Student Junction - Another New Social Network (and why it's necessary)

About 18 months ago, we were contacted by a young student called Matt Malone to volunteer to build a charity website for him. Since then, with our help, Matt's been working hard at learning to make his own, and now he and his business partner Joey are about to launch a new and exciting student social networking website. Here's Matt's story, in his own words.

So in a world full of social networking sites (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin etc.) is there really room in the market for yet another one? Student Junction is launching on the 4th of June to UK students, and as one of the creators I'm going to be talking you through the reasons that there really is room for just one more...

Who are we?

Well, thanks for asking. I'm Matt Malone, officially the CIO of the site, though we don't actually use our titles. That means I'm in charge of the technical side of the site as in how it looks, what it does, making sure it works properly, making sure the server doesn't explode, that sort of thing. My colleague, Joey Russ, is officially the CBDO, which means he's in charge of marketing, promotions, making sure people know about the site, making sure they're happy on the site and all that sort of thing.

Together we form the directorship of Quantum Design and Media, a small firm who (if you hadn't already guessed) do design and media. We're both students, and when we were working one day we thought of how social networking is usually such a distraction, I wonder if there's a site where we can work and be social at the same time. We checked. There wasn't. Hence the Student Junction project was born!

What is the site?

Linkedin is for businesses. Facebook is for everyone. Twitter is for Twits (correct me, no?). Student Junction is for Students. That's our target audience summed up right there. We're specially making the site just for students, and only students will be able to use it. We have a specific feature set aimed entirely at productively working whilst being social.

But what are these features?

Here's a non-exhaustive list to get you started:

• Social Network:

  The core of the site which everything revolves around. One login and you'll get access to everything for free forever. Not bad, eh?



• Forums:

  Have a question about that studenty thing you're doing and can't find an answer? You can ask on the forums as chances are someone else will know if you don't.



• Library:

  You can't actually read the books, but you can find the ones you need for your course (or others that we recommend) and buy them in one click. Then you could even post a review on the forums!



• Marketplace:

  Have an old book you bought last year (possibly from the library?) and want to sell it on to another students? Sell it on our marketplace quickly and easily.



• Organiser:

  Need to keep track of when your work is due, or when that sale on the marketplace ends? Put it into your organiser and you'll never forget.



• Blogs:

  Everyone likes blogging, right? Well, maybe not, but everyone likes reading them. Blog on the site or read blogs from other students all over the UK!



• All the other things we have planned:

  An online cookbook, virtual classrooms, sell courses, teach other students, access to special offers and discounts, and so much more!

Now that's what I call an awesome feature set. Interested yet?

The end bit

We're launching Notch style in the fact that we're launching in Beta. Everything we currently have works, and is ready to be used, so we figured we may as well let you use it while we finish everything else we have planned. We're gonna be opening the floodgates on June 4th, but you can get in a week early by putting your email in the box on our landing page at student-junction.com and we'll email you nearer the time letting you know how you can sign up and be one of first people ever to use the site!

Shout from the rooftops!

Yes, literally if you like!
Find us on twitter @TheJunctionUK

Find us on Facebook at Student Junction

Also, if you enjoyed this, please "Pay with a tweet" and recieve a free tiny web badge (The best we could do at short notice!)

Most importantly, if you're a student, sign up at Student-Junction.com!