Affluence.org, aSmallWorld, Spire.com - Social Network Reviews

Affluence.org - Social Network for Rich People

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:24:00 +0000

Affluence.org is a social network for millionaires! Yes, you heard me right. A social network for rich and affluent people. Gold diggers listen up, lol.

In order to qualify for this social network you need to meet one of 3 criteria. You must have a demonstrated household net worth of $3 million US or a minimum household income of $300,000 or invite 5 other people to join that qualify.

That last criteria does sound quite funny. You could be dead broke but if you have 5 rich friends that join you can also come along!

Affluence.org say that you can network with millionaires, billionaires and “socially elite people”. Features include access to a dedicated concierge and priority access to the worlds most exclusive clubs, restaurants and hotels.

It seems that there is a social network for everything nowadays and Affluence targets the wealthy in society. How do they verify your income? Do you send them your tax return? Are people willing to send their tax return to an unestablished website just to prove their wealth.

If you have been accepted to join or know anyone that has let us know your thoughts!

http://www.acestartups.com/affluence-social-network-for-rich-people/

Need Affluence?

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Until recently, there were only two kinds of social classes when it came to online: Technology Haves and Technology Have Not’s. The Technology Haves tend to be more highly educated, higher income, with fewer minorities, while the Technology Have Not’s were just the opposite. The Internet became the field leveler for the Technology Haves. Each person had equal access to information, while information itself became the social capital.

A new class of social network sites has emerged and their sole purpose is to re-establish the dominance of the wealthy in this new order. These sites have attempted to winnow their membership by utilizing an invitation only system. To date this has not been all that successful of a model.

Along comes affluence.org. Affluence is changing the traditional invitation only model in hopes of connecting to more people. Instead of each member sending an invitation to each of his or her connections, Affluence has drawn a line based on income. If someone can simply prove that they have a net worth of $3 million or a minimum annual household income of $300,000 they can become members.

Is this really something that is necessary on the Internet? Is this simply a natural re-segregation that was inevitable?

http://www.elroyjetson.org/2009/01/27/need-affluence/

Social networking sites of the wealthy

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:01:00 +0000

In the real world, the average Joe watches the Red Sox-Yankees game from the bleachers while the affluent mingle in the corporate boxes. Everyday Eddie deals with parking and public restrooms during his day at the beach, yet the mega-rich drop their keys with the valet and settle into a reserved lounge chair at a private club.

Online, the waters are parting too.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/management/social-networking-sites-of-the-wealthy/2008/05/14/1210444490015.html

Five Social Networking Sites Of The Wealthy

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Online, the waters are parting too.

Though it once seemed that the Web was the last place where status didn't matter, the elite are now looking for a comfortable place to mingle with like-minded people. They're leaving Facebook and LinkedIn to the riffraff.

In Depth: Social Networking Sites for High Society

"It's taken a while for wealthy consumers to start using networking sites, mostly due to privacy issues and concerns," says Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a New York-based research company that focuses on high-net-worth individuals.

"But now they want to leverage all those social-networking advantages. Before, they had the opportunity to network at annual international meetings, but now they can connect to like-minded people in Dubai or anywhere in the world in an instant."

According to a January survey by the Luxury Institute, wealthy-consumer participation in online social networks is on the rise. Of the 805 people surveyed (each with a minimum gross annual income of $150,000) in 2008, 60% of respondents said they participate in a social network, up from 27% in 2007.

Participation levels for the wealthy in leading social networks were 16% for MySpace, 13% for LinkedIn and 11% for Facebook. On average, a wealthy person has membership in 2.8 social networks with an average of 110 connections. Unfortunately, according to Pedraza, too many invites, "pokes" and unrequited connections, coupled with the leaks in privacy, make exclusive sites more alluring.

A new breed of social site
The wealthy are instead heading to a new crop of ultra-exclusive social networks that have blossomed over the past few years, such as aSmallWorld, which launched in 2004. This year also saw the launch of Diamond Lounge and Squa.re.

Some networks come with strict invite-only policies and a rigorous application process based on education, job title, connections and lots of virtual velvet rope. Others, such as Squa.re and Quintessentially, are more lenient, requiring simply an invite from any existing member.

ASmallWorld, by far the most well-known and well-attended site for digital A-listers, was launched in March 2004 by former Lehman Brothers banker Erik Wachtmeister. Born into a diplomat family (his father was the Swedish ambassador to the U.S.), Wachtmeister started networking at an early age.

