There’s a bit of a new buzz phrase online right now that everyone seems to be talking about. The phrase is Social Networking or sometimes called Web 2.0.  This refers to sites that let users correspond almost directly with one another through various methods online, and through different applications.  It sort of involves instant messaging, forums, etc. all in one place.

Of course you’ve heard about Myspace and that would be what most people know about social networking, but that’s only touches on a very small percentage of the scope.  It expands very broadly beyond that.

The important thing is that though social networking does get hyped up a bit, it can be extremely effective in getting your marketing message out there, and also helping you get your website into the search engines.  It’s a bit of a two-fold benefit and I’ll explain why.

First of all, the online world has moved in this direction basically in response to all the crap that was crowding the online world.  Stagnant websites were basically clogging up the internet and nobody was getting much use out of them.  People were being bombarded with highly irrelevant messages and never being able to find what they needed, when they needed it.

It was quite tragic because we had this great tool in our hands and it was starting to get ruined.

The answer to that was Web 2.0 sites, which let people – internet users – help each other decide what was actually useful online and what wasn’t.  It also gave people a platform of their own to display their value, and project their opinions freely.

All sorts of information can be and is shared through social networking… from re-connecting with friends, recommending new music, new movies, great books, political news that’s up to the minute, and all sorts of other things.

Granted, the whole Web 2.0 phenomenon was created to get rid of useless advertising but when done correctly it’s very effective to put your advertising in front of people in a way that doesn’t insult or annoy, but is deemed as highly useful.

In a separate post I explain why content is king online and how to most effectively advertise online by being more discreet, and providing information that people want rather than try to shove your marketing message down their throat.  This is one of the great reasons that Social Networking is great for exactly this use.

But there’s another important reason as well…

You see, since Google’s main purpose to exist is to be relevant for people searching for information, and they’re constantly trying to give them the exact information that they’re looking for right now… they actually LOVE the social networking sites for that very reason.

They love up-to-date highly relevant information and that’s precisely what web 2.0 sites offer, and therefore will reward these sites rather quickly with high search engine placements.

Now like everything in life, Social Networking and Web 2.0 aren’t limited to one single aspect. There are many different types of sites that qualify as being apart of the Web 2.0 phenomenon.  These include sites for actually networking like Myspace, Facebook,  Flickr, and even dating sites like Adult Friend Finder.

Then there are different bookmarking sites which allow users to post intriguing web pages and articles and rate them online at certain sites like Digg, Technorati, Zimbio, etc.

There are also blogging sites that allow you to post articles as well as a profile of yourself like Squidoo, Hubpages, Gather, Blogger, etc.

There are many forms of social networking and the key to taking advantage of them is to learn how to inter-connect them all to one another so that you control your own network of information, and therefore direct the user/reader from what site of yours to the next.

When you’ve mastered this…or even gotten pretty good at it…you’ll begin to see your messages taking on lives of their own and creating a stir across the internet!

Don’t be fooled into thinking that Social Networking is for the kids.  Use it to your advantage while still respecting the other internet users and it’s a win/win situation.