Social Media Sites

This type of social networking has been around since the beginning of time. We were brought into this world at a particular place and time along with billions of other people some of which have a few things in common and others that we have much in common with.

It is therefore necessary to be social and interact with those that live in our society or community. We are created totally interdependent and would struggle to survive without a community of some sort for any length of time.

A natural occurrence of living in a society or community is the establishment of relationships. We find others who have things in common with us and we gravitate towards each other. We communicate and share experiences. As we meet more and more people our circle of friends grows. They introduce us to friends within their group and vice-versa until there are many many large and growing communities.

Whenever there is a collection of people sharing of ideas, swapping of information and trading of goods or services takes place. This is business.

In recent times technologies have advanced so much that we can meet and socialize with people in very distant places. This would be like having a pen pal in past centuries. Only now the communication is not only the written word but also in vocal form. It is even instantaneous in some platforms, which means we can communicate with people on the other side of the world to us. We can see and speak to each other in real time. What’s more is that this can be achieved for free, providing both parties have an internet connection and the free software downloaded. The best and most widely used tool for this type of communication is with Skype. You can download it for free by clicking on the image.

There are also options to get a subscription for cheap phone calls in 36 countries across the globe.

Network Marketing as outlined in other articles (link) is the word of mouth advertising or marketing of products is usually done by telling and showing people in your community what you have to offer. Network Marketers will solicit people, go door knocking, phone up friends and invite them, even ask perfect strangers to view a presentation. I think we have all at some stage been to a “Tupperware Party” and the like. Cold calling is also a method used and this perhaps is the most dreaded method to find prospective customers by Network Marketers and perhaps is the main cause for giving Network Marketing in general such a bad name. Who wants to talk to a Telemarketer?

With the advent of social media sites where communities can come together in a global setting, and you can meet and establish relationships over vast distances, the way has been paved for network marketers to do business with people ‘world wide’ as opposed to those within ‘arm’s reach’ or just in their local neighborhood. Like with off line methods where Network Marketers have the wrong attitude and are driven by greed, they will come across as desperate or be seen as what is widely known as ‘spamming’.

We have all been victim to the countless spam emails which has got to uncontrollable levels. Sending emails, texts, phone recordings etc. to people who have not requested it is spam. The levels of privacy and security of personal details has risen to extreme levels. Most email list servers have put in place confirmed opt in’s and double opt in’s to try and curb this spam. By law every email must have an unsubscribe link.

Below is a list of some of the most popular Social Media Sites. The ones that are most widely used are Facebook, (124 million users), MySpace, (246 million users) and Twitter (2 million users) so far in December 2008 . Unfortunately, like what happened with the widespread use of email when it became popular it gets abused and marketers start spamming. Some marketers just ‘don’t know better’ but others cleverly use spam techniques to make fast money. However, their practices are being reported and their successes will be short lived. A ‘spammers’ business is not built on a ‘know, like and trust’ relationship.

All social media sites should be looked at as simply a place to meet and get to know other people. To share commonalities and build a relationship. Think of it as one big get together, a meeting place, or gathering round the ‘virtual waterhole.’

These videos demonstrate how to correctly use the social media sites.

As spoken of before unless Network Marketers have a genuine desire to help and serve their customers, or absolute belief in their company and products, they will find it difficult to achieve much success. Regardless of whether they are marketing online of offline. The whole process of attraction marketing (link) begins with a relationship built on knowing, liking and trusting each other and then providing value. Making a win-win, mutually beneficial relationship.

Follow the links to become my friend at some of the social media sites.

MySpace

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

List of popular social media sites:

aSmallWorld For the European jet set and social elite
Badoo Popular in Europe
Bahu Popular in France, Belgium and Europe
Bebo Popular in the US, UK, Ireland, NZ and the Pacific Islands
BlackPlanet African-Americans
Broadcaster.com Video sharing and webcam chat
CafeMom Mothers
Capazoo General (blogs, photos, music, videos)
Experience Project Life experiences
Facebook General.
Faceparty General. Popular UK.
Flixster Movies
Flickr Photo sharing, commenting, photography related networking
worldwide
Friendster General. Popular in Southeast Asian countries Philippines and
Singapore. Not popular in North America and Europe.
Frühstückstreff General
Gather Article, picture, and video sharing, as well as group discussions
Geni.com Families, genealogy
Goodreads Library cataloging, book lovers
Jaiku General. Owned by Google.
Jammer Direct Creative resource website
LibraryThing Book lovers
LinkedIn Business
LiveJournal Blogging
Livemocha Languages. Used to learn and help others learn languages.
MEETin General
Meetup.com General. Used to plan offline meetings for people interested in
various activities.
MocoSpace mobile community, worldwide
Multiply “Real world” relationships
MyChurch Christian Churches
MyHeritage family-oriented social network service
MySpace General. Popular in the United States, Canada and Europe.
myYearbook General
Netlog General. Popular in Europe. Formerly known as Facebox and Redbox.
Ning Users create their own social websites and social networks
Ohloh Networking among software developers
Passado General
Pingsta Collaborative platform for the world’s Internetwork Experts
Plaxo Business
Plurk Micro-blogging, RSS, updates
Pownce Websites, files, and short updates
Reunion.com Locating friends and family, keeping in touch
Ryze Business
Spoke Business networking
Stickam Live video streaming and chat.
Tagged.com General
Travellerspoint Travel
tribe.net General
Tuenti.com General. Very Popular in Spain
Twitter Micro-blogging, RSS, updates
Vox Blogging
WAYN Travel and lifestyle
WebBiographies Genealogy and biography
Windows Live Spaces Blogging (formerly MSN Spaces)
Wis.dm Questions and answers about anything and everything
XING Business (primarily Europe (Germany) and China)
Xiaonei Significant site in China
Yelp, Inc. Local Business Review and Talk