The advent of social media has changed the way we communicate, do business and relate to the internet. Now everyone has the opportunity and means to create their own hamlet in the kingdom of the web. In the kingdom of the web countries are being formed and the good news is that the New Country is the country that should be — free, prosperous and open to those with the ambition to create.
Facebook has become a platform (free country) whereby applications and features can be added outside central control. In my opinion, Facebook has created the standard. The mistake many social media efforts made was creating centrally controlled sites not open to the many possible applications from outside. Facebook is creating something endlessly fascinating, chockful of possibilities for individuals to create their worlds and establish their identities.
Furthermore, Facebook is creating an information stream that will most likely become more and more powerful as time goes on and more applications are added, and as more and more people use it to share their links, offerings, wisdom and news. The great thing about it is that the information is user-generated and not controlled by Facebook’s idea of what is valuable.
This combination of open-source and open-use whereby the user can create a hamlet of personalized space to create identity and share with friends and associates is incredibly attractive to those who want to establish presence and a base of operation. An operating system where the user has control to develop their own information network is changing the way the internet is used. I have only begun to see the possibilities for my system — not only business-wise as a real estate broker, but as a person utilizing the internet to create social space that gives me identity and enables me to connect to streams of useful and enriching information — and to create complex relationships that form a diverse network.
Perhaps “complex” is not the best word, but what I mean is the operating system builds a diverse network of relationships that are connected in more and more far-reaching ways — from friends, to consumers, to colleagues, to vendors, to information sources to partners. This spider-like connection is dependent on the creative development of the network using Facebook’s platform of continuously growing applications and features — and the good thing about the openness is that it brings the applications of other sites to my space and integrates all the tools necessary to build and strengthen the network.
I don’t believe as some do that Facebook will replace Google as the Great Generator, anytime soon, but I do believe Facebook has created the solution to developing networks, creating identity and managing information. The combination of Google search and Facebook’s open platform is a powerful combination that creates a beautiful connection between seekers and those who wish to be sought. And the stream of information is the life blood of it all.
(photo from www.travelblog.org)
Joseph Bridges says:
Mike,
I do agree that facebook has created a great social aspect and a networking component that is different then it’s competitors. How do you see it in comparison to sites like linked?
June 13, 2008 — 10:03 am
Christopher Zabka says:
“The great thing about it is that the information is user-generated and not controlled by Facebook’s idea of what is valuable.”
This is why Facebook was first so popular among college students. I was still in college when it first started getting big; I remember sitting in the student newspaper office hearing one of our editors ask if we had heard of Facebook and if we should write a story on it. The reason it is so successful and such a big part of students’ lives is because it does, as you’ve said so well, allow each user to create his or her own kingdom of sorts and to become a unique voice in an otherwise vast stream of internet information. This is why it is also successful — and will continue to be — among professionals.
June 13, 2008 — 10:14 am
Mike Farmer says:
Thanks Joseph and Christopher,
Joseph: I see Facebook as a more powerful and versatile at this point. While there sare good points to the focus and management of Linkedin, I think the environment is changing so quickly that the freedom of facebook will allow it to innovate in ways that will overshadow the limitation of linkedin — just the “cool” factor alone will place facebook as a big winner. The important analysis though for us is which is more effective at creating business — perhaps with business referral, the focus of Linkedin puts it in a favorable position, but can they monetize their efforts to thrive in this competitive field — if they can then the no-brainer is to utilize both.
Christopher: That’s the beautiful advantage for Facebook — the college breeding ground for future users/fans. The statistics I’ve seen show 60% loyalty after leaving college. That’s powerful.
June 13, 2008 — 11:15 am
Todd says:
I do not consider Facebook to be “open”. They have release some of their technology under a mangled version of the Common Public Attribution License. In fact they are blocking integration with Google and Myspace ( Google has their competing “Open Social” and MySpace has yet another version called “MySpace Platform” ). Social Networks are as bad, if not worse than, listing data “walled gardens”. Lots of examples, this is the first one that came to mind:
http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2008/05/23/the-battle-for-the-future-of-the-social-web/
Apparently we haven’t learned our lessons from BetaMax vs. VHS, BluRay vs. HD-DVD, etc.
June 13, 2008 — 12:31 pm
Joseph Bridges says:
Mike,
Agreed that facebook has a definite cool factor associated with it.
I look at linkedin and that is the product that my former associates who are still in the fortune 500 use and want to be able to find myself and my brother on. I see facebook growing just not sure the current demographics support purchasing although in the future it absolutely will.
It is always a challenge to decide on which tools to use and keep up to date as you can spend your life just updating these great tools.
