| Online social networking sites have absolutely | | | | Site Optimization is Not Necessary |
| exploded in popularity with all age groups on the | | | | Capitalizing on the traffic you find at any social site |
| internet. The ease of use and navigating of these | | | | allows you to circumvent the need for various forms |
| social sites has opened the door to even the | | | | of site optimization. |
| technically timid. Facebook has even recently reported | | | | A social site allows you direct contact with others |
| that baby boomers outnumber high school age users | | | | making it easier for you to deliver your message. Site |
| at their site. Connecting with others at various online | | | | optimization techniques such as keyword usage, quality |
| communities has become as common as watching | | | | content, and backlinks are necessary in order to |
| TV. The advent of online social marketing has helped | | | | increase your rank with search engines. A higher |
| to further boost the overall use of social sites. | | | | ranking is needed so that you may then gain direct |
| Currently there seems to be no limit to the growth of | | | | contact with prospects in order to deliver your |
| online social networking. | | | | message. |
| The booming popularity of these online communities | | | | In a nut shell gaining access to prospects is quicker |
| was initially started by blogs. The ability to interact with | | | | and easier using social networking traffic. |
| others online was recognized and immediately | | | | Ease and Speed |
| embraced by users. | | | | The ease of leaving quick and casual promotional |
| Wanting to further personalize the online experience | | | | comments or posts is attractive to many marketers |
| many flocked in droves to blogs. | | | | online. Within any of these online communities |
| From this evolved blog marketing which quickly | | | | communications are generally highly unstructured and |
| became the accepted blueprint for what was | | | | informal thus allowing promoters to speak on a more |
| perceived to be the future of online marketing. All told | | | | personal level with site members. |
| blogs became the popular choice of internet users for | | | | Online social networking sites no doubt have gained a |
| both socializing and marketing. Then along came online | | | | tremendous following. As noted above there are some |
| social networking. | | | | very compelling reasons for the popularity of social |
| Now the question is whether blogs are in danger of | | | | networks sites. Addressing the idea that blogs could |
| fading into oblivion in the face of the growing | | | | fade into oblivion due to this popularity, well that's not |
| acceptance of social network sites? | | | | likely. Blogs still offer tremendous flexibility to the site |
| On the surface it would appear so and here are 3 | | | | owner along with the opportunity to put a personalized |
| reasons why: | | | | stamp on the site itself. This is a huge benefit that can't |
| Established Traffic at Social Network Sites | | | | be overlooked. Both these sites serve similar yet |
| With the popularity of many social network sites it is | | | | different purposes which should allow them both to |
| easy to find an already established flow of traffic at | | | | coexist and flourish online for some time to come. So |
| the site. The need to invest time and energy to | | | | don't kick your blog to the curb since it remains a |
| generate traffic for your site is not necessary as | | | | uniquely effective platform for making money online! |
| would be the case for individual blogs. | | | | |