"I realized there was an existing community of people who are connected by three degrees of separation: They stay at the same resorts when they travel, frequent the same restaurants and have similar lifestyles. They needed a platform to share and receive information--it was a huge untapped opportunity," Wachtmeister says.

ASmallWorld has grown to include 320,000 members globally (Facebook boasts 40 million, by contrast) with 65% of the members in the U.K., Italy, Germany and France and 20% in the U.S. The rest are sprinkled throughout the Middle East and Asia. Wachtmeister's site has been even called "MySpace for millionaires" by the Wall Street Journal. But Wachtmeister maintains that aSmallWorld is a niche community that doesn't allow self-promotion or aggressive networking.

Once invited to join the network (only selected members with a sturdy Rolodex are given invite powers), a member can browse the market guide (a high-end Craigslist where there are currently 500 member-listed yachts for sale), surf the luxury-travel guide and global-event guide, or participate in forum discussions--one of the site's most active and popular functions.

"Anyone with good lawyers in Phuket, Thailand?" a member recently asked on aSmallWorld's forum. He continues: "I'm building a sustainable-apartment development and need some U.K.-Thai contracts written up for an investor."

Another writes that she's "looking for recommendations for the U.K.'s and/or Europe's top cosmetic doctors to perform liposuction or the fat-dissolving laser treatment."

Participating in the forums and access to the site is free, supported by advertisers such as Cartier, Moet & Chandon and Patek Philippe--all lured on board by the guarantee of targeting a luxury-obsessed audience.

Striking a balance
Others are jumping on the bandwagon too, but finding the balance between staying exclusive and making a profit is a big challenge.

Case in point: The newly launched DiamondLounge.com. Significantly smaller, with only 150 members, the company has flip-flopped between fee-based and free, and has shifted its focus from business networking and social site to dating and fun, "like an online club," says owner Arya Marafie. He says a slow and controlled growth in these early days is critical to the site's long-term success.

"We spent a tremendous amount of time making sure that we selected the right club members, because these are the people who will invite the next group," says Marafie, adding that most of those hand-selected people are CEOs, lawyers, directors or doctors. But Marafie admits that this mix will most likely change as the site switches to a party-like environment.

"Being wealthy won't automatically get you in the door," says Marafie, "You have to be interesting and bring something to the table." He says the average age of his members is 35 to 40, significantly older than the MySpace or Facebook demographic. However, according to a study by comScore Media Metrix, 68% of the 55 million MySpace users and 50% of Facebook's 15 million users are now 25 and older.

Are you a member of a high-end online social network? Is it worth it? Add your thoughts in the Reader Comments section below.

Next month, the Luxury Institute is also launching a network catering to the affluent. For an annual fee of $250, LuxuryRatings.com will offer access to member ratings of several different types of service providers, from wealth advisers to art dealers to yacht brokers. The fee eliminates the need for online advertising, which, Pedraza says, would be a conflict of interest.

Will it work?
"People are unhappy with the free-for-all at LinkedIn and Facebook and MySpace. They are looking for a specialized group to mingle with, and paying a fee weeds out the ones who don't belong," says Chris Curtis, director of Web Business Ownership LLC, a Delaware-based Internet consulting company.

"Exclusive sites are becoming more prevalent because not everyone is willing to network with people they don't know," she adds. "It provides a more formal type of introduction within a closed circle. [The networks] have staying power, but only if they listen to the needs of the society that they are creating."

But do the rich and successful have time to be searching the Web and schmoozing? "If it's worth their time, yes," says Pedraza. "I know people who are building a yacht, and peer-to-peer insight about where to go and who to work with is the sweet spot."

Getting to that spot, however, is the challenge. If you want to be inside these clubs, aim for one of the more lenient ones that require an easy-to-find invite where all members have invite powers. Choose carefully, though, because just like in high school, once everyone can join the cool club, it's no longer cool. The alternative is to pay the yearly $250 dues to join a site such as LuxuryRatings.com.

But if you're looking for an invite from the more exclusive groups, you simply have to know someone who matters.

"If you don't know anyone in the group, maybe it's not quite right for you," says Wachtmeister.

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/02/social-networks-vip-tech-personal-cx_nr_0502style.html

Who wants to friend a millionaire?

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:50:00 +0000

A Facebook for the rich tries its best to “keep out the average guy”. Our intrepid reporter peers through the cybergates of wealth.

