With hundreds of social networking sites out there, how can you decide which ones might be right for you?

• Facebook: Engage fans with your brand.
• Twitter: Send quick messages of news, information, products, and more with links to drive traffic.
• MySpace: Engage young people or a group culture.
• LinkedIn: Build your professional network and grow contacts quickly.

Below is a quick synopsis with pros/cons of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and LinkedIn.

Facebook: Engage fans with your brand.

Pros

1. Provide information about your company.
2. Post notes, links and comments.
3. Submit your company domain to Facebook so that it can be designated as a “group,” enabling your employees, partners and customers alike to network among each other.
4. Promote new positions at your company.
5. Upload photos and videos.
6. Add as many applications as you want!

Cons

1. The wall can get full of information that is irrelevant if your facebook is open to anyone!
2. Advertising space uses prime spots that can’t be used by you!

Examples

• GEMS Solutions (become a fan!)
• Coca-Cola
• WWE Universe
• Oreo Cookies

Twitter: Send quick messages of news, information, products, and more with links to drive traffic.

Pros

1. Quick way to stay in touch and get updated about what’s happening! It answers the question: “What are you doing?”
2. People have to limit their messages to 140 characters! (No more long messages that you won't read anyways!)
3. Simple and easy to use.
4. Free!

Cons

1. Limited to only 140 characters! (You have to be good at writing short and concise messages.)
2. Other applications or capabilities are limited. (Although more are being added all the time!)

Examples

• GEMS Solutions (follow us!)
• Guardian Technology
• CNN
• Stephen Colbert

MySpace: Engage young people or a group culture.

Pros

1. Lots of young people (if that’s your target audience).
2. One of the biggest online networking communities.
3. Good traffic for group culture oriented purposes (bands, comedians, filmmakers, etc.).
4. Free!

Cons

1. Not good for B2B.
2. Unflattering design and layout. (Have to pay for better design.)

Examples

• Jersey Boy’s National Touring Company
• Comet Café
• Boycott Walmart

LinkedIn: Build your professional network and grow contacts quickly.

Pros

1. Over 40 million professionals.
2. You create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments and helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners.
3. Find jobs, business opportunities, old friends and colleagues, potential employees, subject matter experts.
4. Get introduced to other professionals through your contacts.
5. Post info and ask questions from experts through Groups.
6. Get recommendations from colleagues, employers, clients, etc. that are posted on your profile!

Cons

1. Limited to posting info through the profile. No blogs or additional components found in other social media sites.
2. Additional applications and services can include fees.
3. It isn’t a fully integrated address book of contacts. You can only email people.

Example

• Rebecca Kotz (join my network on LinkedIn)