by samThe gradual demise of Myspace and Bebo has seen Facebook dominate the social networking arena since its launch in 2004. Twitter was born two years later and has grown into the giant competitor it is today. A lot of people on a personal level choose not to complicate things by embracing both at the same time, while businesses, however, have learnt that having an additional web presence on a social network is now a vital part of online marketing.
Google+ is now on the verge of 20 million users, and it will not be long before it also becomes essential to social media optimisation. With other services such as LinkedIn and a video outlet on YouTube, there are more ways than ever to put our stamp on the World Wide Web.
So is there a limit to the number of sign-ups, sign-ins, log-ins, log-outs, and accounts to remember, even if all your passwords and user names are saved for you? Is there enough room for all these tabs and windows?
Well, speaking of Windows, it is Microsoft that could be the next major player in the market, with rumours of their version of a social network. ‘Tulalip’ was the codename branded for the content on the URL socl.com that was ‘accidentally’ published to the web recently. They may be looking to move on from their Bing search engine with an exploration of the social networking features they have taken from their investment in Facebook itself. The website is also reported to have a sign-in with a Facebook or Twitter option.
Whether this is a genuine slip of the tongue on a very early project or a direct attempt to steal some of the spotlight that has been firmly on Google+ within the last few weeks, is this the right move for Microsoft? They did have a huge hand in the development of online social activities, even before Myspace and MSN Messenger. It may be time for them to emerge again.
The fact remains that taking advantage of all social networks will become even more important than before, as there will continue to be new and innovative ways to connect on the web.