I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column. Or you can subscribe to this digest tag only and not receive my other posts.

Web Strategy Summary
With Social Networking sites amping up their offerings around logins (like OpenID, Facebook Connect, and Google Friend Connect) more questions arise if websites –and brands should participate. Additional research reinforces how advertising doesn’t work on social networks –yet are brands ready to role up their sleeves and be part of the community they serve?

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Theory: Should social networks federate or aggregate?
Two classes of social networking companies are appeating, the first class, like MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn are offering identity systems (open ID, Facebook Connect or Google Friendconnect) to connect with other websites. The second class of companies are aggregating the existing content of these social networks, like Friendfeed and Ping FM, GigaOm compares both sides.

Research: Social Network Users Less Receptive To Advertising, IDC
More than half of U.S. consumers with Internet access use social networking services (SNS), such as Facebook and MySpace, and penetration will continue to grow. According to a new study from IDC, consumers are also spending ever-greater amounts of time on SNS, a fact that has advertisers drooling over the opportunity represented by SNS, data from IDC.

Marketing: How to use social networks for marketing and PR
This high level primer from the NYTs discusses how brands can get started with their PR and marketing efforts on social networks. They suggest profiles and connections, groups, then discussion areas.

Identity: Criticism over Facebook Connect’s Federation
Not everyone agrees that the federated model is best for the web, and some proponents of data portability suggest that Facebook Connect’s ability is an effort to keep content proprietary.

Aggregation: Power.com offers a social portal
This Brazilian startup power.com offers features that aggregate not only the social content being created, but also emails from other sources to centralize content to one source. In Korean, I believe this is called a “home-pi”. (update, see comments for details, it’s actually a mini-home-pi)

Music: YouTube to highlight classical artists
YouTube, the world’s most popular video online destination will now try out music, starting with classical artists. Expect more experimentation and perhaps a way to extend YouTube’s on demand music playing features to other devices.

Widgets: Ripe for marketers, but not used
This long article on AdAge gives examples and stats why widgets may work for brands –and why adoption with marketers hasn’t seen a pickup.

Identity: How to dupe friends on Social NetworksThis article shows how easy it is to emulate friends on Facebook, stealing folks identity in order to secretly get close to others.

Culture: Charges against mother who victimized suicidal teen
The recent conviction of the mother who tricked a young team that committed suicide in MySpace has stirred advocates that there’s not enough being done for consumers in social networks –esp teens.

Culture: Croatian arrested for anti-government activity in social network
Not every culture is ready to embrace the two-way web, in fact, this man was arrested for creating a group aimed at debunking his government.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

Social Networking Stats: Have you seen my collection of Social Networks Site Usage: Visitors, Members, Page Views, and Engagement by the Numbers in 2008? Bookmark it, then share it with others as I continue to update it.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column. Or you can subscribe to this digest tag only and not receive my other posts.

Web Strategy Summary
Facebook reportadly in talks with Twitter, yet the deal did not go through, Kickapps raises a hefty “C” round of finance for $14mm, and more niche social networks launch, this one for the affluent gay market and ailing. YouTube launches “live video” streaming and MySpace couples with Guns and Roses for web launch.

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Stats: Collection of Social Network Stats
I’ve started to aggregate stats of all kinds, growth, revenue, demographics, website usage, and more on this page of Social Networks Site Usage: Visitors, Members, Page Views, and Engagement by the Numbers in 2008. Bookmark it, and share it with others as I continue to update it.

No Deal: Facebook was in talks with Twitter
Kara Swisher uncovers a story about Facebook in talks with Twitter, yet no more, which they didn’t admit in public when probed. Some suspect exit strategy of overvalued equity a concern.

Funding: Kickapps Raises $14mm
This C round of $14mm should hold Kickapps through much of the economic downturn if they invest it correctly as well as bank some capital away.

Advertising: Baidu withdraws advertising from alleged scammers
Baidu apologizes for publishing ads from unlicensed medical practioners which critics call scams. I guess in this case the messenger has a responsibility to provide quality advertising.

Video: Scoble interviews Context Optional
The famous video blogger Robert Scoble interviews Kevin Barenblat’s of Context Optional to discuss how advertisements are now becoming interactive ads, watch the 6 min video to get the short.

Numbers: LinkedIn Stats from CEO
8 million to more than 30 million, while the staff has expanded from 60 to 370 employees, CEO alludes (but doesnt confirm nor deny) that revenues are $75 (million) to $100 million says this interview with SFgate.

Enterprise 2.0: Social Networks not ready for business?
This article weighs the different viewpoints from business leaders about the opportunities for social networks within the enterprise. Although we see rabid adoption among consumers, is there value inside of the firewall? Read more to understand different opinions.

Verticals: Social Network for Gays and Businesses
GayWallet launches, in hopes of connecting the affluent gay market with companies what want to cater to their community. We continue to see niche social networks for every walk of life and interest.

Media: MySpace launches Guns and Roses latest album
Gaining lots of attention, Mr Rose launches his overdue album on social network MySpace which caters to a strong self-expression and media hungry audience. See the MySpace page which today has 75 million listens and 441k friends. To put this into perspective some of the top selling albums (sure a different medium) had 29 million album buys –Eagles.

Vertical: Social Network for sick and dying
More niche players emerge as this one for the ailing called caring bridge launches, the examiner has the story.

Visualization: Facebook shows off it’s global data
Global thermonuclear war? Wargames? Not quite, Facebook’s latest featured video shows off all the data that’s being created in the world on it’s platform, and how it’s shared. Trippy.

Video: YouTube Live makes video real time
Google’s YouTube launched a live show to showcase top performers and video bloggers in this first ever stream. Expect YouTube to take a more center stage in the family room experience –they also launched a wide screen player, a first step to going HD.

Research: Users on Social Networks but advertising “Anemic”
A recent IDC reports that there’s strong usage of consumers using these social networks, but brand advertising is still a miss. Yup, but we have to remember there are multiple ways to approach social netwroks, and the first way should be community marketing, which means being a resource to them and talking with them –not at them.

Etiqutte: Facebook Do’s and Dont’s
Forget polishing school for your Saturday supper clubs, now it’s time to pay attention to social network behavior, this polite guide gives the top five dos and donts.

Advertising Network: Glam media launches widget network
Some say that interactive widgets show higher engagement and interaction that traditional ads and Glam Media is rolling out a widget advertising network across 50 of it’s properties.

