The beauty of social media is its ability to provide something for everyone. The prevalence of large online communities like Facebook or Yelp has been discussed widely. Today we wanted to focus on five highly specialized sites you may not already be familiar with but are serving niche interests at a pace that’s worth noting.

GDGT

gdgt, created by the founders of Engadget, is a social network for self-identified “tech geeks”. Individual users create personal libraries of the gear they have on hand as well as wishlists for the products they’d like to purchase. Like Facebook, users can friend other users to exchange reviews of desired items and usage comparisons.

Dogster

Dogster represents a vast community of dog owners and enthusiasts who connect in forums to share care suggestions, product recommendations and breed information. Dogster also presents the expert advice of regular columnists covering topics like veterinary care and grooming. For those of us with a more feline focus, there is also Catster.

Goodreads

Goodreads is a social network for heavy readers, offering recommendations based on identified favorites. For true bookworms, it also provides an organization platform for your reading list. The site also acts as a springboard for the creation of book clubs.

Bakespace

Bakespace is a community aimed precisely at members of the greater digital kitchen. Offering unique recipe-swap features, constant cooking commentary and the ability to create a virtual pantry based upon what you have on hand, the site brings virtual cooking companions to the table without taxing your counter-space.

MVPSpot

MVPSpot is an online community that provides amateur athletes (age 13 and up) the ability to showcase their talents on the field, court, pitch, rink…you name it. This site provides a forum for sharing highlight reels and encourages learning between the athletes themselves while simultaneously acting as an informal recruiting tool.