The explosion of social networks available on the Internet today is quite overwhelming. Which one will suit me? Which one will I enjoy and use and contribute to? These questions and more flood the minds of all Internet users when confronted with the onslaught of choices in the blogs and social networks categories presented for membership.
Most every social network is offered free to become a member, participate in groups and forums, and meet friends and associates. There are status upgrades offered on some sites, but these upgrades are not mandatory to enjoy and offer contributions to the site. You will get a member page to set up a short introduction of yourself, your likes and dislikes and a bit of flare about you.
You decide who gets to view your information from everyone on the net to only a select bunch of friends, you choose how much information is even seen by theses friends if you wish to be anonymous.
Listing the highlights and specialties of each of the social network sites.
The first site in review will be the biggest! MySpace!
Once you have mastered the MySpace environment, you will feel very comfortable exploring the other sites out there. With the 221,000,000 + member sites, the layout choices, music, 43,000,000 + groups, 22 major forum topics with numerous minor topics, multi category classified section, colors, flavors, sights, and sounds, I would call MySpace the New York City of social networks equipped with Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Harlem, and Queens. Each with their own flare for expression, it is all a mix of cultures and preferences with close knit sub-communities linked to the masses.
An eclectic adventure awaits beyond the doors of MySpace, I hope to see you there. If you are new to social web sites, check out my article series on “How To MySpace”, these will get you started.
MySpace Wavecritter
Have you had a chance to visit Tagged yet?
This is a fun and relatively easy site to get started on. Everything seems to be in “fast mode” here. You quickly choose your profile background, requesting friends is a breeze, write in your journal, add a You Tube video, photos, all the perks of the “big guys” just in speedy mode. You can have fun with your friends and send them “Tags”…they’re it! A great site to make some awesome friends. Put up your mEgo here to add a bit of your artistic side to the mix. Let’s say Tagged is like the Metro in Chicago….. There’s always something happening.
Tagged Wavecritter
I did a bit of a segway into mEgo there, so I thought we could visit their site next. mEgo is your interactive, portable profile to create and enjoy on sites like Live Journal, FaceBook, MySpace, Xanga, Hi5, Friendswin, Blogger, BlackPlanet, and more. All in One, interactive, and portable, what more could you want in a profile organizer? Change your look with photos, avatars, and animations. Equip your mEgo with feeds and content to share a bit of yourself with your web friends. We’ll call mEgo the Italy of the social network world.
mEgo Wavecritter
I thought we take a walk over to the business district of Wall Street and visit Direct Matches. Welcome to the Internets 24 hour convention. This is a brilliant site where business men and women can meet, network, and create long standing relationships. The center stage is strictly business, with a backdrop of a welcoming, comfortable coffee shop. Enjoyable atmosphere in a bustling district.
DirectMatches Wavecritter
Time for a visit to music central, Project Playlist. We’ll liken this to Beale Street, Memphis. Get the “Music Buzz”, search for tunes by artist, title, or browse member playlists. Their mission statement conveys a love and passion for the music industry, “Our view is that the more people share their individual passion for music by sharing playlists, the more music will be created, and the more the entire music industry will grow.” Read More… About Project Playlist
Project Playlist Look up surfpiccasso2001
Stopping off in Colorado ski country, we come to Twitter. Twitter is a cool little break off the beaten path. A vacation of sorts with findings and followings, word bubbles and blurbs, featured players and a public timeline. I’ve been told that Twitter is even more fun when used through your mobile phone or instant messenging service. Take a glide down the slopes of Twitter and set yours up. Turn it “on” press send and “off” when you sleep.
Twitter Wavecritter, Surfpiccasso2001
Giving kudo’s where deserved and bringing up a very close, prominent second place in the blogs and social networks community is Facebook. A Harvard castle of a maze where around every corridor there is a surprise and a new friend. If you’ve ever taken a look at a map of Cambridge, MA., the hub of Harvard sits in the center of spokes and avenues of discovery. Such is the life of Facebook while you poke, smile at, or give gifts to your network. Check events, groups, photos, and the marketplace while discovering a space on the web to get lost and discover yourself.
