| MySpace is a modern social phenomenon. Its | | | | the discussions. It's almost as if there are prompts to |
| accelerated growth is unmatched. But how did it grow | | | | "add link" or "add URL." The mainstream business |
| and how did it grow so fast? After all, there were | | | | magazines like Fortune, Business 2.0, and Inc Magazine |
| dozens of social networking sites preceding it | | | | add fuel to the fire by publishing stories of |
| (Friendster, Classmates, and Ryze to name a few) but | | | | entrepreneurs that use MySpace to promote their |
| none have flourished as MySpace has. There are a | | | | business. These stories are not representative of how |
| couple of reasons, in my opinion, why MySpace has | | | | things actually work. They lead people to believe that |
| succeeded to a degree that none of the others have. | | | | all you have to do is post a link and your business will |
| First off, it is completely free to use the site. Secondly, | | | | increase. This is not the case. MySpace users have |
| MySpace allows for anybody to post links to other | | | | become unresponsive to spam. |
| websites. In an online world where competition for links | | | | The discussion groups were meant to be a forum |
| is fierce, MySpace freely allows it. So, people began | | | | where like minded individuals can discuss common |
| using it to post links to their own commercial business | | | | topics. This is the way it should be. Most of the |
| websites. This is free advertising and whenever | | | | moderators of the popular groups delete spam, just as |
| people can advertise for free they will. | | | | I do. But you can promote your interests. The key is to |
| The posting of links is one of the main reasons for the | | | | do it in such a way as to not make it blatant spam. |
| accelerated growth of MySpace, but an unintended | | | | There are several ways to do this. The best way is to |
| consequence of this is that the website is now full of | | | | use a "signature" in your discussion posts. What you |
| spam. Let's take the business discussion forums in | | | | should do is you should join in on the discussions with |
| MySpace. I know it is full of spam because I'm a group | | | | valuable input. And, at the end of all your posts, include |
| moderator of one of the largest business groups on | | | | a signature, which would have info such as your name, |
| the site, the Business Networking group. Other popular | | | | phone number, email address, and a link to your |
| business groups on the site include Small Business | | | | website. This is an acceptable way to add a link to |
| Entrepreneurs, Black Business Owners Network, Real | | | | your website; doing this will not get your posts deleted. |
| Estate Networking, Startup FAQ, and Xtreme | | | | Also, include all of these items in your personal profile. |
| Motivators. I delete nine out of every ten topics posted | | | | Your profile is where you can tell people anything you |
| for discussion in my group because they don't have | | | | want about yourself and your business. |
| any value to the group. These posts that I delete | | | | MySpace is a great forum for networking and free |
| include, mainly, MLM affiliate links, mortgage brokers | | | | advertising. But, you must do it in a way that adheres |
| and realtors seeking new business and sales leads, | | | | to the proper etiquette. Using the site to spam just |
| and business and website owners that use the group | | | | annoys people and the consequences are negative. |
| to link to their own website without adding any value to | | | | |