Social Networks - What's It All About

Social networks - some can say, and would be right up to a point, that these fascinating networks are just another way to waste a whole lot of time! I prefer to look at them as a fantastic (even super fantastic!) way to stay connected with family, friends and business colleagues.

Back in the great old '70's when I was getting started in business we kept track of our network with good old fashioned, hand-written phone directories. If we were lucky we had a Rolodex instead - that way we didn't have to keep crossing out contact info and rewriting it - what a mess! It's incredible how much has changed in such a short time. In any event, I digress. Let's get back to today.

I use three different networks, all for different reasons. There's MySpace, which I use for my family. The aunts and cousins and all my kids like this one. For my friends, and mostly for fun, I use Facebook. I started out thinking this would be a good site for business networking and it is up to a point - but it's still very casual. It's a hoot to track your friends' status, send them flair or even hit them with a snowball. But that said, one of my friends, a personal coach and motivational speaker (Hi Sherry!) has generated business by her presence on Facebook. Meanwhile another friend that hosts a radio show and podcasts (Hi Mark!) extensively promotes all his business activities using Facebook. Some of us just like the flair!

Then there's LinkedIn. WOW! Here we have a hardcore business "social" networking site. A neighbor friend of mine mentioned that he started using it and suggested I check it out. To me, this is the ultimate Rolodex. My network grows everyday, and has already spread throughout the United States and into Europe. There are so many great features about this networking system that it's difficult to know where to start. So for now I'll pause and continue this thread in my next blog.

I'll leave you with this closing thought. Social networking is an exciting and innovative way to communicate and is evolving every day. These sites have already changed the way we stay in touch with each other and I see the way we do business evolving along with the networks (and the rest of the world). But more on that next time!

Keep your chin up, and let me know what you think. Cheers!