The Savvy Boomer

theBoomerTube is the latest to take a run at a questionable market

Since day 1 I have questioned the relevance and need for boomer only sites.  To reiterate, I don't think boomers have a need to hang out together on age specific sites at least not to the point that they will join and pay for it.   Facebook is no longer the private domain of younger people as the 40+ crowd has moved in and found the various niches which interest them.  I don't want to say "I told you so" but go and look at my posting here and see how many of these sites are still around.

theBoomerTube collects videos (mainly from Youtube right now) that are supposedly of interest to boomers.  I guess this is a good idea but it's only going to be successful in the long run if it manages to attract members who post videos.  Just being a filter for Youtube isn't much different than a user going to Youtube and searching for something he/she is interested in.

The problem I see with all boomer sites like this is that they are "me-too" sites that hope to attract boomers/seniors.  It doesn't bother me other than the fact that people keep trying to take a run at a market that I have yet to see take off on the internet.  That's not to say that's it's not possible but wouldn't you think that someone would have figured it out by now?

Anyway, good luck to theBoomerTube which is not a pay site.

3 new Boomer sites

Even though some boomer/senior oriented sites are shutting down and others seem to be languishing, there are still people out there who feel they know how to succeed in this niche and new sites pop up occasionally.  However, compared to a couple of years ago when we were telling you about new sites every week, the number of new entries has declined dramatically.  I think that pretty much tells you there is no real money to be made off these types of sites.

Here are 3 more sites for you to check out.  In the past I have often commented on individual sites and have not often been very complimentary because they all seem to be pretty much the same.  I posted in detail almost 2 years ago why I'm not a fan of these sites.  That's how I feel about these 3 sites but check them out for yourself by clicking on the logos.  Maybe you'll find something you like.

Boomer Social Networking website traffic down

The news doesn't seem to be too good for Eons and Boomj and even TBD which has grown nicely over the last year has suffered a drop in 2009.  I've read a few articles lately that there is a lot of activity now on Facebook by the 40+ crowd.  Most people I know who use social networking sites are on Facebook while only a very few are on any of the 3 sites listed below.

One casualty I wasn't even aware of until recently is boomertowne (initial post about the site is here) which closed a few months ago and after Googling it, a lot of posts came up about some kind of coupon scam.

Click on the graph for more detailed information.

Another Boomer website weighs in

Thankfully, I haven't seen too many new boomer portal sites lately (not blogs, but sites that try to establish a boomer online community, conceivably to make money.)  All I can say to Boomer Yearbook is good luck, you're going to need that and a whole lot more.  In case you don't understand my cynicism, you might want to check out a few of these sites that regard themselves as boomer social networking sites:

• Eons
• Boomj
• Boomertowne
• Boomerator
• Boomer411
• Wanobe
  
• Sagazone
• Maple and Leek
• My Boomer Place
• eGenerations
• Growing Bolder
• Boomspeak
• it's Boomer Time
• My Boomer Place
• TBD
• Boomer Living

Sorry-no links but if you Google them, you'll find them, but why would you want to?  Actually, I do like TBD and Boomspeak but seldom visit.

Some of these are doing O.K., some have changed from boomer oriented sites to other genres, some are gone but not one of them is racking up large visitor and/or member counts.  I posted about why I thought boomer sites were doomed here.

EONS downsizes again

Eons continues to search for the right formula to service the boomer market as they laid off more employees yet reported they are hiring more in this Boston Globe article.

"Eons eliminated eight positions and is in the process of five new hires to support emerging boomer business opportunities."

We've wondered about their future before and with this 2nd round of layoffs, you just have to wonder how much longer they can hang on.

Boomj passes Eons in traffic in March 2008

Can it get any worse for Eons when competing site Boomj passes them in traffic?  I looked at the Boomj site and it featured a few people under 40 on their home page so like Eons, they have also obviously gone outside the boomer demographic.  It will be interesting to watch Boomj to see if they can keep up this growth.  I'm betting they can't.  And how much longer can Eons hold on cracking their huge financial nut every month?   Stay tuned folks.  Click on the graph below to get all the numbers.

A new website targets the "underserved" senior- boomer market

The following email landed in my inbox today:

"24-7PressRelease/ - PORTLAND, OR, March 18, 2008 - Gallopinggeezer.com is a new site developed by Gnus Gait Media LLC founder and publisher, Frank Ryan of Portland Oregon. Ryan created the platform on the innovative site to benefit the underserved senior-boomer age markets on the internet. It gives most age 50 plus readers an easy to use site."

"UNDERSERVED?!!"  You're kidding right Frank?  Maybe if the date was 2005, but not 2008.  Everyone is taking a run at this market.  Just take a look at a few of the posts here in the categories titled Boomer portal websites and Social Networking.  Now if by underserved, you mean that they aren't getting a lot of traffic or doing very well, then I agree with you.

I'm not sure how many people want to think of themselves as "geezers."  I guess it's kind of tongue-in-cheek but what is that logo all about?  Well, good luck. 

Women over 45-here's a new website just for you

The name of the site is Women on the Web or WOWOWOW (I'm not sure how the 2 equate but they're close enough.)  The name is dangerously close to womenonweb.org which is an abortion site.   It has received $1 mil seed money from 5 well known women including Lesley Stahl of CBS fame and Joni Evans who has an impressive list of publishing companies on her high toned resume including William Morris Agency, Simon Schuster and Random House.  The site which is targeted at women over 45 launches this Saturday. 

As you can see from the picture, some fairly high profile women are going to be hanging out there.  One of Joni's previous clients was Ann Coulter so maybe she'll get Ann to write a few articles about Obama or Hillary to keep things interesting.   Oh wait a sec.  The most right winged person in America is now supporting Hillary (as long as she divorces Bill) isn't she?  American politics really confuses me. 

Anyway, click on the link below to go to the new site if you are a woman over 45 so that you can take a poll about which famous womens' faces should be on Mt. Rushmore.  I'd vote for Deborah Harry, Annie Lennox, Janis Joplin and Sade.  I guess that's why I don't get to vote.