I'm finally starting to get a handle on social networking and how it might be good for business. It's taken me a while to get my head around it. I suppose it's mainly because my 20th century mind is trying to grasp the 21st century technology.
Regardless, I think I finally get it. As a consultant, or for any service provider for that matter, the objective is to be seen as an "expert" in your area - a "go-to" person for your service. Connecting, tweeting, linking with "friends" is just the beginning. You have to listen, share ideas, and give feedback all relevant to your work (or relevant to whatever image you're trying to project). It's a lot of work but, now that I feel more 'with it', a lot of fun. Now I just have to watch the time. It turns into a real time trap if you don't control yourself.
Is social networking a trend or a fad? Here's some numbers for you. There are an estimated 1.3 billion registered users on the top 60 social networking sites. Keep in mind, that doesn't mean 1.3 billion individual people, that's registered users. For example, I'm registered on Twitter.com, LinkedIn and Facebook to name a few. There are an estimated 1.4 billion total Internet users so there is quite a bit of crossover between networks On the other hand, the 1.3 billion accounts for registered users only. It doesn't include site visitors. It's still a big number. Fad? 1.3 billion? I don't think so. Better get with it - at least to understand it.
Here's a list of the top 60 social networking sites as reported by Buzz Canuck
Social Network |
Registered Users
(M) |
| Windows Live Spaces | 120 |
| 115 | |
| MySpace | 110 |
| Habbo | 100 |
| hi5 | 70 |
| Orkut | 67 |
| Friendster | 65 |
| Flixster | 63 |
| Classmates.com | 50 |
| Bebo | 40 |
| Netlog | 36 |
| Reunion.com | 32 |
| Tagged.com | 30 |
| flickr | 27.4 |
| Xanga | 27 |
| imeem | 26 |
| Adult FriendFinder | 22.3 |
| 22 | |
| Skyrock Blog | 22 |
| BlackPlanet | 20 |
| Friends Reunited | 19 |
| Mixi | 18 |
| Sonico.com | 17 |
| V Kontakte | 16 |
| Fotolog | 15 |
| Geni.com | 15 |
| LiveJournal | 15 |
| Plaxo | 15 |
| Badoo | 13 |
| Nasza-klasa.pl | 11 |
| Buzznet | 10 |
| Odnoklassniki.ru | 10 |
| WAYN | 10 |
| Multiply | 9 |
| Care2 | 8.9 |
| PerfSpot | 8 |
| StudiVZ | 8 |
| myYearbook | 5.1 |
| 5 | |
| Hyves | 4 |
| MiGente.com | 2.8 |
| Cyworld | 2.1 |
| MocoSpace | 2 |
| Stickam | 2 |
| iWiW | 1.7 |
| Fubar | 1.2 |
| 1 | |
| Gather | 0.5 |
| IRC-Galleria | 0.5 |
| Ryze | 0.5 |
| LibraryThing | 0.4 |
| aSmallWorld | 0.3 |
| Bahu | 0.3 |
| Broadcaster.com | 0.3 |
| Hospitality Club | 0.3 |
| Elftown | 0.2 |
| Faceparty | 0.2 |
| MyChurch | 0.14 |
| TakingITGlobal | 0.1 |
| Ravelry | 0.08 |
| 1313.32 |
and want to pass on a sage observation he made. "All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends." He goes on to say, "All things not being equal, people STILL want to do business with their friends." He's right, you know? We don't need more techniques and strategies. We need more friends. 
