Luring coders is hard, the best way to do it is to be a coder yourself and put cool stuff out there for other to see. If you cant code, now would be a good time to learn. Not only can you start getting stuff done but when you do recruit coders you'll be able to communicate and understand each other better.
Social Network always makes people think your trying to build a new MySpace. Can anyone suggest an alternative term to use when your site is social but a bit more niche or just has some social features?
Start by explaining the niche and why users are going to go to the site to begin with. A networking site typically starts with almost zero nodes, so there has to be something to get the initial crowd there and buzzing.
MySpace started by being a place for bands to showcase their music. The social network grew around the music. It's similar to the way an Opera House is a place to stage a show, but eventually turns into a place for people to go on dates, meet people, and show off. People will sometimes show up and barely notice the performance. MySpace is probably more like a collection of bars than an Opera house.
Luring coders is hard, the best way to do it is to be a coder yourself and put cool stuff out there for other to see. If you cant code, now would be a good time to learn. Not only can you start getting stuff done but when you do recruit coders you'll be able to communicate and understand each other better.