As social media networks continue to proliferate further and further down the Long Tail into niche markets, there are some very impressive, albeit highly targeted networks popping up. Thanks to services like Ning, as well as easy to use software platforms like Boonex Dolphin, Elgg and phpIzabi, it is now fairly simple for anyone to create a network – which means the biggest portion of success isn’t “existing” so much as having a very useful and welcoming network.
During my online exploits I’m often sent links for content that exists within social networks, quite often new blogs written by members or a conversation happening in their forums. Much of the time this really is valuable content, but the biggest problem I’ve noticed is that sometimes it’s really difficult to even get to the content due to a misunderstanding of how important it is to open your site and content.