Facebook Stephanie Haile, Stevie Haile
Want to realize the meaning of hospitality? Visit Lucy over at Meez. Lucy, with her Audrey Hepburn shine, sets the stage for wardrobe occasions and by creating your own 3D Meez, you can follow suit (or choose your own suit:). Export, create, and animate to mirror your personality or one you want to be. Roscoe will gladly be there whenever you need technical support and is quick to act. Get coinz for premium gear by playing games and referring friends. There’s a forum for fun, fashion, and showing off your Meez. Stop by the Rodeo Drive of the Internet. What does your Meez say about you?
Meez Wavecritter
Having found Meez through Photobucket, I found it fitting to stroll through the paparazzi playhouse of La Dolce Vita along the coast of the Ionian Sea. Photobucket, where 60 million people manage their media, upload videos and photo memories, sharing everywhere from MySpace and e-mail, to Blogger, LiveJournal, and Facebook. Find MySpace icons, popular photos and videos, and other cool and crazy stuff. Enjoy and recreate new visions on Photobucket. Take time to “Digg” someones impressions.
Photobucket Wavecritter, Surfpiccasso2001
Another segway? Isn’t our journey going smoothly through the travels of blogs and social networks? Time to venture into the information highway of World News that is Atlanta, Georgia. All news, videos, images, and podcasts. To Digg or not to Digg, that is the question here. Come to a Digg Town Hall Meeting, the very first on February 25th, 2008, to get what’s happening. Can you Digg it?
Digg Wavecritter
Time for a visit to the Alexandria of blogs and social networks, Vox! The brilliance of Vox shimmers across the net with it’s outspoken writers. And like the town that stretches twenty miles along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Vox is known for it’s own wonders of the social networking world. Explore it’s wonders of culture, entertainment, technology, music, life, and politics. Get involved with a group and construct your own “Lighthouse” of a profile.
Vox Wavecritter
The choices in the blogs and social networks Internet world are indeed numerous. Stay tuned for part three, and the saga continues.
Blogs and Social Networks in general are expanding and growing daily, scratch that, hourly. The amount of people reaching is out for world wide friendship is amazing and exciting.
The first stop in our journey today will be to the video mogul of YouTube. Like the glamour and sparkle of the Las Vegas strip with the culture and information of the Museums, Hoover Dam, and The Grand Canyon, comedy like Ray Romano and Kevin James, shows and magic like Chris Angel and The Blue Man Group, YouTube has it all. Sign up, upload a video you created or just view the hundreds of thousands of videos already here. Join a group or enter a video contest, just broadcast yourself.
Wavecritter on YouTube & Surfpiccasso2001 on youtube
How about we visit the tops on the fun, chatty charts by taking a trip to the Twin Cities, MN, Greatest Shopping Mall Of America! IMVU! IMVU is an outstanding, fun, digital, graphic image maker, and player site. You create a little “you” image, and dress up, buy items and clothes and hair styles and much more, take photos of the virtual “you” , go on a Ferris Wheel, in a cafe, disco, wherever the little “you” wants to play, get photographed, purchase items with credits, chat, engage, and virtually have the time of your Internet life! Missgreenbacks, Lucky, IMVUInc, and Charm are there to get you rolling and help your navigation! The Greatest Shopping Mall Of The Internet World awaits at IMVU.
Wavecritter on IMVU Surfpiccasso on IMVU
Let’s Move along now, down the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam and join in on the group activities and artistic Rembrandt talents of the members of WetPaint Wiki! Get a community gathering started and become a sightseeing tour down the Amsterdam canal. Design graphics and flourishes that match your Wiki design with Paint Splatters.
Wikis are websites that everyone can build together. It’s easy! Come to community fun and information spot, build a page, add a widget, leave your mark on the adventure of the Wiki!
SocialNetworkMarketingWiki
Questing ever further into blogs and social networks we arrive, (and some say “finally”) at the Blogs and Social Networks dream adventure. The Tibet, if you will, of the day. Friendster is the highest peak to reach and the most tranquil, easy-going of the industry. The Friendster crew is always helpful and pleasant. Add Apps, Get Connected, Explore, and Search through the mountainous region that is Friendster. With a seperate, but unified blogging city, Friendster creates a collective environment of exploration, fun, and friends.
Wavecritter on Friendster
Stephanie Haile aka Wavecritter & Stevie Haile (AKA Blogheiress)
http://www.BlogsandSocialNetworks.com