Culture: Examples of people being “Stupid” on social networks
What happens in the lockerroom doesn’t belong on social networks, read these three examples of some real winners, in “don’t be stupid”

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

Stats: Have you seen my collection of Social Networks Site Usage: Visitors, Members, Page Views, and Engagement by the Numbers in 2008? Bookmark it, and share it with others as I continue to update it.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column. Or you can subscribe to this digest tag only and not receive my other posts.

Web Strategy Summary
Deployment of social networking technology in verticals such as military, vets, and the Philipines continues to occur. Soon to e president Obama to publish weekly YouTube videos. Expect to see an increase in social networks adoption around politics and government. Jerry Yang removed from CEO role.

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Military: Vets and US Military get their own social networks
After banning YouTube, soldiers need an outlet to communicate with their families, introducing TroopTube. On a similar note, veterans get their own social network.

Politics: Obama to have weekly YouTube address to nation
Forget Saturday morning cartoons, Obama will be on YouTube each weekend discussing the state of the nation, go to his channel at Change.gov.

Leadership: Jerry Yang resigns CEO role
CEO of Yahoo steps down from his position, here’s why Forrester’s analyst Shar Van Boskirk thinks this is a good move for Yahoo.

Viewpoint: P&G asks Should brands be in Facebook?
One of Proctor and Gambles top digital marketers questions should brands be in Facebook, or is it too invasive? There are thousands of brands already in Facebook, and most are doing it wrong.

Funding: Social Network Multiply Raises $5 Million
Florida-based Multiply, which boasts 10 million users (not sure how many are active), has raised funding through equity investment, and seeks to take on the Filipino market.

Applications: Facebook to enforce quality applications
Although announced a few months ago, Facebook’s program to anoint applications that pass the user experience and security test has started. Interesting to read how developers must pay to be in the program –resulting in incremental revenue for Facebook.

OpenSocial: Social Networks vie for Developers
Platforms continue to seek developers to build on their containers and platforms (aka social networks that can have apps built on it), from Bebo, Hi5, MySpace, and Facebook. Google inserts themselves right in the middle by trying to be the open protocol. Also, continued adoption occurs for the OpenSocial protocol after 1 year of launch.

Partnership: Facebook and SalesForce team up
It’s key to watch how businesses will be impacted by social networks, and this announcement, to enable games and productivity to work together. Expect to see a new category of applications to be built that meet both these needs.

Growth: Twitter’s rapid growth
Comscore tracks an increase of 25% more tweets in twitter due to political debates, as well as as ‘hockey stick’ curve of growth.
Facebook bans racists
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE4AD3KZ20081114

Launch: Liveworld launches light edition
Reaching the mass markets, LiveWorld launches a lighter version of their product, although the price is indicated in their press release, I’ll find out from Bryan and team.

Deployment: Passenger wins Mercedes Deal
Passenger, an ‘insight community’ vendor wins deal to run Mercedes community for private label community. Passenger offers brands unique ability to glean customer insight –a real time focus group within a community.

Future: Social Networks to predict your buying behavior
Perhaps the holy grail for retailers, the ability to predict consumer buying behavior based on demographics, psychographics, technographics and social network behavior.

Culture: Teachers critiszed for use of Social Networks
Are teachers sanctioned to give their honest opinion in social networks, what if the content is intended to be private? This North Carolina school district is getting some heat.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

I slowly work on this digest through the week in draft format, collecting information that I see is interesting, and it only takes me a few minutes on wed morning to publish.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column. Or you can subscribe to this digest tag only and not receive my other posts.

Web Strategy Summary
As scrutiny over marketing budgets will increase, there is more discussion online about the value of marketing and advertising on social networks. Although we continue to see anecdotes and case studies, we’ve yet to see any social network offer a ROI on marketing efforts –or even public data.

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Vision: Where Zuckerberg sees Facebook heading
Mark took the stage at the Web 2.0 Summit in SF, and was interviewed discussing his vision for the future of Facebook, business, users, and international growth. Perhaps one key stat is that 50% of users visit the site once a day.

Monetization: MySpace planning for Virtual Gifts
Hot on the heels of Facebook’s Virtual Gifting features, MySpace makes some plans to roll out their own.

Marketing: Social Network Post Election Analysis
Even this French newspaper is impressed with the Obama campaign to utilize the new tools of today.

Revenue: Facebook Advertising and Marketing
Although this article shows that advertising spend will be down in the next year, Facebook continues to focus on engagement ads to tie customers and brands together.

Redesign: MySpace launches profile
Although I was briefed by this minor design update, it’s not getting a warm reception from press blogs at Reuter and articles. I do know from research that self-expression is key with this market, so everything that helps this is in the right direction.

ReOrg: Six Apart Restructures and Refocuses
Although they’re reducing their headcount by 8% what’s interesting to read is the strategy focuses that Six Apart is going to aim for, including: Creating Six Apart “Genius” group, Growing Six Apart Services, and Six Apart Media.

Marketing Mix: Integrating social networks in other mediums
This study indicates that linking to social network sites in an email campaign may be a less than effective way to reach prospects and customers. Of course, the brand should first figure out if their audience even uses these social tools first

Case Study: Nike’s social networking efforts grow
Great example of how a brand can reach a ‘lifestyle’ of runners using compatible products (iPods) and social networks as well as their running gear to reach a market.

Culture: Why Italians may not want your social software
Interesting lifestyle perspective shows how some Italians may prefer face to face networking over an online tools. Culture, for sure, plays into technology adoption.

World: Map shows “top” social networks by country
Although they’re only getting data from Alexa (questionable at best) this map shows the top social networks by country. Keep in mind, there’s a million ways to cut data, this is only on of many ways to do this.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

I slowly work on this digest through the week in draft format, collecting information that I see is interesting, and it only takes me a few minutes on wed morning to publish.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column. Or you can subscribe to this digest tag only and not receive my other posts.

Web Strategy Summary
Data shows that one third of brands have a presence on social networks sites, Ill bet if I applied my scorecard, most are doing it wrong. Despite this increase in marketer adoption, ad rates have dropped in third quarter. Watch how some startups are received large amounts of funding, like LinkedIn last week, to RockYou this week, a great time to grow the business is when other boats are leaking.

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Data: 1/3rd of Brands have a presence on Social Sites
Although Facebook needs to step up how they interact with brands, 1/3 of them have a presence on the popular social network according to eMarketer. MySpace and YouTube quickly follow suit. Adam Cohen of Rosetta was quoted –I met him last week.

Data: Ad Rates drop in Social Networks
This chart (Rubison), which shows more than social networks, indicates that the cost of CPMs for social networks has gone down 3% quarter per quarter. Other niche segments hit worse, yet tv, technology, and particularly news go up.

