Social Networking: Fad or Here to Stay?
Is social networking a passing fad? Or is it a permanent evolution of our online culture? Should businesses embrace social networking and make it part of their marketing strategies? Social networking started out as a teen-age craze, but an increasing number of businesses are putting it to work.
I believe that social networking is part of the human dynamic and is here to stay. Social media is growing with people to people networks. Even in the earliest days of the Internet, forums allowed interaction, discussions and collaboration. This movement is a long term trend toward socialization of the web.
I would translate “social networking” to conversations… The essence of Web 2.0 is technology assisting conversations and people interacting.
Social networking is a skill that marketers need to develop in order to stay ahead of the curve in marketing trends. It is rapidly becoming a means to target and communicate with customers in more interactive and strategic ways.As a result, wise marketers are taking advantage of them to deepen their relationships with consumers.
So what does the future hold for social networking? The growth seems to be in mobile social networking. The use of mobile devices continues to grow and be a part of our culture. Can you imagine using your mobile device to quickly check the online profiles of the prospect you are getting ready to meet?
What ever the future holds, social networks will be a basis for communication and interaction… unless of course, social networking evolves into a newer and better media.
Social networking is absolutely here to stay. Not necessarily in the idea of downlines, but in the sense that building a social niche network of blogs, social sites, microblogs, etc. is key in social marketing. If you read Authority Black Book available through Jack Humphrey’s Friday Traffic Report you will see just how social networking can gain highly targeted traffic and potential conversions while having fun and becoming an authority in your niche.
Comment by Eric Brown — May 10, 2008 @ 9:44 am
a few years ago, people say that blogs are just fad and that it’s just hype and only for teenagers but look at how many people blogs nowadays.. I believe that it’s the same with social networks, it will stay but I guess people will want more specific or “niche” social networks
Comment by mae — May 13, 2008 @ 3:31 am