June 13, 2008 — 2:48 pm
Mike Farmer says:
Todd, I’m sure FB has openness issues that are unresolved (and I don’t presume to understand all the issues), but I believe they will resolve them in favor of users. Any 23 year old that turns down a billion dollars has my vote. From what I have recently read about the long term goal of FB, openness is a vital part of it.
June 13, 2008 — 3:14 pm
Mike Farmer says:
Here is a fairly recent article — http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/02/facebook-turns-platfrom-open-source-via-fbopen/
It seems to me competition will drive all the players to openness. The key will be who can create the best user-experience. I see this as a healthy battle.
What FB is creating will be difficult to compete against — they seem to have a lot of momentum.
June 13, 2008 — 3:23 pm
jay says:
I’m loving Fbook. It is going to be my main method in staying in touch with and up on what is happening in my previous clients lives. Each person I work with I encourage them to join Fbook and friend me. It makes staying in touch with old friends, family, clients so easy–helps maintain the relationships even if they are at arms length. They can see the houses sold each month–just thought of that idea–as well as spontaneous updates on my family with photo uploads, etc.
And referrals will come from Facebook I’m certain of it….Getting a loyal fanbase who are “fans” of your business will be great too. So much to learn and so many ideas to explore….
jay
June 13, 2008 — 6:45 pm
Mike Farmer says:
Exactly, Jay, FB is a long term strategy that will pay dividends as time goes, as applications are added and the network grows.
June 13, 2008 — 7:27 pm
Heather Rankin says:
I started out with Myspace shortly after it came online. Most of my family is there as well as my band stuff. I did Linkedin for RE but it has not been overly productive. So….. off I trundle to try Facebook
June 13, 2008 — 11:49 pm
Teri Lussier says:
Mike-
Very interesting post. I changed my fb profile to say “don’t look for me here”, then I packed my bags and left. I simply didn’t get it and I don’t find it intuitive to use- a big deal for me. At that time, it was mostly other realtors poking me. Kinda funny the first time, less fun with each return poke.
I see the opportunities are certainly there, but I’m holding out for more proof of it’s true usefulness before I go back to spend time hurling sheep, although you have given me something to ponder.
June 14, 2008 — 5:09 am
Mike Farmer says:
I had the same initial response, until i investigated and envisioned the possibilities for building consumer networks, along with colleagues, vendors and information sources. I don’t like the feely-feely aspect of social, but i like the conection aspect and the information aspect and the referral aspect.
I will be your friend and send you messages with a tude.
June 14, 2008 — 7:27 am
Mike Farmer says:
Also, I think we are in the young adult stage of social media growing toward maturity — I just decied to grow with it so that when it gets old, tough and cynical, I’ll be there to reap the benefits of disillusionment and shared disgust with the world.
June 14, 2008 — 7:31 am
Mike Farmer says:
Heather, I’ll meet you there at FB, maybe I’ll send you a house warming gift.
June 14, 2008 — 7:33 am
Teri Lussier says:
>I just decided to grow with it so that when it gets old, tough and cynical, I’ll be there to reap the benefits of disillusionment and shared disgust with the world.
Do you think that’s a real possibility?!?! Why didn’t you say so! ::clapping hands:: Okay, then, I am so there!!!! 🙂
Isn’t there something said about cynics being closet idealists? Or not.
June 14, 2008 — 8:09 am
Sue says:
I agree with Teri, my initial feeling with fb was one of great confusion, more than usual. 🙂 I never returned. When I see a post like this it makes me feel I should go back and check it out. I’ve grown a bit since my first encounter. If its as great as some are saying, I need to push forward. All this social networking stuff, my goodness, how does one keep up?!!
June 14, 2008 — 3:26 pm
Mike Farmer says:
Sue, drink Red Bull.
June 14, 2008 — 5:32 pm
Mike Farmer says:
teri, I don’t know if you got my response today, i sent it by Blackberry, but I said — yes, cynics truly want to believe.
June 14, 2008 — 5:33 pm
Teri L says:
Mike-
I did get your response- I’m guilty. 🙂
June 15, 2008 — 6:29 am
Heather Rankin says:
Mike ~ allrighty then… I am there, started a network (thanks to all who added me) stuck up a few photos but I still feel rather lost. I’ve seen the sentiment floating around “now what” and I guess I am stuck there as well. Is this like the Field of Dreams deal “build it and they will come”?
June 15, 2008 — 6:26 pm
Mike Farmer says:
Yes, have faith Heather. I see the the lights over the hill.
June 16, 2008 — 5:46 pm