Funding: RockYou aims for Asia, raises $17mm
Using Asian investors, Widget maker Rockyou plans to expands to Asia by raising funds then growing into Asian markets –great for mobile.

Policy: Management should have process for employees on social networks
Seems more like a brain dead ‘duh’ but management should have policy for how people communicate in this world where life and work collide both at the office –and at home.

Growth: Facebook growth spurt may require more finance
Excellent analysis from Techcrunch on the growth of Facebook, showing some of the costs and indicators of revenue not meeting expenses. As a result, it’s suggesting financing may be needed for further it along.

Study: Social Networking may help in workplace
This 90+ page document suggests that social networking in the workplace may give some cultures an edge up from others.

Open: Facebook Connect to gain adoption
RWW discusses how FB Connect to gain adoption in coming time, we know Barack Obama’s site is already compliant.

Advertising: MySpace + MTV partner in contextual ads
Perhaps more than just contextual, these ads are aware and trigger information about the show on MySpace, extending the shows effort to cross medium: “For example: an “attribution ad” for Comedy Central talk show The Colbert Report could include information about when the program is broadcast on-air.”

Best Practices: How to get the most out of LinkedIn
This guide gives some practical advice how to get the most out of growing business social network, LinkedIn.

RIF: LinkedIn cuts 10%
In order to stay in the black, LinkedIn (like many other Sequoia backed companies) cuts back expenses, odd considering they’ve raised so much recent capital.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
This week, LinkedIn makes some considerable moves forward, first raising $22million that will let them stand the downturn and prepare for acquisitions, they also launched an application platform with 10 partners. Expect to see more media focus on business social networking as some scramble to network to keep, find, and improve their jobs.

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Platform: LinkedIn launches Application environment
Perhaps one of the most anticipated announcements is LinkedIn’s ability to have third party developers launch applications that can interact with their over 29million user base. This has some interesting impacts on the corporate intranet, collaboartion and beyond.

Positioning: Where does Plaxo fit in?
CIO magazine offers a perspective and asks about how does Plaxo fit in within the business related online social networking space. Does it compete with LinkedIn or really become a contact and content aggregator?

Culture: Students sabotage competitors for college applications
Interesting story how students will show pictures of those competing to get into colleges in order to win the spot for the right college. Right out of an 80s movie but now with updated technology.

Funding: Linkedin Raises 22 million
Able to obtain a very large round even after the economic warnings was a smart move for LinkedIn, they were able to clinch this money bag that will help this already profitable social network stand for the long haul, and be ready to make some key acquisitions in a downturned market.

LinkedIn: Is LinkedIn poised to take Facebook?
The Standard has an article suggesting that the less buzzed up social network LinkedIn may be poised to take Facebook, do see my quotes, as well as Jyarmis.

Behavior: Why friending may lose it’s luster
Wired article shows why losing touch with some may be a good idea.

Video: Fascinating video about spread of information
Watch this video and pay attention to the segments showing the rapid growth of social networks here in the world, notably how Facebook reached 50 million in two years –much faster than any other medium we’ve ever seen. (update: content no longer available, I dunno why, will try to find another link)

Analysis: Facebook platform showing sluggishness
This analysis by All Facebook shows how growth has been slowing to the platform activity due to recent design changes.

Doh! Worker calls in sick, but tells truth on Facebook
Genius calls in sick but outs himself on his Facebook status. Reminds me of this case of the Facebook faerie, what’s up with kids these days?

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

It’s actually THURSDAY here in Tokyo, but I’m publishing on Wed pacific time to keep on schedule. It’s been more difficult paying attention to what’s happening on the web during global travel, so please leave a comment if I’ve missed anything.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
There wasn’t any earth-shattering news in the social networking space, although several deals and partnerships such as watercooler and hulu make for an interesting marriage of social rating and online video. As social networks continue to get popular, the threats from malicious code continues –this time with a strike to Facebook.

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Partnership: Watercoolor and Hulu
Watercooler which enables sports and TV fans to engage with their favorite teams and shows within social networks, teams with online video service Hulu to use its new player for full-screen shows from Fox and NBC. Expect more social features to be embedded within real time video media –watching TV will never be lonely again.

Security: Facebook exposes users to malicious code
Network world has a report about the potential dangers of hackers within social networks, and it’s impact to users. I know of one friend who has opened an email from Facebook forcing her computer to be damaged. If it looks fishy, it very well could be.

Privacy: Could social network sites be snooped on?
UK article suggests that some social network sites could be monitored in order to prevent deviant and destructive behavior. For public websites, that don’t require a login, I’m sure that’s already happening.

Executives: Zuckerblog reaches out
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s young founder and CEO is now communicating more frequently to developers, users, and press and media says Cnet.

Partnership: User Plane and JS-Kit
Userplane and JS-Kit Partner to Offer Complementary Social Networking Widgets to 900,000 Communities, I have a briefing with JS-Kit soon, will learn more about them and what makes them unique.

Data: Social Network Growth Slowing in the U.K
To be clear this data shows growth rates –so the social networks are still growing yet the adoption rates have slightly dipped. To determine the changes, we’d first need to look at overall technographics data to determine what’s the total saturation number would be –then see how close total population was to achieving that ‘joining’ behavior.

USA Today: Social Networks Boost Productivity
This light article showcases Gina, Ning’s spokesperson as the posterchild for social networks and discusses how some companies are finding productivity gains. I promise you, mileage will vary.

Launch: Plum launches, plugin social networking features
Expect to see more of these companies appear, commodity technology allows any website to be social. Recently Liveworld launched Livebar, which is somewhat similar, expect to see many other existing community platforms to offer these features.

Profiles: Why some social networks appeal to people
This light reference guide tells about what some social networks mean to those who use them –think of this as a humorous exercise in profiling.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

In the age of meme trackers, aggregators, and news.google.com I hear from more people that this hand created editorial list I do each week is helpful. With so much content being created now, it just goes to show that editing (by humans) is more important than ever. One key for this digest to be successful is to link to anything that I think is important, regardless of source, and even competitive research –expect more of that as I go forward.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
Interesting week, given the top of everyone’s minds is the financial changes in the global economy. I’m paying closer attention to the discussions, visions, and strategy to the social networks. While CEO of Facebook decrees a focus on growth –not revenue –MySpace launches a revenue generation ad aimed at SMB. For vendors and brands focused on the enterprise side, Forrester releases a report predicting a downturn in deal size over the next few years.

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Vision: Zuckerberg focused on Growth –not revenue
Interesting interview here, as most companies during a recession want to focus on revenues, Facebook CEO wants to focus on growth. He can do this, as he has partners with deep pockets like Microsoft that can hold him out for the long term –they’re more likely to weather the storm.

