Justin Taylor

Archive for May 26th, 2009

Community forums and social media have been around a long time. Along came Twitter and it quickly gained popularity among all users. Some say social networks like Twitter are the new way of connecting and community forums are becoming obsolete.

I was slower in getting into the social media scene. I’ve been around forums for many years and own one myself. Why didn’t I migrate quicker to the growing trend? Lets take a look and see why.

Whether you’re shouting out with quick and short messages on Twitter or engaging in deep discussions on community forums, it takes commitment and time to network. I knew the dedication of being involved in many forums and I wasn’t about to add a new repertoire to my already full plate. I also knew the benefits of diversification. When I felt ready, I chose Twitter because of its simplicity, ease of use and quickness.

I found similarities between Twitter and community forums right away. In a community setting, you can pick and choose what to read based on your interests. In Twitter you can choose carefully who to follow without going too far outside your niche or interests. I instantly felt more connected with forums. I prefer the atmosphere of forums where members come together in a group setting. I also like the instant friendliness that comes from your followers. I think you can build quicker relationships because you can see more of who they really are as a person through their tweets.

Community forums aren’t going anywhere. They aren’t a dying breed and many people will always find use for them. They are just another type of networking without the instant responses. Community forums are like small libraries that contain catalogs of information and resources collected and contributed from various sources.

Twitter isn’t much different, but it’s like an entity of its own community namely you. Your community is built on followers, each one providing the goods, sharing the knowledge and increasing wealth all around. It’s fast moving and it’s current.

There’s no argument each has its own place and function on the Internet and one is not better than the other. The lack of understanding of using social media and community forums either together or separate would decrease if people took the time to see the true benefits of both sides. Exactly how you intend to use them will make all the difference.

Take a little knowledge, show some expertise, add a bit of business and pay it forward is the ideal formula for networking on both Twitter and community forums.

You can follow Sophia on Twitter – twitter.com/WorkAtHomeSpace to network and get the latest information on working at home or chat with her on her work at home community forums. Discuss topics on working from home, making money online, blogging, writing and other work at home related topics.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/social-marketing-articles/in-comparison-twitter-vs-community-forums-936327.html

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Web 2.0 has gotten a lot of people buzzing about joining different social sites to get more exposure for themselves and their business.

What is Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is a new generation on the worldwide web that includes blogging, social bookmarking, social networking, wikis, podcasting, file sharing etc. It brings people together to interact, to share information and to build communities.

You’ve heard of these networks like MySpace, LinkedIn and Facebook. You know Blogger, Squidoo and Live Journal. Do Digg, Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon and Technorati ring a bell? How about a network for bloggers like Twitter? So, are you ready to join the masses of Web 2.0?

Many of you are already there blogging, bookmarking, sharing files through YouTube, and building relationships in a variety of networks.

Here’s a closer look at blogs, social networks and social bookmarks that are part of the Web 2.0 generation.

Blogs
Blogs were once known as online journals. They are much more than that today. There are hundreds of new blogs created every day and they are becoming a commanding presence online. Some people prefer blogs over websites because they are easier to maintain. Blogs are social and content is ever changing. For the most part blogs and websites go hand in hand; driving traffic both ways.

Social Networks
Social networks have been around for a long time and there is not one social network site that is a one size fits all. People who share similar interests get together to form communities or niches. If you have a business, carefully choose your niche social network as you don’t want to waste time networking with others who aren’t your target market. It’s much easier to network with people who have similar interests as you.

General interest social network sites include the likes of MySpace and Facebook where you can customize your own page to make them fun and interactive.

Twitter is another type of social network and micro-blogging for people who want to keep in touch through simple and short messages also known as “tweets”. Keep up-to-date with your family, co-workers and friends around the world and see what they are up to. Follow you, follow me.

Social Bookmarks
Think of when you bookmark or add a website to your Favorites on your own computer; social bookmarking is the same thing except you tag a website and it’s stored online where you can share with your friends. You can also use a search tool to search what other people is tagging that are of interest to you and vice versa.

Social news like Digg is different than a social bookmarking site like Del.icio.us as it focuses on blogs with current news, breaking headlines, technology and other topics of interest. These usually engage others in open discussions.

How does Web 2.0 benefit you?

They all drive traffic to you whether you’re sharing bookmarks, twittering, or networking. Don’t spread yourself too thin. In order to use Web 2.0 to your advantage find the right ones that cater to your needs and target your market for it will bring much greater rewards.

S McIntyre owns www.WorkAtHomeSpace.com a free work at home resource focusing on work at home companies, daily telecommute job leads, articles, business resources and other work at home related topics. Come network with Sophia on her work at home forums.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/social-marketing-articles/web-20-blogs-social-networks-and-social-bookmarks-936336.html

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