I’ll be the first to admit, when I first delved into the pool of social networking websites many years back, I was more than a little overwhelmed. I remember 6 years ago when a hip hop artist referred to his Myspace page during an interview, I thought the concept of people posting information about themselves online was a little strange at the least. Funny thing is now I find myself using at least 5 social networking websites regularly and still have to work at keeping up with how fast the online communities move! Below I’ve put together a quick write up on what certain popular social networking websites are beneficial for. I’m aware that there are at least a dozen other social networking “super powers”, but I felt these would make for a quick read for beginners.

Myspace | www.myspace.com

This website became the most popular social networking website in the early 2000’s. Although Facebook has taken reign as the most popular social networking website (measured via unique visitors), Myspace is still preferred by millions worldwide (especially teenagers and musicians).

Who should be interested?

Anyone looking for a casual social networking experience. My experience on the website suggests that you’ll find way more embarrassing frat party pictures surfing through profiles than you will middle aged business people’s pictures on the job.

Facebook | www.facebook.com

This social networking website did the impossible by taking over Myspace’s crown as the most popular social networking website in the world back in 2008. Facebook’s clean unalterable interface doesn’t seem to bother too many people in comparison to Myspace’s seemingly inifinite customization capabilities. With very strong 3^rd party application support, and plenty of extra features to explore, it makes for a great experience for anyone looking to seriously start networking. Whether you’re a fresh college grad or a seasoned CEO, everyone seems to find something to use Facebook for.

Who should be interested?

Anyone looking for a casual social networking experience, minus the pre-teens and e-thugs. Plenty of minigames and apps will keep you occupied if decide to explore the website.

Twitter | www.twitter.com

This social networking website is very unique in that it’s even more effective to utilize over the phone than on a computer. With Twitter you’re given a small space to tell the world what you or your company is doing at a given time. Although nothing particularly revolutionary, Twitter is an effective social networking tool on both a personal and corporate level.

Who should be interested?

Businesses who want to have an easy to use and distribute press reel. Anyone with an internet data plan on their phone.

LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com

This social networking website is strictly aimed toward business minded people looking to network . Think of it as Facebook in a tailored suit. A great way to network, especially if you’re looking for work or employees. The website also allows you to augment a couple 3^rd party apps to help present your business’s or personal portfolio.

Who should be interested?

Anyone looking to get their resume into more hands, or get more resume’s into their own hands.

Biznik | ww.biznik.com

I’ve only recently stumbled across this website, but am very impressed with it. In short it’s a community of business owners and professionals, collaborating in free and low cost professional seminars. From starting a blog, to gardening 101, you’ll find plenty of local seminars DAILY. They’ve also got a large archive of user submitted articles, many of which offer great tips and insider info across a variety of industries.

Who should be interested?

I recommend you check it out if you’re looking to network and learn something at the same time. You won’t find any crazy widgets, but you’ll find a plethora of resources to pull from.

StumbleUpon | www.stumbleupon.com

StumbleUpon uses an engine driven by your personal interests to find websites you might find interesting, which you then rate with a thumbs up/down either promoting the website or vice-versa. It turns the web into a slideshow! Great for promoting a website, or just plain boredom.

Who should be interested?

Anyone looking to promote an existing website, or looking for another cool website to bookmark. Great for avid googlers.