Jann Wenner, the founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine, wants to be my friend. I know this because he listed me as a friend on Affluence, the online social network for millionaires, a Facebook for elitists that launched late last year with the aim of becoming “the exclusive organisation of the world’s wealthiest people.”

It was an unexpected invitation. I’m neither wealthy nor a member in good standing of the global media elite. I’ve never met Jann Wenner, and I’ve certainly never visited Affluence.org.

But how could I resist a friendly invitation from the man who bankrolled Gonzo journalism? After I applied to join the website, friend requests from the rich kept on rolling in (though many of my would-be friends had names that screamed “I have money” in an email scammer’s accent: Jennifer Lewis-Carnegie, Kaitlyn Cohen, John Paulson). Only one catch remained: before I could actually consummate my friendship with these millionaires (supposed and otherwise), my application had to be approved.

I’m still waiting.

“Everybody wants to be able to rub shoulders with the elite,” says Scott Mitchell, who founded Affluence while experiencing what he calls “sudden wealth syndrome” after selling tunes.com, his internet music start-up, for $180 million.

Mitchell believes the problem with sites like Facebook is that “there’s no mechanism to keep out the average guy,” nothing to stop a small, selective grouping from becoming a free-for-all made impure by people like ... me.

To join this digital country club, you need to demonstrate a household net worth of more than $3 million, or an annual income of over $300,000. In countries like the US and Australia, where public records like housing registers provide indications of wealth, the site’s monitors check these sources first. Then comes a more detailed search of newspapers, corporate websites and blogs. If all else fails, you can resort, as approximately 20 per cent of applicants do, to sending in scans or faxes of tax returns, payslips and bank statements.

A whole segment of internet entrepreneurs are working hard at building exclusive communities like this, online worlds that strike a balance between openness to new members and a hostility to the great unwashed.

A prime example is the social network A Small World, known by those outside its gates as Snobster. The network (which received a large start-up investment from the film producer Harvey Weinstein) relies on cool rather than cash as the determining factor for membership, in an attempt to create that magical mix that keeps many a nightclub in business: brilliant and beautiful side by side with the rich and clueless. A Small World allows only its best connected members – those with 50 or more friends on the network – to send new invites, keeping numbers down and quality up.

If you behave badly on A Small World – if you use its forums to promote your business, or try a little too hard, as one member did, to become friends with Paris Hilton – you are banished to an area of the site called A Big World. From this purgatory you are either exiledforever or eventually allowed to return to paradise.

For Mitchell, A Small World’s model just isn’t snobby enough. “A very large percentage of their member base are hospitality workers: waitresses, hostesses, concierges at hotels. I’m sure they are interesting people, but they don’t exactly fit our niche.”

Affluence hopes to avoid the swelling middle class of A Small World by going directly for the money, or at least people who know people with money. The only way you can join without sending documentary evidence of your wealth is by inviting five other documented millionaires who successfully join.

“The theory is that if you are an influencer, you will know five people that qualify,” Mitchell says. A combination of wealth and connections has helped the UAE become the largest source of Affluence members outside of the West, with three per cent of the total user base.

Mitchell says there’s hope for me yet: my looming electronic friendship with Wenner (one of his former partners) is no joke. “Jann just signed up a week ago and every time a new applicant shows up on the site he adds them. He’s only got like four or five friends so he thinks this is a way to get more.”

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090130/REVIEW/673671543/-1/ART

Alan Chokov Selected as a Member of Affluence.org

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:46:00 +0000

Alan Chokov, CEO/President of www.efinanceportal.com, has become a member of Affluence.org an integrated global multimedia company that uniquely joins a valuable group of verified affluent trendsetting individuals who share unique peer groups, interests, and lifestyles. Affluence Corporation is ideally suited to advertising partners who seek to gain mindshare among the world’s wealthiest and most influential people. www.efinanceportal.com whose single destination platform serves as another conduit for financial, business & educational relationships is a perfect match for the company’s parameters of operation.

Having a strong sense of philanthropic responsibility, Affluence Corporation dedicates at least 20% of its overall media to worthy and selects non-profit and charitable organizations each year. Among the 17 industries Chokov’s company represents, it offers additional venues of interest in charitable events, philanthropy, Financial Literacy and the environment.

A socially conscious, elite, and exclusive community, Affluence.org allows wealthy, influential, and well connected people the opportunity to network, share information, and contribute their knowledge to society.

The company operates an online social network (www.Affluence.org), a print magazine (Affluence Magazine), a membership organization, a concierge service, and regularly scheduled exclusive events around the world.

