Social networks are places where you can network with other folks who share a similar....something. It could be a business, an interest, an ethnic heritage, etc.

But not only that...it's also a compelling way to reach out and touch someone too! There are social networking sites like:

• Facebook
• Friendfeed
• Stumbleupon
• Twitter

And these can get QUITE!! addictive (in a good way - you can use social networks to master your business online like this gentleman does (do check it out - very impressive indeed).

It's something perhaps to check out when you're online. But before we do that, let's consider:

Before You Begin - What To Share?

Picture the following. You've been in the workworld for several years/decades/centuries and want to network for a better position.

Would you want to be able to find other folk who worked at your company? Develop "ins" with interesting competitors?

Or what about this scenario? You graduated from high school 10 years ago and want to find others from your class.

Got those two scenarios up in your mind? Okay, here comes the most important question....how much information do you really want to share? How much data do you want to reveal to your close personal networks and those folks who are simply surfing on by?

Before joining any social network, make sure you know what you want the world to know.

Let's now adroitly move towards:

Step 1 - Popular Social Networks

Some of the more popular social networks are:

• Facebook.com - Super platform for college/business networking. I wrote Join ME on Facebook! (plus 119+ Must See Facebook Resources including Marketing, Education, Security, Apps and more!) - that should get you started. :)

• Twitter.com - Land of the microblogging, Twitter is so powerful it helped free a wrongly-imprisoned individual (Student 'Twitters' his way out of Egyptian jail), lets really popular celebrities touch base with everyone else and more (check out Twitter Stars to gain cool insights).

• Myspace.com - this site allows you to build your own multi-media enabled interactive Web page without needing to know even a single line of coding. Plus, you can create a free home page/online profile other MySpacers can see that includes blogs, bios, theme-based groups, MP3s, favorite books, TV, movies, and more.

• Linked.com - more of a business network, it enables you to find people, clients, partners, sales leads etc., look for jobs and discover trusted services.

• Orkut.com - Google's answer to social networking - it is designed to help users meet new friends and maintain existing relationships. Orkut goes a step further than other sites by permitting "communities" of users. It is also invitation-only: Users must be invited to join the community by someone already there.

• 43Things.com - True, it's not your typical social networking site. People who visit can post up to 43 things they want to do with their life, and others can meet up with those who have the same goals. For example, one wants to Help cure osteopetrosis and osteonecrosis for a child who suffers from that condition. Highly recommended.

Got all those sites down? Okay, next, it's time to consider?

Step 2 - Social Networking For Profit

As well as simply meeting folks, social networking can be quite a boon for you career-wise. Think about it - you can become acquainted with folks in your career niche, within your own company but at different sites, and the like.

Some useful resources regarding that are:

• Social Networking for Profit

• Online Social Networks Are Havens for Job Hunters

• Cash in on Your Social Network

• The Business of Social Networks

• Paul Allen Social Networking Watch

Most useful, I'd say.

Step 3 - For More Information

Other great tips/background regarding social networking are:

• Social Networking Safety - geared towards kids but with great info for adults as well.

• MySpace Safety Tips - excellent tips regarding the site.

• List of Social Networking Sites - Who'd have thunked?

Want books on social networking? Check out:

Social Networking for Fun and Profit
Editorial Reviews — ... Product Description | Here are the things that you'll discover in this brand new book: -What is Social Networking? -Why Social Networking Sites are So Popular -Should Your Join a Social Networking Website? -The Benefits of Signing Up With a Specialty Social Networking Website -Using Social Networking Websites to Promote Your Business -Using Social Networking Websites to Promote Your Online Website -Creating Your Social Networking Website Profile -Social Networking Websites: Who Is Reading Your Personal Information?...more

People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities
Customer Reviews — [1] Rating: 4 Date: 2008-06-29 Summary: Web 1.0 Mindset Waving Web 2.0 Methods ... I've given this book four stars because if you want to leverage Web 2.0 methods to garner more money for your Web 1.0 "what we think best" programs, then this is the book for you. In terms of actually creating empowered social networks where the non-profit is a facilitatator, connecting real people with micro-cash to real people with micro-needs, this book is so far back in time as to be next to useless. Argh! This is the last gasp of the United Way/Red Cross "rip off as many as possible" so we can have our first class ...more
[2] Rating: 5 Date: 2008-06-27 Summary: Integrated Fundraising - No Longer Optional ... Ted Hart has created a wonderful primer on ephilanthropy and how to apply integrated fundraising strategies, including chapters from many experts from the nonprofit sector. Filled with profiles of nonprofits that have successfully implemented these techniques, this is well worth a read. I also feature some excerpts in my blog at www.nonprofitbridge.com. ...more
Editorial Reviews — ... Product Description | Cutting-edge strategies, data, and techniques from the world's foremost ePhilanthropy experts. Giving donors the chance to participate in and contribute to the success of a charity beyond the online gift is proving to be successful for many nonprofits. Find out how to make the most of your online fundraising efforts with the expert advice found in People to People Fundraising: Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities. Featuring a Foreword by James Austin of Harvard University, this...more

MYSPACE PROFIT STRATEGIES - FIND OUT HOW TO STAND OUT ON THE WEB #1 SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE
Editorial Reviews — ... Product Description | MY SPACE? Have you heard of it?  My WHAT? You know, MySpace.com. If you are not using it, you are missing the opportunity of a lifetime. Today social networking sites are more popular than ever. But it isn't enough to sign up for a space on MySpace.com or other popular sites and hope people will notice you. Today you have to face the facts?you are competing for attention among millions of other people with profiles and personal pages on popular sites like MySpace.com. What are you going...more

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