Social Network / Listserv combo?

December 6, 2007 6:49 PM

Are there any websites out there that combine the features of a social network with the features of a listserv ? I am about to graduate from a short-term writing program that doesn't currently have an organized way for alumni to network. I'd like to help create an alumni website where we can view each other's profiles and also send and receive announcements or questions via email.

There are things I like about a social networking tool like Facebook -- you can look at people's profiles for example. The disadvantage is that you have to log in if you want to see if anyone, for example, has posted a job opportunity.

What I like about a listserv, like Google groups, is that the information comes to you in the form of an email or email digest, and you don't have to log in to participate in a discussion or receive announcements. The disadvantage is that there doesn't seem to be a way to view profiles or connect with people in the same way as with a social networking site.

Are there any sites that combine both functions?

(keep in mind that I'm a total neophyte and am well aware I might have an incomplete understanding of how social networks and listservs work).

posted by megancita to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

The division between the two is growing less and less as social networking websites like Facebook publish APIs that allow users to customize their experience on the site. This includes the ability to create an 'app' that allows you to notify users via their email address when something is posted to a specific forum ("Job opportunities here!"), etc... For example, I'm fairly certain that 'out of the box' you can change your settings for a particular group in Facebook so that you will be notified of various activities on it by email. If you can't, there are no doubt customizations available to do so.

I'm pretty sure anything will do the trick here, from Facebook to MySpace to Google Groups to Yahoo to whatever communities Microsoft runs. I think the key with most of these things is to choose a technology everybody already uses routinely, which seems to Facebook these days.
posted by onalark at 7:18 PM on December 6, 2007

In addition there's myfamily.com.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:34 AM on December 7, 2007

Assuming you can find someone to host a website or donate sever space you could set up a bulleting board system like PHPBB or Vbulletin, among others. They are relatively easy to set up and maintain and are very customizable to offer all of the needs that you require.
posted by JJ86 at 9:20 AM on December 7, 2007

ning.com will let you set up your own mini-social network, but i agree with onalark, you should use whichever social utility that is already used by most of the members. yet another site to log in to and and maintain a profile is a recipe for abandonment.
posted by maulik at 3:12 AM on December 8, 2007