Chokov’s company, www.efinanceportal.com, is a patent-pending, interactive, multicultural Financial, Business & Educational Portal.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=86276

Inside Affluence.org - a Social Network for the Rich : Interview with Russell Rockefeller

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Today we are featuring an interview with Russell Rockefeller, an online marketer who is currently planning to start working as VP of Marketing for Affluence.org (ref link) and I decided to go ahead and talk to him about this recently-discussed startup.

Affluence.org (Affluence Corporation Clearwater FL) is a social network that caters to the rich and influential. In order to qualify for membership one must have a verified income of at least $300 000 per year or a net worth that exceeds $3 Million or the person must be a recognized figure, celebrity, or micro celebrity and have verifiable influential status.

What challenges do you foresee after taking this position?

Public perception that Affluence social network is an elitist club for snobs and wannabe’s. Gold diggers. Nothing is further from the case. Affluence represents a number of leading causes and charities. There are no conspiracies or plots of class warfare taking place amongst our member base.

Our audience does the same kinds of things as everyone else does on any social network. We have discussions about news, products, travel, adventure, purchases, business, entertainment, etc. We talk about our our wants needs and desires and the things that we are looking forward to. Some people have formed solid friendships through Affluence while others have even established romantic relationships. It’s a great meeting place for successful people that have strong personalities.

Privacy should be the most important issue for the network catering for the rich and influential. How is this handled at Affluence.org?

Security is an important factor. Our audience needs to understand that Affluence is concerned for their privacy. Since the majority of our members are high profile people it is extremely important that precautions are taken on their behalf to prevent data breech and intrusions from external parties. There is a negative buzz on Twitter and throughout a few blogs where people are commenting that they believe Affluence could be a phishing site due to the volume of invitations they receive.

One thing that came up over and over is the potential for scams. I understand those concerns which is why we are taking action now to improve overall public perception of our intentions. I would like to clarify that Affluence is most certainly not a phishing site. The staff behind Affluence is absolutely real and comprised of a number of high status individuals.

There is a fear that if a user does gain membership they will be bombarded with a plague of email spam. This is just not the case. At this time we enjoy very strong membership numbers especially given that the service is in beta and has not actually launched yet. If you ask any of our regular users what their experience has been like, it is likely that you’ll hear that it has overall been pretty positive.

Another important point that I feel needs to be clarified for those that haven’t been accepted as of yet, but still continue to receive invitations - is that the number of unique invitations an individual receives is factored into the qualification process. If any particular applicant has received numerous invitations from our qualified member base this greatly enhances that person’s likeliness of being approved for membership. Affluence is not just a social network for the rich and famous. It is a social network for thought leaders in any given space.

It seems the site looks pretty simple as for the luxury social community…

Design issues have been a bit of a problem to say the least. I would like to remind people that although the site is active, the user experience will change as time goes on. Programmers are not designers and designers are not programmers. Neither programmers nor designers are marketers. Over time a series of improvements will reshape the look and feel of Affluence.org and we are planning on unveiling some very cool 2.0 functionality which I’m unable to discuss at the moment. My friend Justin Cook pointed out that even simple things like the design, icons and color scheme can give the site a less-than-elite feel, which would hamper adoption rates. I agree with him and this is why we are in a race to complete our development projects on as soon as possible timeline.

The moral of the story is not to judge Affluence.org based on how the site looks and feels now. There are a lot of interesting and exciting changes ahead.

What is the most common criticism you come across when talking about Affluence.org?

It’s funny but Affluence gets a lot of criticism from outsiders about how it lacks a revenue model. I think this is a ridiculous accusation. We actually have a series of revenue models that cover the scope of everything from advertising to unique services although we haven’t necessarily implemented these yet.

We are also concentrating very much on adding content and functionality that will make the site absolutely addicting. When I say this, I mean is that we are going to be taking the addictiveness factor way beyond anything any other social network has ever done. As VP of marketing my role will be to spoil our users rotten and aim for maximum growth and retention. Part of this is to get the word out, and the other part is to make the experience irreplaceable.

Right now we are a social network for high profile people that want to have a Facebook like experience without actually having to experience Facebook but that is certainly not what we are limited to. In my opinion the way to engage and win the hearts of social media users is to provide them with an ecosystem where they can contribute and make a difference both in terms of ideas and the development of those ideas, but also in terms of empowering them to benefit from the experience. The power to influence and change technology in the hands of the end user. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that?

