New development - Social Networks as Educational Sites

There is no doubt that teens are one of large user group of social network, quite a lot scholar mentioned that teens are choosing to use the sites as educational tools rather than banning them. Therefore, social network as a educational sites will be a new trend.

Hundreds of colleges and universities, including Harvard Law School and New York University are already conducting classes in virtual worlds. Some public libraries are utilizing social netwoking to create online book discussion site. There are 55 American public libraries have profiles on MySpace and librarians comment who have ahd positive experiences using social networking services as out reach to teens.

This is a success trial to use social network as other tools. Since technology keep growing nowadays, it would be an important part of people education.

Part-time study progarmme is hot topic in Hong Kong, promotion with social networking education may effective in outreach to young adults. Since most of them already join in Facebook or MSN, etc.



Reference
Social Networking Communities and E-Dating Services by Celia Romm-Livermore and Kristina Setzekorn

Additional features of Social Network

Social Networking allows variety of people to form groups with common interest. Since those people with common interest, background and common group, this is easily target those who are most likely feedbacks, this is targeted audiences.

How about unexpected reach? If you posted something on discuss forum, people viewd may not be the targeted audeinces. However, anyone of those individuals might forward that to own personal network. Since everyone's network is a different size, the possible connections vary, but the exponential growth is astonishing.

This is also help searching for the new group. Those individuals typically provide their online profile as a social resume, it seems gives others a snapshot of who they are. With profiles, social networking sites enable participants to connect with others who are part of a vast web of relationships.

Then, companies know how to find "group" of potiential consumers in the internet.


Reference:
Social Media At Work - How Networking Tools Propel Organizational Performance
by Arthur L.Jue/ Jackie Alcalde Marr/ Mary Ellen Kassotakis

Social Network - Business Model

A lot of social networks are free of charge, e.g Twitter, Facebook.
According to investment of Facebook, there is around 4.5 billion user of Facebook and around 1 billion user of Twitter.

Not a long time ago, we've heard a rumor about Facebook charge money for membership.
And a big noise of user about this. Companies such as MySpace and Facebook sell online advertising on their site. Their business model is based upon large membership count, and charging for membership would be counterproductive.Some believe that the deeper information that the sites have on each user will allow much better targeted advertising than any other site can currently provide.

Social networks operate under an autonomous business model, in which a social network's members serve dual roles as both the suppliers and the consumers of content. This is in contrast to a traditional business model, where the suppliers and consumers are distinct agents. Revenue is typically gained in the autonomous business model via advertisements, but subscription-based revenue is possible when membership and content levels are sufficiently high.

If Facebook is really charge money for the membership, it may probably lose a large number of member and so as the advertiser.

Besides, social network is affecting different aspect. This is an example that we could easily find book teaching you how to use Twitter and Facebook

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_service
http://facebook.com
http://twitter.com

Books:
Sams Teach Yourself Twitter in 10 Minutes
Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in 10 Minutes

Mobile Social Network

Facebook and MySpace are social network that very popluar between people.
This is able to create groups that share common interests, upload or stream live videos, and hold discussions in forum.
Then what else?

Mobile social networking becames more and more popular. This is in large part due to the static nature of innovation on the mobile platform. In US, telecommunications carriers such as Verizon, Sprint and AT&T all invested significant resources into wireless technologies. They build out the telecommunications infrastructure to accommodate the increasing demand for wireless services, and acting as service providers. Afterwards, the development of new kinds of content for mobile devices is more networked, for example Nokia, Apple, HTC, etc.

Today, in most mobile communities, mobile phone users can create their own profiles, make friends, participate in chat rooms, create chat rooms, hold private conversations, share photos and videos, and share blogs by using their mobile phone.



Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_service

Books:
Social Networking Communities and E-Dating Services by Celia Romm-Livermore and Kristina Setzekorn

Social Network - One type of online presence

Online marketing is developing very rapidly, since companies, brands know the benefits of it.

Generally, benefits showed by 5S (Smith & Chaffey).
SELL; SPEAK; SERVE; SAVE; SIZZLE.

However, what companies gain, depends on what type of online presence.
Social Network or Community Site is one type of online presence.
Social Network build connection between a group of people, they may share whatever they want. That is goes beyound geographic or culture.

When business people desire the benefits of Serve and Sizzle, they could use social network, since this is reaching a large number of people.
Serve - Get closer to customers. The network maybe members of companyies, so that members able to communicate each others also to companies.

Sizzle - Extend the brand online. Community or network is able to "spread" the advantages of a brand to each other rapidly and closely. That maybe some sharing. This similar "to word of mouth".

Online business people need to choose carefully about the type of onloine presence to get certain benefits.