Now that I am one third of the way through my journey, I have shifted gears from a sheer volume-based search to a quest for useful and interesting social platforms. Since we are in the middle of a speculative Web 2.0 bubble, there is a virtually limitless supply of niche social media sites. For those of you who disagree with this assertion, there is Ning.com where you can “roll your own” social media network.
With over 30 sites in the bag, I am looking for tools that can help me keep track of my friends and “share” my status updates (I know this is a broadcast approach to social media but it is the best I have right now). I am still using HelloTxt as my preferred tool for aggregation and distribution. I am regularly logging onto Twitter, Facebook and Brightkite (maybe its because I want people to know that I spend my days on the 42nd floor of the Firstgiving Tower in Davis Sq.)
Here are the latest Tangy extensions:
Mybloglog: Now a Yahoo property, this site allows you to aggregage content from 49 sites (yes 49 sites!) in one place. It also allows you to create an RSS feed or push your content to a bunch of third part sites including Netvibes. This seems intriguing for its sheer volume of sites but I am still trying to figure out how it works.
Profilactic: Memorable name aside, this is yet another aggregator (YAA). It seemed promising until I learned I needed a Ping.FM account to update my statuses.
Ping.FM: Yep, they are in a private beta. I signed up for it and offered to say something nice on my blog if they sent me a beta code. I guess they’ve heard that line before. Anyone out there have a spare one?
SocialThing: YAA. Surprise, they are having a private beta. This is getting a little predictable. I sent in my email but I’m not holding my breath. Do I have any friends on this site? My kids’ school PTO really needs the money for cultural enrichment programs.
Yoono: (I think it is pronounced “You Know”): This is a browser plugin that functions as YAA. I like the idea of this as it connect to the biggies (ie Twitter, Facebook, and a bunch of IM clients). The UI, however, is a little confusing and the sidebar can get distracting. I’m going to run with it a few more days to see if it grows on me.
Enough for now. Friend you later.
Dude, you’re on 42 now? After all the desk shuffling, I was looking for you up on 47 where the cool kids sit.
What’s up with all these social networks in private beta? If the value of the network is all the people in it, what good does it do to restrict membership? The few sites in private beta that have been foolish enough to let me in, it feels like an echo chamber, there’s nobody there. Sure, nobody wants a twitteresque failure due to overload, but I don’t think a social site can afford be half pregnant.
Friend you later…
I am sorry that signing up for ping.fm is a turnoff/pain, but @ Profilactic we have a beta code. Just go to the Post Something box and you can find it there.
Ping.fm doesn’t like the profilactic beta code. I get a message that this code has come and gone.
I guess I’ll have to see if my begging will work.
I slung you an invite to SocialThing! to your @tangyslice address. Enjoy!
Also, check out http://www.inviteshare.com/ – it might help you in your quest.