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/inside-affluenceorg-a-social-network-for-the-rich-interview-with-russell-rockefeller/8397/

Affluence, The Social Network That Makes Your Life Better … If You’re A Millionaire

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:31:00 +0000

It’s not the first social network that caters to wealthy people only, and it won’t be the last: Affluence is the latest company to take a crack at building a community site exclusively for the rich and famous among us instead of the petty riff-raff that make up the bulk of internet users.

Unlike its most famous competitor aSmallWorld (there’s also DiamonLounge and Qube), Affluence doesn’t require you to be invited in order to be eligible to become a member. No, you can simply register, free of charge. That is, if you can demonstrate you have a minimum household net worth of $3 million or a minimum annual household income of $300,000. Or if you have 5 other people who qualify tell Affluence that you are upper class enough to become a member of the virtual country club; that should do the trick as well.

Once you get into the network, Affluence promises to make your wealthy lifestyle even better, offering you access to a dedicated “Concierge” who will assist you in spending your money on the right luxury hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, make sure you attend the most exclusive parties and events across the globe, and gives you access to a proprietary luxury print magazine called Affluence Magazine. It’s a social network, so you also get to mingle with other millionaires and billionaires. I didn’t get in, but I’m pretty sure you can’t attack other socially elite people with virtual zombies (I’m still digging for confirmation on that).

All kidding aside, I’m convinced there’s a genuine need for this type of service, and ultimately it’s the personal experience of the members that counts. Some day, I hope to tell you what that personal experience feels like. Until then, you can take a look at the screenshot below, which shows the profile of Affluence’s President and CEO Scott Mitchell.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/01/25/affluence-the-social-network-that-makes-your-life-better-if-youre-a-millionaire/

Affluence Thrives in Spite of Bad Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Emerging Media Company is rapidly aggregating the Ultra High-Net-Worth (UHNW) marketplace despite the bad economy.

As the global economy is desiderating around us, unemployment is rising to new recent highs, talks of a possible national recession are evolving towards deliberations of a possible worldwide depression, and even the largest and mightiest of banks are crumbling; there stands at least one contrarian visionary willing to bet on the ongoing success of the fortuitous and wealthy. At first glance you might look at Affluence.org, Scott Mitchell’s new business, and think that the timing could not have been worse. But, according to his thinking, there has never been a better time to develop this opportunity.

Scott Mitchell is no newcomer to the Internet or the media world. Having launched online businesses which have sold for hundreds of millions of dollars, gone public, or grew into ecommerce mainstays, he has a track record for success paralleled by very few.

Affluence.org, according to Mitchell, is “a unique multi-media organization that is aggregating the verified Affluent marketplace. Although anyone can apply and membership is free, to become a member you must be able to demonstrate at least a US$3 million net worth or US$300,000 annual household income.” According to Mitchell, the actual demographic data skews much higher as the average net worth of the 4,000+ current members from around the world is US$29.7 million.

Mitchell calls Affluence.org a “Fourth Generation” media company where a very specific niche audience is targeted and engaged through several different mediums. Affluence.org members enjoy interacting with a very exclusive social network, a print magazine, dedicated concierge service, and special access privileges to the best clubs, hotels, and restaurants as well as invitations to exclusive events. Affluence.org also assists its members in evaluating and organizing philanthropic practices such as directed giving and charity “specific relations”. Affluence.org’s mission is to “Make Life Better” and, according to Mitchell, this means that “for Affluence.org to be successful we must help our members make life better for themselves as well as help them make life better for the rest of the world.”

Mitchell believes that business and non-profit organizations that rely on the high-net-worth market have seen a massive redistribution of their target base creating a void that Affluence.org hopes to help them fill. He believes that “while traditional advertising and marketing will not be very effective in reaching this elite audience, relationship equity and brand building will prove to be the most powerful tools available.”

Although it sounds like an interesting business model, one may question the chances for success in this economy. Having taken Affluence Corporation public this past September after funding it with almost $1 million of his own money, Mitchell feels his chances are pretty good.

