So yesterday I was reading Kyle Sutton’s blog post on PC World in which he offers his thoughts on Yahoo!’s latest social networking endeavor: Kickstart. The premise of Kickstart is that it provides a place for up-and-coming college grads to get a “kick start” into the real world by networking with peers and getting their faces out there for company recruiters.
So you have the professionally buttoned-up LinkedIn on one end, and you have the college-boozing student population on Facebook. Now that there’s a middle ground, where else can we can we go? Is it possible to belong to too many social networks?
Right now, I belong to MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Digg, Technorati, Windows Live Spaces, and now Kickstart….and I’m sure more because who wants to be left out of the game, right?
I’m not going to elaborate on this too much, since I really want to hear from you all about what you think of the question I put forth. Let me hear you!
Thanks!
Filed under: Digg, Facebook, Kickstart, LinkedIn, MySpace, Technorati, Windows Live Spaces, internet, social media, social networking | 8 Comments
It’s tough finding a balance between online networking and face-to-face networking. I swear, between MySpace, AdultFriendFinder, and Facebook… it feels like maintaining my online network is practically a full-time job!! Ha ha ha!
I think that the key is to try and find a balance between desperately trying to fill the empty social void in my soul with online connections and not getting too wrapped up in ’social networking’ over the internet.
But here’s a question for you… How do you manage to keep things in perspective, without leaving yourself out of potentially beneficial social networks?
Hey there –
Thanks for the advice on what to name my blog. I think I’ve settled on “Cats, Cradles and Silver Spooons.” What do you think?
Also, I wanted to know if you will be going to this: http://www.blogger-social.com/ It sounds like fun – I’m hoping to go, though I’m not very social. It seems like a lot of bloggers are more introverted than extroverted, don’t you think? I mean, I know I got into the blogosphere because I don’t have a lot else going on. Who knows, maybe I’ll meet someone at the conference!
Good point, John, and that’s what I was getting at when I said that no one wants to be left out of the game. Ultimately, it would seem most logical to say that you simply have to find the social networks that work best for you and help you stay socially productive, even if it’s online. For me, LinkedIn and Facebook are my mainstays. In other words, just because it exists doesn’t mean you have to sign up and be a fullly active member. Since my PR work revolves around social media, though, I tend to join any new networks so I can practice what I preach. Thanks John!
Hey Blogerella, if that floats your boat, then go for it! Something to kind in mind is that this is the name you’ll be touting everywhere as you build your readership. Looking back, I may have changed my blog to “Social Media Wire” but my title still gets the point across. And unfrotunately no, I will not be attending Blogg Social ‘08. Would be fun, though.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to list, we would like to inform you on our new College Network Place…
http://www.collegenetworkingcafe.com/
The College Networking Cafe is designed to give a social networking utility that connects college students with other college students from around the world!
Students can use the college networking cafe to keep up with college friends, news, upload photos, share links and videos, you can also become affilates to help build your own community and just learn more about their fellow classmates.
This College Networking Cafe thing will never catch on. I read that college students are moving away from the internet and back to old-fashioned pen and paper along with chats around a big fireplace.
Dear Admin,
Your advertisemnt sounds a lot like Facebook to me. Did you happen to utilize any orginal ideas with your site or is it just a total ripoff?
Good thinking though, I mean copycat sites usually are successful. I am sure this one will be super popular.
Thanks Doug and Phil. I’m not sure how that comment made it past my spam blocker. However, I encourage everyone to offer their thoughts on how this venture will never take off the ground. Facebook already did.