Although social bookmarking might be something you’ve only just come across, it has in fact been around for a few years. It’s certainly getting more popular every day, and has taken off in a big way very recently. If you’re involved in Internet marketing, it’s also a great way to help generate traffic and page rank to your site. So the sooner you learn about it, the quicker your Internet business can benefit.

Put simply, social bookmarking is simply a way of saving your favorite URLs online. You probably already have a “Favorites” folder on your computer. Well, social bookmarking is just an online version of that. The main difference is that your social bookmarking favorites are publicly available for anyone to see. So, the big question is - how can this benefit your business?

If you do a Google search you’ll soon come up with a list of the most popular social bookmarking websites. Take a look at http://del.icio.us, which is one of the most popular. All you need to do, once you’ve joined the social bookmarking site, is to start adding your URLs. With each URL you also add a list of tags, or keywords, so that people know what that URL is all about. So if you’ve bookmarked a site about dogs, for example, then make sure you use the word “dogs” as one of the tags.

You can also choose whether to make the listing public or private. Use a public listing if it’s a website you want other people to find, such as your own website. A public listing will also show other information such as who created the bookmark, when, and give an indication of how popular that particular keyword is on the site. But you can use the private setting for other URLs that you know you will want to access while you’re traveling around, and don’t have access to your home computer.

In some ways, then, a social bookmarking site is like a search engine, except that it only searches entries on its database. But the good part about that is that only sites that other people recommend will be listed. It’s easy to find a list of sites on any topic you might be interested in. Type in dogs, for example, and you’ll see sites that other people have recommended.

For Internet marketing purposes, then, you would add your website to you social bookmarking account, pick your main keywords and use them as tags, and potentially generate traffic to your site. Another idea would be to have a link to your social bookmarking account from your blog page, so that people can see a frequently updated list of your recommended websites about that topic. You also get a backlink from the social bookmarking site to your website, which helps to boost your popularity in the eyes of the search engines.

For optimal results, you should open as many accounts on different social bookmarking sites as you can. The only problem is that posting your website to these accounts can be come very tedious. Especially if you have a large number of websites or if you are adding the bookmark to a large number of accounts.

Recently a new Wordpress plugin has been released to eliminate some of this tedious work. It can automatically add bookmarks to all of your bookmarking accounts hands free. It is a great time saving tool that I highly recommend to anyone who wants to take advantage of social bookmarking without spending hours bookmarking their pages manually. Check it out here http://www.autosocialposter.com

Social bookmarking is only in its infancy, and will probably develop in ways that nobody has even imagined yet. In the meantime, there’s no doubt it’s a great way to get traffic to your websites, so what are you waiting for?

About the Author: Online marketer Jennifer Green has fast become an expert on the benefits of blogging and social bookmarking. If you are looking for an automated bookmarking solution for your blogs, check out http://www.autosocialposter.com.

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Whether it’s myspace, facebook, bebo, or another site, the social revolution is in full swing and showing no signs of slowing.

Many would ask (particularly traditionalists): What has happened to us? Are we a bunch of hermits? People communicate more online than in person practically, nowadays. Face it, it’s true. Look at how people isolate in internet cafés and wi-fi hotspots! Is it antisocial?

Stop the press. Before we start name-calling, especially when there are so many of us using the internet to communicate, let’s examine what is really at play. The true issue could be reduced down to simple semantics. That is, how we define the term “social.”

If our understood definition of being social is restricted to meaning “to talk aloud,” “to interact in-person or verbally” then the answer is yes—communicating online and the social networking revolution could be dubbed antisocial activity. But if being social means interacting with people in general regardless of the means or medium used then social networking is not antisocial.

Is that semantic or is it a values issue? You decide. What can neither be changed nor stopped are the internet and its indelible effect on our lives and on our communications. It will not end. It is here to stay.

So the choice is either to resist this revolution (and go against the grain) or to accept it and enjoy it. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right?

Now let’s discuss what is being accomplished by communicating in this new fashion, and whether it is effective. To effectively communicate, it would be fair to assume a couple of basic criteria are being met: what we truly want to say is being said and understood, and the feelings we wish to convey are being shared.

The fact is (and anyone who has written letters, emails, IM’s or messages on social networking sites can attest to this) that the printed word lacks something that the spoken word has: emotion.

You can use caps, italics, bold, underline, and so on, but text per se’ does not have actual inflection, tone, pitch, personality, soul, or body language. These are all aspects of in-person communication that we take for granted. But when these characteristics are missing, their absence is more than apparent.

So that begs the question: can the printed word convey emotion, and can it express our true feelings, meanings, and thoughts? The answer is debatable, and could be said to be yes and no.

Yes, when we communicate online, we are communicating, and (especially if the person knows you well, and knows your dialect and speech patterns) the other person can often imagine how you would have spoken those words out loud.

But no, the printed word cannot fully get across every bit of what we think and feel, most certainly not in the same way that verbal communication can.

So if that is the case, what do we do: stop emailing, IM’ing, and using social networking sites (myspace, facebook, bebo, etc.)? Obviously not.

We should, however, keep in mind as we continue into the future, the importance of that which is not digital. Not just analog things like tapes and old records, but verbal communication, nature, and intangibles like love. There are many things of value that cannot be digitized and cannot be delivered (at least not fully) via digital means.

The critics of the social revolution tell you to get outside, and although social networking is not bad, they are actually right about our need for balance and moderation. Get outside, get fresh air, talk to people, and take notice of your analog world. Digital is fun, but it is not the epitome of life.

