Participation of social networks continues to drastically grow, though more slowly than the previous years, as more people continue to communicate and connect with other individuals online. Currently, it is said that over half of American ages 15-34 are actively using online social networks. They are spending on average more than seven hours per week on websites like Facebook and MySpace and driving growth of overall time spent online. Americans that are 35 and over, this statistic drops, but still represents ten of millions of people.

The fact of the matter of this is that social networks are not fading and are going to be around for a while. Social marketers need to be aware of this increasing value and consistency for Americans within social networks. They need to understand that in these networks consumers are becoming experts on understanding what is spam, purely commercial compared to truly genuine.

            Commitment is what it comes down to for social marketers. When someone is truly committed to something they are sincere and genuine. This is what consumers will latch on to; I like to call it the “hook line and sinker”. Maintaining a time consuming and robust existence on these social networks is task, but by putting forth the effort your audience will connect with you better.  Therefore, don’t skimp on the time commitment, it is important in connecting with and reaching these growing demographics of social networks.

By: Matt Hite

Marketing Manager

Yovia.com

Maximum numbers of businesses today have an online presence as the Internet has grown to be the new rage in the communication world. The online presence (social media) can really create wonders for your company as well as business, provided you promote it using certain methods. One such key method for endorsing your website to the world is by making the use of the famous public media platforms or social bookmarking sites. Some of the more noteworthy websites like Digg, News vine and Reddit have been viewed as the prodigal son sense the rebirth of bookmarking. These platforms allow you to build back links, create and encourage your website popularity and bring in tons of new traffic.

One of the more recent booms in the social scene is the growing popularity of Facebook. Myspace was the forefather of social websites, before the social bookmarking renaissance. Myspace was the place to be, given its popularity Myspace became the target of SEOs, Internet marketers and spammers alike. But like every Gold Rush, people see new opportunities…enter FACEBOOK.

So as you can see there is really no time to sleep in the social marketing scene if you want to stay ahead of Johnny come lately spammer.

Israel F. Swanson

Community Development

Should you control social marketing? This is a question for many today because of different issues at hand. The biggest issue within this is the spam and irrelevant information that are being posted. Users are getting tired of clicking on pages that bring them to something of complete irrelevance. For example, although Facebook might have slightly less traffic than Myspace, they have created more value in their network by reducing the irrelevant links. Facebook’s network can be seen to many more closely nit and organized. Although Myspace is trying to head in this direction and cut back on this factor, their system and customer base is now use to this spam that is sometimes present. Ebay is heading in this direction on controlling social marketing and someways people are saying this can be seen as bad, but in reality I believe it is helping to increase the relevant information within their site. More importantly, this is helping ebay’s well known image of a unique marketplace for everyone to buy and sell. Like with many social networks such as Ebay people want to interact, but if it is full of junk and irrelevant information this could cause its social network to be a river hazards and people might not put their boat in the water.

It will be intresting to see how Ebay does in the next few years with social marketing. Will increasing their control hurt them or will it help to stimulate a better social network. Linking is crucial in a social network, but will cutting back on the links hurt them.  It will be interesting to see how controlling social marketing will play into effect. 

  By: Matt Hite

Intern

Yovia.com

At an AdTech Show, in San Francisco, last year.  I attended a session on content.  The gist of the session was that “content is STILL king.”   At the time, I thought that made sense.  The more I think about it now, the less that makes sense.  Content is STILL king implies that there was or will be a time when content is not the most important component of a site.  There is maybe one successful site I can think of where the actual content, isn’t the most important factor, CSSZenGarden.com.  The funny thing about CSS Zen Garden, is that it has an extremely strong value proposition.  The “content” which makes the site successful, is the purpose.  So, content can be either implicit or explicit.  Either way, it is vitally important.  It is easy to see from the natural progression, as sites have moved from basic text information sites to interactive content that engage the users with games or tools, that content has developed over the years.  This begs the question, “Will content always be king?”  Yes, of course it will.  Content will become MORE important.  It has become easier and easier to develop and build sites, and be a part of the internet. 

Anyone can create a site, and put some words on it.  Those people are competitors for your site, and the easier it becomes to build and develop a site, the more and more competition grows.  So, how is one to stand-out among the competition? Content.   Why would someone visit your site, if there is a better one  out there?   They shouldn’t.  Over time, they won’t.  The first rule, in the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing is The Law of Leadership:  It’s better to be first than it is to be better.  False.  The transparency and low barriers to entry make the internet a proving ground, more than a first come first serve ticket window.  There are a number of case-studies on this.  Apple was not the first to introduce an mp3 player, but at the time the iPod was THE best.  Friendster opened the door for Facebook and Myspace to walk through, and improve.  Warren Buffet stresses the importance of the moat around a business as essential to it’s success.  This holds true online.  The moat online? Content.

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MySpace: A place for friends.

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