Newsflash! Social networking is what’s now! And unless you live under a rock, this is old news.
The extreme growth in this sector has been staggering, though short of advertising I’m still skeptical that companies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc will be able to properly monetize their offerings and keep their respective subscription base. But that’s not the point of this post.
I’ve been connecting and reconnecting with colleagues via LinkedIn of late and found it to be an empowering experience. A few people have even written recommendations for me, which is both empowering and humbling.
Here’s my question – Will we see a consolidation event, like we did with ISP’s for example, within the social networking services sector? Will one large entity come along and scoop up a few smaller ones? Why hasn’t it happened yet? Sure, the valuations are astronomical at the moment, however they mean nothing if they can’t drive revenue. If this event happens what will become of our previous social networks?
Speaking with someone directly is still my favourite way to connect. It’s nice to have everyones information at your fingertips but, like all the data on the Internet, it means nothing unless you do something with it.
But people love to connect, network, talk and gossip don’t they? There’s still that slight veil of anonymity when you’re kvetching via Facebook, or ‘tweeting’ on Twitter. Are you more likely to say something via a social networking site than you are in person? And is that a good thing? Think about it.
You can browse my Facebook page, make a comment or two, or download my resume and look at my glowing recommendations on LinkedIn, but I’d much rather grab lunch or a drink with you and discuss it in person!
Have your people call my people!