ASMALLWORLD, Founder Erik Wachtmeister - SNW Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:31:00 +0000

SNW INTERVIEW -- Aug 2 -- ASMALLWORLD is exclusive to the jetset crowd, mainly in Europe. They may grow to one million users, in time. But size is not what counts with this social network. ASW is shooting to be the creme de la creme SNS. Now, would someone please send me a darn invite? Please?! - Mark Brooks

What’s ASMALLWORLD’s founding story?
I would say we’re definitely a pioneer in this business. I had a passion to develop this as early as 10 years ago. I have a 25 year Investment Banking background and I was born into a diplomatic family. l have lived in places like Washington DC, New York, LA, Paris, London, Moscow, Stockhom, Kiev, etc. I have also had the opportunity to frequently visit the social “hot spots” around the world.

http://www.socialnetworkingwatch.com/2008/08/asmallwolrd-fou.html

Social Networks for the RIch and Famous

noreply@blogger.com (Social Networker) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:03:00 +0000

www.affluence.org	Overall:
	Quality of People:
	Privacy and Connections:
In Their Own Words: Affluence.org is an exclusive network for affluent people who desire to make life better for them and other people. As a member of Affluence.org you will have the ability to find and interact with other affluent people from around the world. Within this elite community you will be provided with access to a dedicated Affluence Concierge, have the ability to evaluate charities or promote your own causes, receive priority access to the world's most exclusive nightclubs, parties, hotels, events and much more. Membership to Affluence.org is completely free but requires a demonstrated minimum household net worth of $3 million US; or a minimum annual household income of $300,000; or successful invitation of 5 other people that qualify for membership.
What We Found: Affluence.org is absolutely worth of being called the Facebook for the wealthy. We found the quality of people very high. In fact, after browsing for jest several minutes we uncovered several well-known millionaires and billionaires. The feature set of the website is impeccable having all the bells and whistles as any major social network but with the content, users, and flavor that can only possible be found on a website that verifies that all of its members are worth at least $3 million. It was very difficult to get an account approved and accepted for membership and we were only able to review this website after requesting a temporary membership for review purposes from their customer service group. However, we weren't able to post or interact with their network. Even though, we found their social network to be extremely active with most of the activity surrounding the activities of philanthropy, exclusive social opportunities, business deals, travel, luxury items, and political perspectives. Overall, Affluence.org is a young new social network with a very bright future. http://www.affluence.org
	Overall:
	Quality of People:
	Privacy and Connections:
In Their Own Words: Erik Wachtmeister founded ASMALLWORLD as a private online community for like-minded individuals. Most networking communities are open. Ours is only by invitation. Trusted members who have existing social networks of quality in the real world extend the invitations. aSmallWorld offers a retreat that intimately allows members to enhance their networks and to reconnect with old friends. ASMALLWORLD also offers trusted and select information. Most of our content is produced by our members who offer travel suggestions, feedback, lively forum discussions, and other topics of common interest. Features on the website include a forum of diverse topics, listings of events around the world, a personal messaging service, suggestions and user ratings for travel and restaurants, and city-based resources. Since its inception in 2004, ASMALLWORLD has quickly expanded into a global community of trusted friends and information. Members range from entrepreneurial and business opinion makers to leaders in media, entertainment, fashion, the arts and sports..
What We Found: aSmallWorld has the first mover advantage in this highly valuable micro-niche but they have clearly squandered that advantage. The network, once acclaimed for being exclusive and a place for the rich, is not nothing more than a network for service employees from the hospitality industry to discuss job opportunities. Getting access to their site was easy. Simply post a message on Facebook requesting an invitation (it helps if you have a great looking woman's photo in your profile) and you while have a dozen invitations within a day or two. Although the feature set is outdated and the audience is very much non-exclusive, we did find a large amount of members. However, most of their VIP or A-List members were clearly impersonated. We found celebrities that were currently contacting us who claimed to be in London when they are actually currently in a rehabilitation program and others that sent us friend requests when they passed away last year. When we asked their customer service group about the friend request we got from beyond, their response was that friend requests are carefully monitored. Overall, we think that aSmallWorld should be marketing their communication platform with the deceased rather than their social network. http://www.asmallworld.net
	Overall:
	Quality of People:
	Privacy and Connections:
In Their Own Words: Affluence.org is an exclusive network for affluent people who desire to make life better for them and other people. As a member of Affluence.org you will have the ability to find and interact with other affluent people from around the world. Within this elite community you will be provided with access to a dedicated Affluence Concierge, have the ability to evaluate charities or promote your own causes, receive priority access to the world's most exclusive nightclubs, parties, hotels, events and much more. Membership to Affluence.org is completely free but requires a demonstrated minimum household net worth of $3 million US; or a minimum annual household income of $300,000; or successful invitation of 5 other people that qualify for membership.
What We Found: Spire markets itself as a social network but we found no such features exist. The website has compelling content aimed at an upscale audience and is an excellent online magazine. http://www.spire.com