What Are Web 2.0 And Social Networking

Web 2.0 and Social Networking are interchangeable terms that are used to describe interactive environments and communication strategies applied on the Internet. Web 2.0 is a general term applied to any website that reacts to the input and activity of its users, such as a blog, a MySpace profile, a forum, or a Squidoo lens.

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Social Networking is best defined as the regular interaction of people for some common cause. Of course there is really nothing new about social networking, and it’s something many of us do every day offline, especially in schools or in the workplace. But as a marketing trend this concept is growing more and more popular online.

This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the Internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other Internet users and develop both business and personal relationships.

There are many portals for social networking on the web. Social networking websites are pretty much communities of Internet users that can range from small and tightly focused portals to enormous groups of people who all have different backgrounds and interests.

So a Web 2.0 resource, or social networking site can exist on the basis of anything from hobbies, religion, education, business, or politics. And the idea behind getting involved in such a site is to meet new people who fit into one of two categories:

1. People who have something you need.
2. People who need something you have.

There’s a little more to it than this of course but the above two categories basically sum up the entire purpose of participating in social networking and Web 2.0 systems. You might be looking for someone with the missing element to your nearly completed Cajun recipe collection, or you could be searching for new prospects to bring into your personal sales funnel.

Whatever your goals are, the most important thing to do is just get involved. Join some social websites and begin reading the profiles or profile pages of other members, and even start contacting the people who meet the criteria of who you are looking for.

On a personal level, you are sure to enjoy the diversity offered by social networking sites. As I’m sure you already know the Internet allows you to contact people from all over the world, and from many different cultures; and since networking sites exist for the sole purpose of meeting and communicating with new people, the majority of folks who visit these sites are more than happy to meet and communicate with you!

So these portals are a great way to learn a couple of things about other cultures. And of course when we learn about the way other cultures outside of our own think, we are able to market more effectively to people within that cultural demographic!

Social networking often involves grouping specific individuals or organizations together. So you can actually find Web 2.0 portals that are all about a specific subject, whether it’s search engine optimization.

But while there are a number of social networking websites that focus on particular interests, the majority do not. In fact the biggest and most popular social networking sites typically have an open membership.

This means that anyone can become a member, no matter what their hobbies, beliefs, or views are. However, once you are inside this online community, you can begin to create your own network of friends; thus eliminating others that do not meet your criteria.

Social Networking Websites to Promote Your Website
Do you own or operate your own website? With the rising popularity of the internet, there is a good chance that you do. A large number of internet users run their own personal websites, but others run their websites as a way to make money. Of course, any website owner wishes to promote their online website, but those who rely on their websites for income are more willing to.

Whichever type of website you have, did you know that you could help to promote it with online social networking websites? If you are wondering how and why you should use social networking websites to promote your online website, you are not alone. A fairly large numbers of internet users aren’t even sure what social networking sites are or how they work.

Online social networking websites are like online communities. They give internet users an easy and fairly safe way to come together. Many social networking websites are designed to make it easier for you to search for and make contact with other internet users, especially those that you have something in common with.

With a fairly large number of social networking websites, including MySpace, having over a millions users, there is a good chance that you could not only make new friends, but find internet users that would be interested in visiting your online website, especially if that website is your personal website. When joining an online networking community, you should be given your own profile page. On this page you could not only describe yourself, your online website.

By mentioning what your personal online webpage is all about and providing a link, you should receive a number of new visitors. As previously mentioned, social networking websites can benefit all website owners, but especially those who are looking to make a profit with their websites.

This can be done one of two ways, by selling something or by relying on revenue from advertising. If you have a website that selling products or services, you may find it a little bit easier to use social networking sites to your advantage. This is because, if you wish, you could do product or service spotlights. Each day, week, or month, you could showcase one of the products or services that your website sells.

This could either be done right on your profile page or on a blog page, which is provided by most social networking websites. If you are using your online website to make money with advertising programs, such as affiliate programs or Google Adsense, you may need to approach social networking websites in a different matter.

Since you will not necessarily have a particular product or service to focus on, you will need to approach these websites as if they were personal websites. If your website discusses being a dog owner, it may be a good idea to state your love for dogs in your profile. After doing so, it would be acceptable and not necessarily considered spam to add a link to your online website.

As with all other types of online websites, social networking websites should help to increase the number of page views your website receives. In most cases, more page views mean more clicks which means money for you. As you can easily see, there are a number of different ways that you can promote your online website, no matter what type of website you have or what you use it for.

By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, you should be able to see an increase in your page views, in no time at all.