Social Networking and Social Bookmarking: Getting All Linked Up

If I had to use a conventional term to describe what online social networking and social bookmarking in the business context, I would use the term 'word of mouth marketing'. I mean, let's look at it closely.

Social networking sites explained
Social networking sites consist of people who create their profiles online. And many people these days, especially the X- and Y-generation are habitually using these social networking sites to connect with one another, find friends, share stuff with each other and some people go a little further by joining causes and participating in groups with purposes close to their hearts. Each of the member's profile is linked together in a NETWORK, like a web. What one shares in one's profile or page is made available through their 'friend's' social network as well. Whether the shared stuff appears throughout the outer layer of network is up to one's preference. You can choose to make available the links, photos, videos and audio files to your 'friends' only.

It's sad that people continue to think of online social networking as child's play when in actual fact, business people can make full use of the online social media CONVINCINGLY, EFFECTIVELY and most importantly, CHEAPLY (free, in fact).

Sure, sure....I know it's fun and addictive to be able to share your most recent escapades to some remote island being almost-fed-on by a barracuda or you could post a picture of you kissing a dolphin...all that's fine but if you look beyond the superficial value of online social networking sites, you'll see the potential. Think a little deeper.

What about social bookmarking - what on earth is that?
When talking about social networking, my fingers are touching more than just sites like Facebook, Myspace, Friendster, Multiply, MyBlogLog...etc.

What about social sharing sites like delicious, digg, stumbleupon, furl.net, Twitter, Propeller and more recently, Yahoo! Buzz? These are social bookmarking sites, for your information.

Writing and publishing an article is not enough...you have to get as many links in and generate as much publicity as you can for each of the article