Mobile Networking SMS 2.0 vs. Web 3.0

The public social networks are already scrambling to retain their hit numbers in the wake of tons of competition but will Web 3.0 really be the future of networking? 

The buzz being generated by the industry is that Web 3.0 will accommodate the changes in the landscape from Web 2.0’s “join me” environment to the new “follow me” environment.  I wrote about industry plans to create open id’s to help their users stay connected over a number of sites, but is this really what their users are looking for and how will the current rule based social networks handle the data? 

Open ID’s and Web 3.0 in theory would allow your connections to follow you as you travel from site to site.  The hole in the Open ID platform is each of these sites operates on a different platform, allows for different information, and most importantly they all have different limits.  For example I currently can add only 9 new connections on LinkedIn, if I were to invite my 250 members from Facebook to join does LinkedIn now waive their limit?  On Linked in I have slightly over 800 connections; I have an additional 1000 on MySpace so forget trying to invite them over.  If LinkedIn does decide to toss out the limits in the wake of Web 3.0, Facebook’s and MySpace’s platform isn’t even close to LinkedIn’s so the user would be forced to enter a lot of information anyway.  This is a large piece of the sale for Open ID’s.

If I owned one of these giant social websites I would be asking my users why they are looking else where and why are they are trying to bring their network with them? 

I believe the reason people are shifting from site to site isn’t because they have a prettier background.  It is because someone else is driving the ship and they don’t really care about our experience they care about our assisting them in generating a profit.  All of these sites have arbitrary rules that keep changing to meet the needs of the corporation.  At the same time advertising space expands and workspace shrinks in almost direct relation to the size of the user base and hit counts.  More people and more hits equal more advertising potential.  MySpace for example has simply turned into one big advertisement and the site is basically a free-for-all regarding spam.  Facebook shifted to a multipage profile format, which drastically expands their hit count and advertising space.  It is almost like there is a competition for who can figure out how to get the most advertising space on a page and all their user base is trying to do is communicate with their network.

The level of concern about their users experience is very apparent.  Try to file a complaint with any of these sites when you have an issue with its operation or another member.  If you do get a response it is the automated – thank you for contacting us greeting.  Facebook’s solution to a violation report regarding their terms of use is to automatically block your access to the person – problem solved...  I guess that would be more profitable than removing a member who is helping generate a profit. 

I see the social networking company’s biggest problem being the very noticeable shift away from web based communications.  Users are creating their own personal texting networks through mobile communications where there are no corporate rules, no controls, and no advertising blocks cluttering their networks.

Only time will tell if Web 3.0 will save the beast or we are entering the new era of mobile networking through SMS (Short Message Service) 2.0.  My money is on the later.  One plus with Open Id is it will definitely help users transition away from public social networking sites by helping them take their network to the mobile networking SMS  2.0 platform.  Using sites like Twitter and new mobile phones we can have the best of both worlds a SMS text network on our cell phone without the Advertising clutter …  Maybe that is why Twitters member count is growing at lightening speed.

What do you think?

Is social networking having an impact?

Over the last few months I have been doing hands on research to see what affect social networking can have on a candidate running for election.

I approached a friend, who decided to run for office for the first time and offered to manage her website and establish social networking sites.

Some positives for the experiment and negatives for the candidate:

• She was relatively unknown in city, small business women who had a few book keeping accounts and worked part time.
• She had never run for office before.
• She was running against another first timer, but his family was well known in the city.
• She was running as a Republican in what was predicted to be an election which would be dominated by the Democratic Party.

The results are now history…

• She already had a website so I updated the format and added widgets to make it sticky (provide a reason for people to return)
• Added a poll to involve guests
• We placed recent updates on the main page to alert visitors of changes
• Included pictures of events

I also created a social networking site on Facebook and created a Twitter Account. The sites were updated at least three times a week to keep them fresh and current.

The results were amazing. Although she lost as a result of the state wide democratic sweep her district had one of the closest races for state representative. All three republican candidates lost the election to their democratic competition in her city. Here is how the results played out: District 22: 30 point spread, District 77: 11 point spread, District 79: 49 point spread. Yes you guessed it my candidate was in district 77 and the only candidate with a website and incorporating social networking tools.

My experiment demonstrated that when you add social networking tools to what you are doing there will be an impact on the results. It is easier for people to find, research, and stay connected with you.

Five ways to double your exposure online starting today (The Power of Five System)

Already online with millions of other people on a social network but you feel like no one knows you are there? Chances are they don't. The problem is you are on a site with millions of other people so you have to put yourself out there over and over to get attention.

Here are five easy tips to help you double your exposure starting today:

• Respond to every new friend connection, even if you initiated it. A simple thank you and check out my site is a second contact and possibly another hit on your page or website.
• Post and respond to online Q & A's, forums and group posts. Positive, Negative or controversial make sure the people reading those links can see a your page. Social Networks already provide this link for you.
• Post a blog several times a week, even if it is about your day. Keep in mind the boss could see your page so you should be careful what you say about your significant other... But seriously this is great exposure as a blog gets picked up by search engines over time. As with friend requests, respond to new comments on your blog.
  
• Add your social network link or website link to your email signature. Instead of just closing an email with your name and phone number add a social contact site or website. If that email is forwarded so is your link.
• Use sharing sites like DIGG , del.icio.us and Twitter to gain additional exposure. These sites help you gain exposure by putting you in front of more people.

Want to get noticed?

Travel like a rock star – Try Twitter.com. Twitter lets you follow people and people follow you. What better way to promote yourself then let people know what you are doing, what you are working on, and where you are going?