Social Networking: Which Network is Right for You?

Do you like meeting new people? Do you want to meet those who are interested in the same things you are? Do you want to connect with others?

Then social networking may be for you.

Social networking is somewhat like a forum on steroids. In addition to being able to meet new people and share information with them, you can also post blogs, videos, and other Web 2.0 content. Some of these sites even allow you to post free classified ads. The bonus to these sites is that they're very popular and get a lot of traffic.

Before you decide to sign up for any of the social networking sites though, there are a few things you should consider.

First, you need to think about why these sites are so popular in the first place. These sites are a place where others can connect. Many people want to connect for different reasons. Some want to make new friends, find dates, and then there are those who want to find business partners or network with other business owners. After all, one of the few disadvantages to having your own home business is that it can be lonely at times working alone, and, if you live with family, they get tired of hearing about your business (ask my family LOL)

Now, if you're a closet introvert, maybe you should consider promoting your business another way. Although these sites don't require that you interact with others, you will see much better results if you're out there getting to know others and sharing information. So, once you've decided whether or not you want to try social networking, you need to decide on what types of social networking sites you want to get involved in.

Although My Space is the largest, and the most popular social networking site on the internet, it may not be for you. Because this is a general networking site, there will be many different people there for many different reasons. It's easy to get lost on this site.

Another issue with My Space is some of the content. When conducting a search, it's a good idea to target your keywords as tightly as possible so that you find people, as well as the content you are looking for. It's very time consuming to wade through unrelated profiles, and you'll sometimes find plenty of those because so many people don't correctly tag their profiles.

If My Space doesn't appeal to you, there are others like Facebook, Friendster, Hi5, as well as plenty of topical social network sites, including politics, pets, business, christian, and others. Think carefully about what you want to accomplish on these sites, and this will make it easier for you to choose which sites to sign up for. If you like small groups better than large groups, or you want to develop deeper relationships, then definitely consider topical networks. Paid networks are also another option if you prefer a more exclusive network.

If you decide you really like networking, you may want to consider signing up for a combination of sites. Choose one or two general networking sites and then choose one or two topical sites. Try them out and see which ones you like best, as well as which ones work the best in helping you promote yourself, make new friends, or find your dream mate.