Advertising: New “MySpace MyAds” aim at SMB
Reaching to small businesses MySpace launches new advertising product that allows them to self serve by buying –and creating –their own ads. The big challenge isn’t self service, but if traditional ads actually work on social networks. Read that article to hear my take on the different use cases between social network and the ‘hunt and gather’ approach we do.

Deployment: Kohler launches social media efforts
Kohler launches blogs, social network and ratings features in their latest ‘labs’ deployment. This appears to be a Pluck deployment.

Forecast: Forrester predicts reducing in Enterprise 2.0 Apps
Colleague Oliver Young is quoted in this latest RWW article pointing out how many enterprise software prices will reduce, including social networking software.

Layoffs: Jive lays off 1/3rd of workforce
In a response to the changing economy, Jive has asked 1/3rd of it’s workforce to move on, I’ve updated this list of companies that are having layoffs.

Funding: JS-Kit receives $3.6mm in funding
An embeddable social media JS-Kit company helps webpages get social has now received a small round of funding that could propel them for some time. The challenge? This is a very crowded space with larger encumbants like Pluck, Kickapps and a host of others that could repel them from the enterprise space. I’ll be briefed by them in a few weeks, more news to come.

Career: How to use social networking for your career
Whenever jobs are at threat, professionals will seek online tools to educate, connect, and find jobs, in this particular case, the NYT showcases some tactics to do all three.

Vision: Zuckerberg says people will continue to share
Citing Moore’s law, CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg claims users will continue to grow at an exponential rate. While too early, Forrester’s technographic data will continue to monitor and track this, it also depends on how you count sharing.

Music: Kiwibox launches music via Universal
Teen aimed Social Network Kiwibox, launches music features, partnered with Universal Music Group as well as premium content, I’m mentioned in this article.

Productivity: LinkedIn and Ning help corporations
The story for enterprise social networking software has never had a bigger opportunity than now, by cutting down email inbox clutter and helping customers connect.

OpenSocial: Ning allows developers on it’s platform
Ning, which is much like Yahoo Groups 2.0 gives third party application develoepers access to it’s large community of millions of users, in an effort to continue to grow their viablilty.

Analysis: Social network usage in UK slowdown
Hitwise reports that in the UK Facebook is the second top social network, and although still trending upward, a slowdown in adoption is being seen.

Opinion: Social Networks have jumped the shark
GigaOm has an interesting perspective that Hasselhoff’s niche social network has finally signaled the last straw for the buzz –and comments on Facebook’s CEO vision of growth before profit.

Culture: Churches use Facebook
Social networks seep into every social institution, why not religion? Religious groups and churches use social networking for finding, evangelizing and helping members self support.

Humor: What Annoys us with Facebook
How do you know you’re a popular generational icon? Blog posts like this that point out what people don’t like about Facebook.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
A broad range of offerings, media deals, and announcements have taken place in the last two weeks. Of note: MySpace launched a significant media player launch, SocialText has a complete redesign of their enterprise platform, and Slide cuts a media deal with some big brands.

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Media: MySpace launches music service
In it’s latest announcement, MySpace builds partnerships with key media firms to extend their reach into the social networking space. Forrester data shows that around 1/3 of youth in social networks use those tools to find new types of music. MySpace launches music service, gets one billion plays in a few days.

Launch: SocialText 3 enterprise collaboration
SocialText launches new version of enterprise tool with social networking features, twitter like tools, and collaboration tools. I added them to my big bad list of community platforms.

Media: Slide cuts deals with media companies
This partnership gives Slide cuts access to firms likel with CBS, Comcast’s E! Entertainment channel, NBC, Time Warner’s Warner Bros., and other media companies for content repurposing –smart move.

Deployment: Drupal is ubiquitous
You’d never never know till you’d see this gallery of websites that are Drupal based.

Analyst: social network campaigns flop
Gartner says half of social media campaigns will flop, I’d say the number is likely higher. In my recent report, 15/16 brands failed.

Analyst: Companies adopt communities
More Gartner analysis says “More Than 60 Percent of Fortune 1000 Companies With a Web Site Will Connect to or Host a Form of Online Community by 2010″. A pretty accurate measurement, but we should assume that many more communities will be created organically without the brands involved at all.

People: Facebook founder aims for enterprise apps
Facebook founder splits off to build enterprise and utility features, will use Facebook’s platform.

Deal: Friendster allows Facebook apps
Friendster announces support for Facebook applications, which triggers even more relationships in this social web ecosystem. Yet, we must ask, what of OpenSocial?

Usage: Facebook to overtake MySpace?
Facebook set to overtake MySpace in the US within a month according to Royal Pingdom analysis. Yet hitwise shows MySpace is still on top, although Facebook growing quickly.

Productivity: Facebook is a time sink –and job killa’
Employers in Ireland use Facebook to catch workers that are idle at work.

Localization: More languages for Kickapps
Kickapps adds more languages to it’s platform extending it’s global reach for it’s many media clients

OpenSource: Elgg gets coverage
Interview with Elgg team, on creating your own social network

Recruitment: Facebook helps to hire spies
Facebook being used to recruit ’spies’, shhhhh.

Mobile: Upgrade for Facebook on iPhone
Facebook launches upgraded iPhone application, making social geeks rejoice around the states.

Humor: WWPF (What Would Palin Facebook?)
Internet culture ties with political culture for new outputs, this fictional screenshot says it all.

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

Thanks to @SteveKayser who noticed a typo.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an industry analyst. By creating this digest (I started this over a year ago) it really helps me to stay on top of the space I cover.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
Telligent, a community platform (white label social network) raises a significant 20 million from Intel Capital. The New York Times, often a powerhouse media company has adopted social features into their website. MySpace lets users create their own ads.

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Funding: Telligent raises $20mm from Intel
White label vendor Telligent raises 20 million from Intel Capital, this money can help them last the test of time past many competitors, or could spur on development and investment to take them to the next level. I’ll be watching closely, as next to Ning, this is one of the largest funds raised in this space.

Deplyoment: NYT launches social network
Yet another media company launching their social features to build community, the New York Times leads the trend, right along side Fast Company. Expect to see more deployments as companies adopt vendors like KickApps and Pluck for rapid deployment.

Advertising: MySpace lets users create their own ads
Users can now create their own ads, and these screenshots from Cnet. The interface makes it easy, much like creating your own blog theme and then launching your ads on their network.

White Paper: Trends and Best Practices via Awareness
One of the few Community Platforms to launch their own survey and then develop a report and white paper, Awareness launches their own resource center with their recent white paper.

