Gathering data for social data driven website

Question

I hope this isn't OT.

I've got an idea for a social site where the content is provided by the users. I see two problems:

1. You open the site, it has very little data to start with
2. You've attracted a few users, how do you encourage them to add content?

I'm imagining something like yelp.com, where the utility really comes from the user comments/ review/ ratings.

Is it just massive advertising? Data mining? hiring people in the beginning to add data?

Answer 1

Start with a private beta.

Know the target audience and try to address them. A closed private beta implies certain shortcomings the participants understand and accept. These shortcomings would be pretty much the things you foresee as a possible problem, like:

• Little content
• Little diversity
• Little involvement

A private beta creates a certain acceptance among the participants. Let your user driven platform evolve slowly.