's why we've created ProEdition. It lets businesses deploy social networks based on LiveWorld's...platform, but at a lower entry and ongoing price than previously available."
But just how affordable is Community Center 2.0? You'll need to call the company to find out -- it doesn't divulge pricing information to the public due to the unique nature of each company's needs. Regardless, LiveWorld is operating in an extremely competitive market. And with major companies like IBM and its Lotus Connections solution offering outstanding opportunities for the enterprise to "go social," LiveWorld may not be able to easily take the leadership role in the space.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
Thanks for covering this story! I did want to add a correction. LiveWorld is actually not new to social networking; we've been in this business of helping Fortune 500 brands such as Kraft, Campbell's, and eBay to build, manage, and moderate online communities since 1996 -- and our founders' experience with community stretches back to Apple in the mid-1980s.
You're quite right about the competition, and that's a big reason we're launching Community Center 2.0. We're hoping build on our existing products and experience -- and at a price that makes sense in today's market.
Happy to answer more questions if you have them!
--Bryan Person | @BryanPerson
LiveWorld