Partnership: Lithium and Omniture
Lithium Technologies and Omniture Partner to Integrate Social Media into Web Analytics. Expect more deals to be cut over the coming months –esp after my coming event.

Launch: Widgetbox launches widget network
Harnassing a federation of bloggers, and content publishers, Widgetbox launches a network through 29 vertical channels. Much like how Technorati, Blogher, Federated Media, Glam, Gawker have done, expect this advertising network to reach to brands for vertical based marketing.

Features: KickApps expands video capabilities
“KickApps Kicks it Up Another Notch With User Controlled Video Ads” reports mashable, allowing

Mobile: Mac users connect on iPhone
Net4mac a social networking feature comes to iPhone, letting Mac users and owners connect with each other.

Usage: Facebook redesign causes dip
Is the Facebook redesign causing user rejection? USAToday things so, and this piece indicates that users may not be adopting the Facebook redesign as they might have readily hoped. Link from colleague Zach Hofer-Shall

Quirk: Facebook ‘hole’ peers into fandom
Unexpected hole in Facebook allows members to peer and see what other members are ‘fans’ of. This instance shows what Zuckerberg loves.

Culture: College recruiters scan Facebook
Many students are unaware of the impacts of their online behaviors on social networks –and how they impact getting into college, and getting jobs. We now know that college recruiters are skimming and rejecting applicants.

Culture: Facebook profiles detect Narcisicism
Individuals with lots of friends and the “myspace angle” photos could be self-centered. Quite possible, or they may be trying to build up their business network (as in my case)

If you’re a social network, or widget company, I want to know of your news, send me an email, or leave a comment below. Help me stay up to date.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
A smattering of deals, deployments, features and a few acquisitions continue to make this a pretty standard week in the social networking space: typical fast moving space that makes it very hard for anyone (even me) to track. Do note that Gigya’s “Socialize” will help the spread of the social graph, extending not just widgets –but access to friends– even further.

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Features: Gigya launches “Socialize”–like Friend Connect
This allows social graph data to move between different containers and websites, learn more about Gigya’s socialize here.

Deplolyment: WSJ launches social network features
Amid criticism for making the community behind closed doors, commenters suggest the new site design to be ‘emo’ and brooding. As more media companies embrace social media content, does this indicate mainstream adoption?

Employment: Is your online profile professional looking?
Dangers of Social Networking, make sure your online profile and reputation is cleaned for your current and future employer. (link via Mike Street)

Advertising: LinkedIn launches Ad Network
In yet another way to monetize, this profitable social network (an oxymoron?) is now deploying it’s own advertising network. I’ve seen these slides before, and was surprised to see Techcrunch published them.

Deal: MySpace music extends labels reach
In theory this sounds like a great match between popular media centric social network MySpace and media labels. With the ability to stream content and share with each other, is this enough to deter users from stripping content and sharing on p2p networks?

Deployment: MTV launches online community
This real time community supports shows, provides additional content, and allows another outlet for users to watch –and engage with each other around media shows.

Showcase: Brand new social networks emerge
A handful of vertical social networks were featured at the recent Techcrunch 50 event.

Acquisition: The Social Gaming Network swallows Fluff Friends
A virtual pet game and community, “Fluff Friends” has been acquired by the Social Gaming Network (SGN) I visited them a few months ago in their small but growing Palo Alto office

Features: MySpace embraces user uploaded video
MySpaceTV announces direct video upload, allowing users to upload video directly from their hard drive or even from webcams. Why? This increases user interaction and media engagement. Could be a win considering the heavy self-expression found in the site.

Partnership: Bebo and ESPN
Bebo’s open media platform allows ESPN’s short form content to be available in their media savvy social network. Programming includes clips from highlights, and sportcenter content.

Deployment: Vehix utilizes Pluck
The Vehix site now integrates Pluck’s “Energizing” features to allow the site to grow social wings –letting members share, comment, and interact with each other.

Investment: IBM grows Cambridge facility, focuses on Social Networks
Expect to see more investments in Lotus, as IBM starts to assemble more social networking software features for their enterprise products. Competitors will likely follow suit, and put more blips on the future roadmaps for enterprise social networking features. (Updated)

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment. If you work for a white label community platform, keep me updated, I want to know of your wins.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

Subscribe to this blog in your feedreader, or use the email subscription box in the right column.

Web Strategy Summary
Lot of deals, partnerships, and wins announced this week, I’m getting more submissions for PR firms who represent white label social networks. Perhaps most interesting is three separate studies indicating how non-universal social networks really are, important to note as brands approach social networks and communities with a global reach –don’t overextend yourselves.

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Research: Social Networks not Ubiqutious
eMarketer, a leading research firm states that social networks are not yet universal, they compare to studies marking awareness, but also note that “44.3% of Internet users in the US will belong to social networks by the end of 2008″ Synovate Research shows similar findings.

Press: Communispace announces growth
This announcement touts 11 new clients for the year for this ‘insight community vendor’ which include MTV, Chili’s Grill & Bar and Verizon Telecom and including a deal with InterContintental Hotels.

Communications: MySpace useful during hurricane
Like many social media tools, social networks are a key communication tool before, during, and after disasters for citizens and local and national recovery groups, MySpace has proven effective in this last hurricane.

Deployment: US Gov has Facebook for Spies
Speaking of government, the CIA and other government agencies have their own social network for spies, called A-Space, I wonder if they have scrabulous!

Competitor: Groupsites takes aim at Ning
Another easy to get started white label social network has appeared called Groupsites, which is in the same market as Ning, the key differentiator? productivity is at the core of the use case.

Applications: Context launches Applications
In it’s quest for creating applications for Facebook, Context creates facebook page for Top Bartender (Absolut) Today I’m toasting (Miller) and Got Pies (Microsoft’s IE), all interactive marketing.

Deal: Pluck wins Sun Times
Media site The Sun-Times News Group uses Pluck to power social elements to their site. Pluck Social Media tools bring reader forums, blogs and feed tools to the media site.

Deal: eBay selects ONESite
White label social network wins ebay sustainability community for World of Good site. I know other competitors are within eBay, which is not uncommon for large enterprises to be disparate with vendor selection.

Acquisition: iSkoot gobbles Social IM
Consolidation in the mobile and voip space as iSkoot acquires social networking client Social.IM. What’s in store? Dean Takahashi says: “Social.IM’s platform will work well with iSkoot’s own upcoming mobile web push services”

Analsyis: Adoption rates of Faecbooks Redesign
Compete has an interesting analysis marking the adoption rates of Facebook users to the slow to roll out redesign, as well as how many users reverted.

