Banking on Your Blogging

Social networking sites offer people online a gathering spot to casually share their opinions and interests with other like-minded participants. Recent events however have indicated how effective these online communities are for breaking news on a national and international level.

Although interest or opinions may vary from group to group there still remains a common interest in national or world news. Considering these social platforms connect people from all over the world on a 24/7 basis you’re looking at their considerable potential as information sources.

What we’re focusing on here is the ability of these social sites to gather and circulate late breaking news. Compared with the more traditional syndicated news networks it can be argued that social network sites are in fact can be more efficient and expedient in delivering news to the public.

Take that CNN!

By passing information along through word of mouth using the speed of the internet news that travels this fast is hard to beat.

Let’s examine 5 reasons why a social network online can outperform the more traditional news broadcasting networks.

News Collected as it Occurs

Social platforms do not ‘assign’ people to gather news or information but instead are merely designed to share information or interests. Site members do however possess an insatiable and natural curiosity. Just through sheer numbers members combine to create a catch basin of global proportions. As a result they are capable of collecting information of little or great consequence anywhere in the world on a 24/7 basis.

Information Transmitted Fast

Any information picked up either through heresy or observation is usually immediately ‘released’ on the internet. To date there is no more efficient means with which to dispense information to the general public quicker than the net.

As is often said in basketball, ‘Nothing but Net!’

Syndicated networks for the most part still have certain ‘hoops’ thru which they must ‘jump’ before releasing information. This may tend to slow their process.

No ‘Red Tape’ or Protocol

Without the traditional ‘red tape’ or protocol that syndicated news networks contend with online communities hold an unfair advantage. The legalese involving fair play, accuracy, and ethics do encumber syndicated networks. The lack of such restraints however concerning online communities does ‘allow’ for information to be dispensed much faster to the general public.

Word Gets Out Quicker

News tends to flow from person to person and often time is simply broadcast to the masses. The net result is that information spreads virally and this word of mouth effect should not be overlook for its efficiency and speed. There is no ‘formal’ channel through which information is directed which means word is spread continuously, not at scheduled intervals. This process ‘increases’ both speed and just as importantly exposure.

No Regulated Responsibilities

Within any social network community there is no delegation of duties, responsibilities or authority. You are looking at a world-wide community with the capability of filling any role that may seem appropriate at any given time. From observing an event or translating its meaning to distributing the information this flexibility and spontaneity enables news to be collected and spread like a wild fire.

This lack of structure is built for speed but on the other hand can lead to occasional inaccuracies in reporting the facts.

Social networking sites have both the channels and the manpower to deliver late breaking news at lightning speed. Using word of mouth to spread information social sites possess the ability to transmit news unencumbered by any red tape further accelerating the transfer of this information. It is not suggested that online communities replace syndicated news networks as news source but merely that they can compliment them if needed. Social network sites based upon their prominence on the internet possess the potential to be much more than they were designed for and this should not be ignored.

Social networking sites are intended to be online communities where you can ‘let your hair down’ while socializing with others. The lack of formality and anything goes mentality is meant to create a casual atmosphere at these social sites for participants. Online social networking has in fact become so popular that it has become a breeding ground for certain predators. The fact that these sites are open to the public for anyone to join also makes it easy to access and view the conversations at any of the social network sites.

In essence what we have are private conversations that can be viewed by just about anybody. It is therefore wise for members of any of these social sites to practice a little discretion when leaving comments or information since you can’t be sure who may view it.

Let’s look at 3 types of risks you may expose yourself to if you’re not careful when posting any comments or information on any of the social network sites.

Professional Risks

Although socially intermingling does encourage you to relax and ‘let your hair down’ be aware that many companies or organizations have access to these same sites. It has become a common practice for any information or comments left on a site to be used to ‘profile’ that person. So personal opinions, preferences, or interests could potentially damage you or your career if they fall into the hands of the wrong ‘professional’ sources. If your interests are more professional in nature you may want to consider building a business blog. Go here to see how!

