Is Pheed The Future Of Social Media?

We’re always searching for the next greatest social network that has what it takes to compete with the likes of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram -- and Pheed might just be that platform.

With thousands of users, including top celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton joining the site in a matter of days following its debut, it seems that Pheed could soon be the frontrunner in social media.

In short, Pheed is similar to Twitter, but with a business plan. But what sets this site apart from the others?

This self-made and self-funded startup operating out of a rented six-acre mansion on Mulholland Drive, somehow got over 200 taste-markets and celebs to sign up for their site. And within the first few days of their launched they hit 350,000 unique visitors, even before the launch of their iPhone app. So, what’s the secret?

Well, it’s pretty simple -- by allowing influencers to charge for content, they will ultimately produce high quality content. Pheed users, or “Pheeders” are able to share all forms of digital content, including text, photo, audio, video, and live broadcasts. This can be done for free or at a premium, either by applying a monthly subscription fee to their channel or setting up a pay-per-view live broadcast event. Users can charge anywhere from $1.99 to $34.99 per view, or $1.99 to $34.99 per month, and they own all of the content. Pheed makes a profit by taking half of the revenue to cover their bandwidth and storage, payment processing, and of course, Pheed’s profits.

Pheed’s CEO and co-founder, O.D. Kobo, is a veteran of successful online ventures. Kobo thinks that it’s time to introduce quality content online by giving the power and platform to the content providers. By allowing users the option to monetize, they will be more motivated to create high quality content. This can be anything from living room concerts, interviews, or pay-per-view. With Pheed, there is no limit to what users can do or earn.

To me, Pheed is akin to the bonus footage that comes with a DVD. If fans really care about the influencers posting on the platform, then they will pay to see their private or exclusive content -- creating a winning situation for both the fan and the celebrity.

But how many of Paris Hilton’s nine million Twitter followers will actually pay to view an event or subscribe to their content? It seems that we will have to wait and see. By staying focused, I believe that Pheed has a good opportunity to succeed. It’s currently safe to say that we should all be keeping an eye on Pheed and its unique model approach that’s leaving an impact on social media.

(Image courtesy of ToGa Wanderings on Flickr)