Partnership: NBC and LinkedIn clinch deal
A combination of content and social feature deal allows NBC viewers and LinkedIn members to share information, and connect with each other between these two sites. good marriage.

Services: Lithium gets serious about services
With this announcement of enterprise class services and support teams, they hire a VP of client services to lead the teams forward. Services, Strategy and Support account for 80% of the enterprise buy in my opinion.

Impacts: Reactions of bad behaviors
How not to get banned from commenting link via colleague Nate Elliott, and are comments more like Slander than Libel?

Index: List of Community Platforms
Dion has a great list of community platforms, I’m also resesarching this market and will put forth a list of enterprise class community platforms for interactive marketers at Fortune 5000 companies in late Oct. It’s hard to segment as the actual list is so many vendors.

Movement: Protests gain new fuel through Facebook
Movements often start small, and with social networks, the snowball effect can quickly add many new members, shows this article about protesters who organize online –often in Facebook.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment. If you work for a white label community platform, keep me updated, I want to know of your wins.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
A smattering of small announcements his week ranges from new features, acquisitions and John McCain launches his own version of MySpace. Sometimes, quiet weeks are good weeks.

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Feature: LinkedIn builds community with ‘Groups’
Now launching this groups feature (similar to Google Groups and Yahoo Groups) it’ll help users build more of a discussion to self support each other online.

Features: Facebook’s Newsfeed improved
Nick O’Neill has a live video showing the interactive and dynamic features of Facebook’s “Live Feed” feature, a real-time life streaming aggregation tool.

Sunset: Yahoo shuts down SoNet ‘Mash’
Listed as Yahoo’s fourth failure at social networks, they’ve now shut down Mash. Where should they look? Yahoo mail is one of the largest social graphs around

Virtual Goods: Facebook creates virtual currency
This analysis suggests that Facebook’s virtual goods are creating virtual goods as currency upwards in the $35 million range, yet we must remember it’s only worth as much as what people buy it for.

User Experience: Facebook puts brakes on Wall Spam
An interesting dilemma, this popular social network encourages developers and brands to participate, yet they’ve got to control the user experience above all else, and look to control wall spam.

Deployment: Marriott launches communtiy using LiveWorld
Interesting how hotels are getting on the bandwagon as Marriott launches online community for Marriott Rewards. Link via Henry Harteveldt. Congrats to Liveworld for earning the customer, I had to go hunt online to find out who the vendor was.

Acquisition: Book based SoNet Shelfari gulped by Amazon
Amazon to move into the social networking arena with this recent purchase of Shelfari a community based application that let’s people create virtual ‘bookshelves’ to share with others.

Mobile: Hi5 moves to mobile
Expect Hi5’s online growth to fuel it’s recent launch of 26 languages of it’s mobile version of it’s social network, given that many cultures lean on mobile communications over US based browser, this could be a medium for growth.

Security: MySpace Login Held Ransom to Music Artist
Not sure how to react to this, but Soulja Boy hip hop artist had his logins to MySpace and YouTube held ransom from a 12 year old boy demanding 2500 dollars.

Awards: Neighborhood America receives accolade
Insight community vendor, Neighborhood America receives award at the Always On AO ‘Global 250 Winners’ for innovation.

Deployment: McCain launches community via Kickapps
McCain launches his online community, in sync with the announcement of his new VP. This online community (the URL indicates it’s from KickApps) energizes young republicans to connect to each other, and then spread word of mouth.

Features: Blogger.com launches profiles
This trend, in which blogs like blogger.com are now becoming more like social networks emulating MyBlogLog features or even SixApart’s intention to make blogs more ’social’. Expect to see a more formal announcement for wordpress.

Advertisements: Contextual ads spit insults
This reporter isn’t happy being called “muffin top” in her contextual Facebook ads. We shouldn’t blame Facebook for this, it was likely the advertisers choice, and besides…it worked.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment. If you work for a white label community platform, keep me updated, I want to know of your wins.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
Facebook launches Engagement Ads, which signal how widgets and advertisements start to look alike. Third party developers such as Widgetbox are now available on Hi5, and the OpenSocial protocol continues to gain traction, despite a setback with developer relations at Ning.

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Engagement Ads –Early Trials, and Caution
I shared my thoughts with Cnet about Facebook’s Engagement ads, and the impact it has on brands and users. While highly innovative, Facebook’s experiments could put some brands at risk, let’s hope they develop some best practices that meets the needs of brands –and users. Read my additional analysis.

Stats: OpenSocial reaches 350 Million Users
This protocol, first lead by Google is gaining adoption by developers who are using it to encourage their applications to be write once, run anywhere is seeing adoption and growth.

Usage: Facebook hits 100million users
As Facebook approaches a very large user base of 100million registered users, they have an increase of adoption of users opting in to the new redesign.

Verticals: Social Network for Chefs
Yet another segment of social networks that are launched, cooks can now connected at CookEatShare, link via Arturo Pelayo.

Analyst: Gartner pushes social networks for retailers
These findings and recommendations encourage retailers to approach social networks as they are attracting too much attention too ignore.

Mobile: Linkedin launches mobile version for iPhone
Allowing members to access their social network while mobile is a nod towards the future, this simple app appears to display one’s newsfeed.

Media: Bebo hosts modeling show
This 12 episode show “Model.live” reveals reality style how models live and work to achieve their modeling dreams, this ties in well with Bebo’s heavy media and lifestyle network. A good example of TV and social networks starting to merge.

Developers: Ning boots Widgetlaboratory
Ning removes Widetlabs from developer network, citing violation of terms of use, Widgetlabs fights back launches opensource widgets and hints at legal action. Followed by a response from Gina.

Applications: Widgetbox Gallery Available for Hi5
Hi5 a fast growing social network has now tapped into Widgetbox’s existing OpenSocial widgets gallery to be available for their community. Despite the challenges that Ning and developer Widgetlaborartory had this week, this is another example of how containers are embracing third party applications.

Features: Lithium extends blogging features
Although they’ve had blogging features previously, Lithium signals to the market they’ve more robust blogging features for enterprise clients.

Privacy: SoNets increase connectivity but not privacy
This interesting article from Scientific America (thanks Brian for the link) gives examples of how some have been impacted by the connected world, for better of for worse.