About the Author: Get way cool Bebo Skins at http://bebosocial.com/

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Social networking is the latest phenomenon to hit the internet, and it’s great! It’s far more interesting than surfing all those TE’s and posting to all those safelists, in the hope of getting a few hits and a few sales.

There are many social networking sites, and more to come, for sure, as it’s such a good idea. How much nicer is it to make your business contacts in a friendly atmosphere, with an online chat, or exchange of views, rather than just hit them with splash pages, and emails, promoting your business? Far better to build a relationship, and learn to trust each other over some time.

Social networking sites are excellent ways to advertise your business, or your website. The easiest way is to have your URLs in your signature, then every time you post in a group or a blog, your business or website will be getting some promotion.

Another way to utilise social networking sites is to start your own group or blog, and write about your online business opportunity.

A couple of my favourite sites are Apsense, and Squidoo. There are many others, but I haven’t much knowledge of them yet. A search of Google will probably give you plenty of sites. Just try entering “Social Networking sites”

Apsense has a section purely for promoting your online business, called the “Apsense Business Center”, or ABC. It is very easy to use, as there is a variety of templates available, and help is also easy to get, either in the FAQ, or by asking in a group, or emailing Admin.

Squidoo is slightly more comples, but is very good. You can write about just about any topic you like, add photos, links, and RSS. You can list your favourite Lenses (What Squidoo calls its blogs) in a Lensroll on your page, and hopefully, get yours listed on other peoples pages, in their Lensrolls!

Both of these sites will pay you, either for content, or for the adverts which are shown on your pages. It may not be a large amount, but depends on the degree of participation. The more you write, the more you can earn! Just make sure the content is interesting and well-written - there’s plenty of badly written junk online already!

Even if you don’t have a business or a website of your own, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of social networking sites. Use them for meeting people, blogging, learning how to write articles, running a group, and many more things.

It’s important not to use other people’s groups or blogs to promote your own website or business; it’s bad manners, to say the least. You really can’t blame the owners of them for getting a little upset, and either asking you to delete your article, or deleting it from the group or blog themselves.

Read the guidelines for the area you want to write in - there may be topics which are unsuitable. For example, you wouldn’t want to post an article about skiing in online business discussion, or one about business in a thread discussing parenting skills . Use your common sense, and you won’t go far wrong. Oh yes, don’t swear!

A lot of the people you’ll meet have plenty of experience and are willing to share. You can learn a lot from them, then when you are ready to start your own online business or website, you’ll already have some knowledge, which will give you a good start. Good luck!

About the Author: Jean has been online for approximately 15 years, and is still learning about the internet. She has written several articles aimed at beginners, and one about pets. http://www.wolfwoodwares.com.au http://www.squidoo.com/oba/ http://www.apsense.com/invite/snakesmum

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Associations and trade organizations are great places to meet individuals. Usually organizations have a common theme, and it is an understood implication that all members participate to improve themselves and their businesses.

Whether it is a chamber of commerce or a trade association, members have common problems, issues and concerns. By sharing issues and resolutions, members can benefit by the experience of others. Many business owners participate in organizations, not only to network, but also to hopefully circumvent some of the pitfalls encountered by other small businesses–learning from others.

Networking Tips.

Many trade organizations provide forums for networking. In some cases, these might be private online newsgroups, casual meetings, or even professional events with speakers. In order to take full advantage of these networking opportunities consider these tips.

Who You Know.

It is often not who you know, but who they know. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen someone put-off someone who is clearly a beginner only to learn that the “beginner” is the brother or friend of a contact they’ve been trying to meet for weeks.

Honesty.

Be honest. Pretending to be something that you are not, or implying you can deliver a product or service that is outside of your abilities, will foster an environment of distrust and potentially harm your reputation. Keep in mind that networking is viral?vital? and if promises are not kept, word will spread. Establishing yourself and firm as an honest, reputable company.

Professional.

Keep conversations to strictly business subjects. In a business environment, it is important to focus on safe non-emotional topics. The last thing you want to do is alienate or offend a potential client because of an outspoken view on a controversial topic. There is a time and a place for everything and discussing political views or cultural issues is not a generally accepted business topic. Bearing that in mind, it is also important to be aware and sensitive to cultural differences. The Internet has opened doors to a global market and respecting cultural differences is critical to establishing strong business relationships in the global marketplace.

Socialize.

Now is not the time to be a wall flower. Whether you participate in social business events, or monitor trade forums, it is critical that you participate. Participation will help you distinguish yourself in your industry. Attempt to remember individual personal details and foster introductions among others in the industry.

Positive.

Stay positive. It sounds simple, but it will really impact how others view you. If you are constantly negative and pointing out the flaws in others, it will reflect on how others view you. Presenting the best and positive business experiences will enhance your image.

Help.

Provide genuine assistance to others. Whether or not they are able to reciprocate, networking is viral?vital?. Helping others will establish you as a useful member of your business community and will endear you to others. If you are unable to help an individual, attempt to refer them to someone who can.

Research

A little research goes a long way. Be sure to research people and companies in your business community. Knowing their common goals and interests will build topics for discussions.

Acknowledging the need to connect with others to grow and expand a business may seem like common sense. Cultivating business relationships and interact with other small businesses is often mutually beneficial and should not be underestimated.

Networking is about building relationships and mutual interaction benefiting both parties. Being proactive and following up, you can have a network of contacts that you will be able to access quickly when you need them. Whether by more traditional means, such as in person or over the Internet, personal networks are essential for furthering your business. Relationship networking is give and take, be sure to help others in your quest for help.

About the Author: Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.

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