I agree with Lee. I've never really maintained many profile on social networks for personal use, for the same reasons. I'm online, IM-ing, posting, emailing, updating all day for work, that usually the last thing I want to do is continue that when I get home. haha I am however a text whore (luvs me my crackberry

As far as the social Networking is concerned, I've found that most companies big and small really aren't utilizing it properly. It's not for lack of knowledge as FB itself is fairly simply to customize from a programmer point of view (from what I've seen, I am not a proggie personally.)

Like absolutely any other method used to market, it first has to start with a strategy. What is your goal? The SN (social networking sites) are not going to be a tool to be monitized, i.e. you're not going to make money from FB, Twitter, etc., You're going to USE them to make money.

I used this example with a new hire we just brought on board. I was trying to quantify or describe FB as I see it for the purposes of business.

Bob is selling buckles. They are the shiniest, prettiest, most tech savvy buckles available. Buckles 2.0 as it were Of course Bob knows everyone would want his buckles, he's just gotta sell it. Now imagine Bob walks into a room full of 2,000 people; be it a trade show, work function, friends b day party or bar. Bob's never been here before, and no one has ever heard of him or his buckels. Upon entering that group of 2,000 people, Bob scans the room and starts shouting that he's arrived and that he has the best buckles anyone could want, and if they buy them right now they even get a discount. When no one responds, Bob again starts shouting to the crowd with his well rehearsed sales pitch.

What do you think would happen? Of course probably no one would respond. In fact they may even purposely ignore him and write him off as some desperate crazy salesperson.

Realistically, what Bob would do upon entering that room, is casually approach people and start a dialogue. They might discuss their cars, the weather, the event, how they know mutual people etc., Bob would then politely excuse himself from that conversation and being another one, and then another and another. Towards the end of the night as he makes his rounds to say his good byes to his new found friends, he casually mentions his Buckles 2.0, and because they hit it off so well, he has a great deal if they want to make a purchase.

Most likely Bob's conversion of those people will be far greater with the second approach.

Social Networking is no different that old school "kissing babies and shakin hands" method.

If you decide to focus on Facebook or any other SN, and think by your presence alone you will see results, you're off the mark. These sites are about creating a relationship. You build a foundation, establish yourself, and then put out the call to action.

This is a silly scenerio of course, but it illustrates a point. With all the immediacy and urgency the SN seem to offer, we forget that its really about the connection and the one on one relationship.

Secondly, you have to intrigue the user. Give them a reason to want to follow you or know what's going on. We know that "content is king" when it comes to our websites / content, however that doesn't necessarily apply here (especially if you're 18+ content).

There's a book called "The World-Wide Rave" that I highly recommend. If nothing else, it helps to shake the cobwebs out a bit and gives a fresh perspective. A lot of us are too inward focused with our Marketing initiatives. It's about what the customer wants, what they are interested in, and how we can relate to that and steer em in our direction. And guess what... ALL that information is right there everyday on the social networks, it's just our job to go get it