Culture: Women review bad dates
Read about this in the Scientific America article above, where women rate, review, some pretty bad men. This site scores well for google search results where no other is present. Now, when folks meet each other in real life, they may start to do Google searches, a sign of the times.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment. If you work for a white label community platform, keep me updated, I want to know of your wins.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
This has been one action packed week, there are two acquisitions from Hi5 and AOL, MySpace extends it’s reach to third party sites, and Facebook crowned largest social network. There’s been several deployments by brands of branded communities, as well feature releases from LinkedIn and Six Apart. Most importantly, advertisers project increase of spending into this space –furthering growth in this industry.

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Trends: Location Aware Social Networks
This is an important one to watch, as social networks (in real life) extend beyond the browser, so why shouldn’t that experience cater to our mobile devices? Ulocate and Where partner for GPS device Garmin, and Yelp syncs with Loopt and iPhone.

Stats: Facebook Global Social Network
Facebook has expanded it’s world conquest by allowing users to translate the site to their local languages, this lead to Facebook now being crowned as the largest global social network says BusinessWeek.

Money Projections: Advertisers increase spending on social networks
eMarketer publishes data that projects that US based advertisers will spend $40 million this year alone, then will increase spending to $210 Million in 2012, a growth rate of 300% in four years.

Acquisition: Hi5 acquires Interactive Technology PixVerse
This rapidly growing social network Hi5 has acquired technology that encourages in browser interaction, PixVerse. Expect the site’s experience to emulate desktop like behaviors, further engaging users.

Acquisition: AOL ready to lifestream and buys Social Thing
The latest trend in social software seems to involve aggregation or site-decoupling. AOL picks up on this and snags Social Thing, a competitor to Friendfeed, Facebook newspage, Six Apart’s Activity Streams and Google Reader.

Announcement: MySpace makes Data Available
Similar to Facebook connect (read my review) MySpace now let’s developers extend the experience of the community to third party websites with MySpace Data Availability (MDA). This increasing trend means that social networks are pervasive and eventually even on static websites that don’t want to participate.

Features: Six Apart adds social features in Movable Type
I was briefed yesterday by the 6A team, who have increased the social features of their robust blogging tool, Movable Type. Given their strong footprint in the enterprise sector, 6A should compete for dollars with other community platforms. Expect their suite of activity streams, and focus on content to be a differentiator.

Feature: Linkedin’s company pages get sorting feature
LinkedIn recently announced it’s new company pages –a trend moving the intranet outside of the firewall, and now adds more features that allow users to sort via industry, company size, and location.

Applications: RockYou tries monetizing with car ads
Seemingly an odd fit, RockYou will integrate ads for autos within it’s large network of widgets, should we expect the next BMW to appear in our superwall? Yet more examples of developers throwing rigatoni, spaghetti, and even pizza at the wall to see if it’ll stick.

Lawsuit: Facebook under fire from Beacon
This class action lawsuit aimed at Facebook and partners from users is intended to recoup damages from the ill-fated Beacon launch last year. Mark has admitted in public they’ve since learned from this.

Status: Cadence’s Community Manager shares 1st month Results
In a bold and forth coming way, Tom Diederich, Cadence’s community manager shares his experience after his first month of launching a branded community: over 6000 registrations and 1000 posts in 30 days.

People: Facebook Exec Ben Ling Boomerangs back to Google
This speculative post gives some insight to why Benjamin Ling, a former executive at Facebook has moved back to Google, with tie ins to the new COO, loyalty, and personalities.

Deployment: Heineken to launch community in Thailand
Popular “Skunky” beer Heineken to reach Asia community by investing in community software and launching their own platform to support it’s “Greenspace” campaign.

Partnership: Pluck extends partnerships
With Avenue A selecting just selecting Pluck as a strategic partner, now Swift Communications announces intent to use Pluck platform for client efforts. Expect to see other white label social network vendors to cozy up with interactive firms and digital agencies.

Deployment: Fox news joins Facebook –not MySpace
Although MySpace and Fox are both owned by behemoth Newscorp, they have to follow their audience and have deployed on Facebook, a smart move.

Deployment: MySpace hosts Presidential Debates
Myspace streamed the Rick Warren Civil Forum between McCain and Obama on the venue’s site Saddleback church for this first time meeting between candidates.

Deployment: Scottrade launches community with Small World Labs
This branch supported investment firm announces their own social networking site to allow customers to self support with each other. Small World labs is selected as technology partner, visit community.scottrade.com to see the site in action.

Culture: Students and Teachers awkwardly interact online
It’s important to note how these tools are used, and in this case, some teachers and students are unsure how to act online as personal and professional relationships merge. The benefit? teachers can now extend the classroom online.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
Security issues are starting to appear in Facebook, both from malicious software and clever phishers, expect more case studies of identity theft to occur as well as Facebook clamping down on the experience. The second bullet, we see actual numbers from Comscore, then the third piece, social networks interests around the globe gives a high level view of which social networks have the most interest, well at least by intent.

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Security: Facebook showing security flaws
Widgets and Applications have fueled growth for Facebook’s community, but it also has some vulnerabilities that leave it exposed, for one, password phishing has been problematic, and now Facebook asks that users be careful with disclosure. You can see more issues on security, as well as elaborate worms spreading, and being close to enemies.

Stats: June Global Social Networks Visitors
Comscore releases this month’s numbers and shows a slow down in North American adoption (but still at 9%) and growth in many other regions. Read the full report from Comscore.

Report: Social Network “interest” around the Globe
This interesting research piece from the Sweedish Royal Pingdom guys have triangulated how social networks are in demand using data from Google. While this doesn’t show actual social network usage, it does demonstrate ownership over mindshare and intent. A creative report thanks guys.

Brands: Tampax Marketing on Stardolls
Tampax, known for it’s creative social networks such as beinggirl, now reaches out to the stardoll community, with a creative marketing effort.

Accolades: SelectMinds, wins Always On award
SelectMinds, a vendor who provides corporate social networking solutions, today announced that it has been chosen by AlwaysOn as one of the AO Global 250 Winners.

Features: Moveable Type Adds Social Network Features
Not a surprise, (cept for the fact how quiet this announcement was) Moveable Type now has social features, given their current footprint, they could become a contender for white label social network plays.

Analysis: Social Networks Growth and Money
Datamonitor analysts report that “that growth in the number of people signing up to be a part of the cultural phenomenon, which has put the likes of Facebook on the map, will peak by 2009 and plateau by 2012.” also, “revenues from social-networking services will hit $965 million this year, swelling to $2.4 billion by 2012″.

Partnership: Avenue A and Pluck
This recent announcement (I’m waiting to see some examples) indicate the start of a trend of interactive marketing firms aligning with technology vendors to provide solution offerings to brands.