Online Criminal Risks

Phishers, bots, or other elements with less then pure intentions literally troll the social networks in search of any personal information they can find. Their intentions could range from stealing a password to your email to much more sensitive financial information with far greater potential to do damage to you. Extortion, identity theft, or even black mail could be the result so exercise caution and realize that you NEVER know who may be ‘listening’ to your conversations.

Offline Asset or Property Risk

Risks on a more ‘physical’ level are quite possible when releasing the ‘wrong’ information on any online community. Comments that indicate your home address, marital status, or even vacation or work schedule could be used by predators to locate and pilfer your habitat or worse. It is always wise to routinely exercise caution at any of these sites. If people you’re already conversing with are your friends they already know these intricate details about you or your life. There’s otherwise no need to restate any sensitive details online since this poses a potentially harmful risk to you.

The idea behind social networking sites is terrific and obviously a huge hit with the masses. Making available online communities in which you can discuss interest or events with like minded people was something needed online. It is however wise for anyone using these social sites to exercise a little caution when posting comments or information. Online social networking sites are easy access to the general public therefore assume that all your posted information will be on display. By not posting anything you wouldn’t want the general public to see you’ve taken great strides towards protecting yourself online. If you’re interested in online socializing in a more protected environment while also earning an income check this out!

Twitter is one of the fastest growing social network sites on the internet today. This particular social platform requires users to keep their post to fewer than 140 characters. Messages are intended to be nothing more than brief social exchanges however the online marketing community has still found a way to thrive on this site.

Members are generally ‘drawn’ to conversations that focus on topics in which they have an interest. In fact this is how you develop your list followers by attracting people to the comments you make or the information you may supply.

Social sites such as this are perfect for those who want to connect to others with similar interests but without a lot of effort. It is not all that unusual for a consistent user of this social networking site to develop quite a large list of followers. The issue now turns to the quality of the followers you actually attract.

Let’s briefly examine the 5 types of followers that you may accumulate within your own social network on this site.

Shared Interest

These are the BEST types of followers to have. The point of any social networking site is to share comments, interests, and ideas with like minded people. By having followers who are genuinely attracted to your interests or ideas will only make any interactions more meaningful

Spam

These are marketers who literally troll social sites in search of people that can promote to. Their unsolicited advertising can be very annoying since once they found you they are usually relentless with their product pitches. As is the case in most matters there is a right way and a wrong way in which to promote your business. Unsolicited contact in this manner is the wrong way

They are the junk mail of the online world.

It is recommended to report them to the help desk so that the site administrators can take the necessary corrective actions.

For a look at the right way to promote your business while interacting with site visitors go here!

Phishers

Similar to spammers these people represent themselves as legitimate organizations. Their motives are to capture sensitive or personal information about you which obviously will be put to use in a detrimental way.

It is recommended to ignore their solicitations and by no means click on any link they may send you. Once again report them to the site administrators.

Bots

These followers are really malicious programs that by and large are up to no good. Their intent is to take control of your computer in a way that is usually undetectable to you. Their intent is to use your computer as a tool for them to commit certain undesirable acts that could affect others while implicating you as the source.

Retweets

These types of followers are people who have been referred to a single tweet of yours that they may have found as interesting. Whether they have a genuine interest in you for what you represent is undetermined since a single tweet can’t reflect that.

It is nice to get followers this way but as to whether there is a mutual interest in your basics interests or ideas can only be determined over time.

Having a large following on Twitter may be somewhat misleading once you realize the intent of some of those who follow you. This social platform is not immune to the shenanigans common to the rest of the internet. Online marketing companies are known to target anyone at social sites and this can result in spam. Even more of a concern are those whose intentions are more sinister in nature as they prey upon the innocent members of various social network sites. It is therefore wise to take notice of the types of followers you may have within your own social network of followers. Once they’ve been identified you have virtually neutralized them. At this point you can either block them or report them to site administrators. If your intentions are to promote to others responsibly online then here’s a site that should be of special interests to you!