Diary.com expands with new features

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 05-Sep-08, 11:30

LONDON - Social networking start-up Diary.com is bolstering its service with the launch of several features, including themed-style diaries and a file upload function.

The file upload feature allows users to click a button and directly upload documents, pictures, videos, or music to share with friends.

Diary.com plans to launch the "themed" diaries next month, which will be based around topics such as travel and shopping.

The website, which is still in beta phase, lets users create a private diary that only they can see, or a shared diary that chosen groups of people or individuals can view.

It allows users to publish, share and discuss their thoughts, plans, pictures and videos with friends or with users interested in similar topics.

Diary.com, which is a free service funded by advertising, can recommend similar people or topics to users, based on their diary activity.

Keld van Schreven, chief executive and co-founder of the site, said Diary.com sits in between sites such as Blogger.com and Twitter.com.

"Diary.com allows users to discuss topics and certain things that are maybe a bit less frivolous than those found on a social networking site."

The site, which is aimed at 16- to 24-year-old women, attracts about 20% of its users from the UK, 40% from the US, and 40% from Asia.