Deployment: New York Times to launch community Q4
Media companies like Fast Company have already launched online communities for their website, now media giant New York times plans to launch social networking community for readers.

Features: Gigya launches themes
While not a major update, these themes (aimed at their developer network) will improve the developer experience, perhaps more interesting is the social media press release, which announced it.

Gossip: MySpace CEO dating Paris Hilton?
Well, if it had to happen to anyone, at least it happens to one of us geeks, unconfirmed rumor has it CEO Chris DeWolfe has been dating 27 year old Paris Hilton.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
Linux World spurred several announcements from vendors in this space, Friendster seeks Asian domination with new CEO, and Facebook community groans over Scrabble change of hands.

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OpenSource: Kickapps connects with CMS, Blogs, and CRM
At the Linux conference this week, Kickapps leans into it’s opensource vendors Joomla, Drupal and Wordpress, expect to see social features integrate with CMS, CRM and blogging software tools –things all mash up.

OpenSource: Alfresco hunts Sharepoint market
Alfresco launches labs (Beta 3) the open source alternative to Sharepoint at Linux World this week. Given that many enterprises have sharepoint available to them, (and most require enterprise class support) it’ll be interesting to see adoption of this suite.

Widgets: How Hasbro Should Fix Scrabble
Hasbro took more blows from the community this week, after they denounced Scrabulous and then launched their own version (while Facebook did little), this opinion gives specific advice that Hasbro should consider.

Advertising: Despite heavy ad spend, American Apparel sinks
You’ve seen their ads, soft 70s porn splattered on banners and skyscrapers –apparently, this advertising effort isn’t paying off –or at least for the bottom line for American Apparel.

Research: Social networks folks consume more media
Two recent surveys conducted by ABI Research have revealed that compared to average mobile phone service subscribers, those who also participate in online social networking are heavier consumers of digital content including text messages, mobile email, photos, music, games and mobile TV

Leadership: Friendster nabs top Google exec
In an attempt to grow their Asian market, they’ve already got traction in Singapore, and look to extend to other markets under the leadership of Richard Kimber.

Feature: Facebook’s Auto Tagging feature
Auto-tagging feature in Facebook could be cursor to ’semantic’ web where meaning and context is extracted without human involvement.

Feature: Facebook enables filtering for newsfeed
Micro controls over newsfeed granularity are now provided to users, to tweek, tune, and refine a newsfeed. While most users won’t use this feature, it’s quite similar to what Friendfeed has been offering.

Culture: Why western social networks fail in Japan
Techcrunch guest author, Serkan Toto lists out why cultural differences make it difficult for western social networks to succeed in Japan.

Analysis: Gartner’s Generation V
Gartner extends their coverage to online communities and provides this telling quadrant of user behaviors. They’ve provided additional information from their own website.

Application: Scrabulous launches Wordscraper
In response to getting shut down, the founders of Scrabulous launch a twist on Scrabble by offering a customized more robust version called Wordscraper.

Visualizations: Social Networks as art
Need a background screen this collection of 10 social networking visualizations will inspire the inner social geek, link via Mike Manual.

Vertical: Keep track of deceased “MySpace Deaths”
Morbid yes, but needed? perhaps. This website tracks the deaths of MySpace users, and puts in this archive.

PR professionals that have clients in this space, should subscribe to this blog, and ensure their clients are put on this digest by sending me an email, or better yet, leave a comment.

I’m respecting your limited time by publishing this weekly digest on the Social Networking space, which I cover as an Industry Analyst –a good way to get in my head.

I’ve created a new category called Digest (view archives). Start with the Web Strategy Summary, then quickly scan the succinct and categorized headlines, read text for my take, and click link to dive in for more.

You can subscribe to this digest tag only, which filters only these posts tagged digest.

Web Strategy Summary
Unlike last week’s series’ of major announcements, we’re seeing brand deploy with social networks, facebook applications, and the typical deployment of social networks for just about every vertical. MyYearbook receives funding, as well as tracks high growth rates.

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Best Practice: Twelve best practices for online customer communities Fantastic resource by Dion Hinchcliffe on how to best organize, prepare and manage online community projects read these 12 best practices. A must read.

Growth: My Yearbook exhibits growth and raises $13mm
Data from Hitwise indicates that MyYearbook shows fast growth among social networks, but what these graphs don’t indicate is myYearbooks’s current registered active base, which Forbes indicates it has 4.5 million unique visitors –still a long way from MySpace of Facebook.

Data: IBM’s Smart SOA to connect communities
A growing trend to connect many companies, IBM’s Smart SOA promises to connect communities such as User Groups, Developers, Architects, Business Partners, Universities.

Deployment: Swiss Re connects alumni with SelectMinds
SelectMinds will support Swiss Re in the implementation of its first alumni network using their community platform. Specifically, Swiss Re will implement SelectMinds product AlumniConnect, designed to connect former employees, or corporate alumni, with each other and the organization, learn more from Marketwatch.

Features: introNetworks enhances suite
introNetworks launches community managers new features to enhance Groups, Collaborative Resources and Targeted Messaging and Advertising capabilities highlight the latest introNetworks release, see PDF for more.

Deployment: UK’s Sky to launch community platform
British Sky Broadcasting (Sky) is working with Pluck to launch a variety of social media tools across it’s various web properties, see Sky News to see where they’re headed.

Deployment: Neutrogena launches Widget by LiveWorld
In support of it’s Beautiful For Good community, LiveWorld, often notable for it’s community platforms, is now launching a widget to extend their client’s campaign. You can view the application on Facebook. Expect other community platforms to offer widget services in the future.

Marketing: Bebo reaches to alien planets
In this latest campaign, Bebo to build a time capsule to send to a near ‘earth-like’ planet. While an interesting undertaking there will be no ROI or tremendous ROI perhaps several centuries from now. I always thought we should put our best humans forward, if that’s Bebo users, so be it!

Reputation: How your LinkedIn profile impacts your company’s brand
While true for any social network or blog, how you behave online can impact how others perceive you or your employer, follow these tips from Steve Patrizi at LinkedIn to make sure your company is seen in the right light.

Global: LinkedIn launches Spanish Version
A few months ago, Facebook launched in Spanish then many other languages, LinkedIn, also extends it’s global (and local) reach by launching a Spanish version.

Infringement: Copywriting “Branded Communities”
I see so many issues with this, Jennifer responds to a vendor who claims ownership of that term. First of all, communities can’t really be branded, secondly, this is a common term used by the industry.

Verticals: Even Zombies get their own social network
sloth like? armless? need braaaains? Everyone gets in the social network action, even the undead, see this Zombie dating and social networking site.

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