Health Social Networks

2008 is nearly over and it’s time to catch up on our list of Health Social Networks.

With the economic doing a big bungee jump (only I don’t see the rope anywhere) these networks are not going to escape the downfall especially when all of them depend on advertising and not showing any interesting monetizing attempts. The MSN-Multiply deal shows what the big fellows are thinking….

So - How many of them will be here for the 2009 recap?

DailyStrength – We were the first to say that DS are in big trouble. Last week we got the confirmation with its mercy acquisition. From the looks of it DS will stay alive but no efforts will be made to make it any better and eventually (maybe 2010) it will evaporate.

MedHelp – The only member of the top list that is still pushing forward in full speed. MedHelp enjoys being a veteran with long time traffic generators. They will continue to grow providing they figure its worth it…. it’s a great over whole site with a great future.

MDJunction – Brand new look last week and still talking like a marathon runner (which is a nice way to say they don’t have the money to be a sprinter…). MDJunction will be here next year too. How big?? Not sure as they keep surprising me.

HopeCube – Is there a doctor in the house?? I think the patient is dead….

TauMed – Unfortunately I think the doc was already here….
Trusera – Still pushing forward full throttle, too bad traffic doesn’t seem to be picking up… they raised enough money to keep going and I’m sure we’ll keep seeing them in 2009, but not much after.
ICYou – Great site, great looks but again – is anyone using it? doesn’t look like it. The concept of video sharing for health should work but is it enough for a standalone site? I’d be looking for them to join another network and MAYBE survive.

PatientsLikeMe – PatientsLikeMe are here to stay. They raised enough. They keep growing and brand awareness is something I respect. If PatientsLikeMe goes down this list will too.

Inspire – Not sure about Inspire. The concept is nice but being an underdog in a crashing market is not the safest place to go. I guess we will be seeing Inspire in 2009 but if I were them I’d pray every morning for all the others to crash…

Wellsphere – As long as crazy VCs are still around, WellSphere will still be here. Changing their goals and looks every couple of months and making the most of the $5M they raised… Ommm… look for my WellSphere review in a couple of weeks.

WebTribes – Anyone say Inspire????

I’m Too Young for This – It saddens me to say that but I don’t think they are going to make it.

SugarStats – Good solid site. No chance for a dream exit but it will be here and it will gain strength.
TuDiabetes – Great site. Great leadership. I truly hope they will find the funding to keep it going as there is nobody like them!

dLife – Good solid site. Please read Sugarstats.

Diabetes Mine – Sugarstats, dLife, TuDiabetes. They all seem good but there is no room for all 4. If I were them I’d seek a merger of some kind.

Real Mental Health – Seems to me they’ve been here before I was born (40 this year!) and there is no reason that will change. But… Hey….. how do they do it?

OrganizedWisdom – OW was built to last, I love OrganizedWisdom. This great site and it’s approach to working from home doesn’t seem to be having any financial trouble but the cost of paying for human edited content (the rest of the sites enjoy the free UGC) might kick them in the ass eventually. There is just not enough money in this market!

Healia – Activity seems at an all time low :-( people are just not using Healia despite all their efforts. What are they doing wrong? Can’t really say – maybe I’ll dive deep in the next couple of months. Money is not an issue it just depends on the decision of Meredith Corporation to pull the plug. For now I think they’ll keep it – how long? I’m not sure.
iMedix – We all know what I think of them… but I have to say they are doing their best!

again, as I’ve said with so many others on this list NOBODY IS USING IT. iMedix CEO said they are on the way to raise more funds, that was almost a year ago and nothing happened so I guess 2009 will reveal a mercy funding or sad departure.

WeGoHealth – Yet another nice site with no members…

Healthchapter – I’m not really sure how this site got here… with an alexa rank of 6M it’s even worth writing about…

CareFlash – Anyone say HealthChapter? When your ‘latest on the forums’ in the homepage has a post from Nov 20 and Nov 19…. Well….. DOCTOR.

WeAre.Us – WeAreUS are the newest addition to this list. Since they raised they funding just a few months ago I’m betting we’ll see them all year long. It’s a nice site. They do a lot of PR but it is so Inspire with even less traffic. I will give them the benefit of the doubt for being new but as I already said – NO CHANCE.

I really wanted to make a cheerful ‘here comes 2009’ post but I really don’t think there is a reason for such.

GOOD LUCK everyone…..