Not too long ago, if anyone said that they have tweeted or poked someone online, chances are that th...

1. Online Social Networking is Here to Stay
Not too long ago, if anyone said that they have tweeted or poked someone online, chances are that
they would have gotten a blank stare. Of course, as many people know now, those words are
associated with today's social networking behemoths, namely Twitter and Facebook. Truly, online
network sites have infiltrated the zeitgeist at an unimaginable rate.
The social networking industry will stand the test of time because of their ability to please a wide
range of social needs. From teenagers announcing a house party to presidential candidates giving
daily updates on their campaign, social networks have satisfied the market's demand for quick and
effective mass communication at a very irresistible price: free.
Brands Could Fade, But the Industry Will Stand
One of the major advantages and drawbacks of creating a social network online is its relatively low
barrier to entry. This means that almost anyone who can take time to learn basic computer
programming can do business with little start-up costs and limited personal background. Some
people already know that Mark Zuckerberg, the brain behind Facebook, was in fact a college
dropout.
However, that very same advantage of starting an online business is also its biggest weakness. Since
there are very few limits to enter, established brands face the prospect of having a lot of
competition. Anyone who has a stellar idea can take on even the largest names in the social

2. networking industry.
The founder of Facebook himself is an example.
Before Facebook reached its current level of fame,
the top name in social networking was Myspace.
Many gave Myspace with just about the same hype
as Facebook. However, through a string of
innovative ideas, Mark Zuckerberg's brainchild was
eventually able to win the hearts of the masses.
Today, according to an article on SiliconAngle.com, Myspace has already laid off nearly 47% of its
workforce to stay solvent. That same article reported that since News Corp. acquired Myspace, it
has not churned out a profit, making the possibility of a company sell out highly possible. Yet despite
this, the social media industry remains robust. It's all just a matter of which company is on top.
According to Facebook.com's statistics, there are currently 500 million users in its network and
about half of these users log on to their account everyday. What's more, current social network
behemoths such as Facebook and Twitter are utilized by prominent people, including actors,
businesses, and even the President of the United States.
To say that social media is headed for collapse is like saying that the whole financial industry will
cease to exist just because a big company like Bear Sterns or Washington Mutual goes under. Like
all other industries, social media companies are not impervious to market competition and must stay
on top of their game or go broke.
How Social Networking Sites Have Revolutionized Public Relations and Marketing
In the past, advertising meant sticking up banners on a newspaper or throwing ads into a classified
ads directory. Doing so costed quite a significant amount, making it a lot more difficult for start-ups
with limited means to get going. However, social networking sites today have made marketing more
cost-effective and efficient.
When an advertisement is placed on a newspaper, for instance, the scope of that ad is limited within
the geographic location in which the newspaper is based. In order to get more exposure, an ad had
to be reprinted repeatedly. Doing this might not necessarily be economical all the time. With the rise
of social networking sites, however, a merchant can easily expand his reach to a global scale in
seconds without great financial investment.
For businesses that are online based, internet marketing gurus will say that social networking is now
considered as one of the top tactics for driving free traffic to a website. Aside from the fact that it is
cost-effective, social networking sites tend to be more personal than an advertisement. When people
see a Facebook profile, they do not immediately see a marketing campaign. They see a human face
where one can establish a relationship.
The same principle about personalized marketing is the reason why many political candidates have
turned to social networking as a tool in their arsenal. Many people do not like politicans that seem
'distant' or 'elitist'. They want candidates that can relate to the average joe and communicate with
them naturally. As pbs.org puts it, politicians use social networks to gain "direct access to
voters...and deliver an uncensored, unfiltered -- and unchecked -- message."

3. Yes it's Too Good, but it's True...and it's Here to Stay
People have been accustomed to thinking that when something is too much of a good deal, chances
are that something fishy is going on and therefore treated with caution. Well, that should not be the
case with online social networking sites. These websites are legitimate services that provide
legitimate value to people.
It is true that some people might use social networking sites to scam people and cause problems.
However, fraud can be found in many business models, not just social networking sites. The problem
lies with isolated individuals who use available resources to do harm, not with the social networking
sites themselves.
Online social networking is here to stay because the value it provides is highly scalable, which
means that its services can be retrofitted to appease the needs of anyone at any given time. There is
no guarantee that today's social networking sites-such as Facebook-will live on forever, but the
market for these kinds of websites is fertile territory for entrepreneurial people who understand the
importance of high-speed and cost-effective communication.
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