Are Facebook and MySpace a Waste of Time for Business Networking?

I've discovered that general social networks Facebook and MySpace can be complete waste of time for business. It's that simple. Facebook is a gaming gimmick that wastes office time.

I've therefore decided that I'm only spending time with the "Big 5" business networking sites SUp.biz, Plaxo, LinkedIn, Ecademy and Xing.

I'll focus on Facebook here - my browser keeps crashing with the junk and scripts running on MySpace, and the illegibility of any profiles just makes it unusable.

Let's just look at 3 popular applications on Facebook:

1: Top Friends
Add a box of up to 32 of your BFFs to your profile.
2,658,733 daily active users

2: FunWall
Videos, Photos, Graffiti, Greeting Cards, Embeds and more!
2,603,946 daily active users

3: Movies
Test your movie knowledge with the Never-Ending Movie Quiz.
2,373,887 daily active users

A very impressive list by daily active users, you must agree. Is there anything there that jumps out at you as a compelling reason to spend time online at work 'networking'? Indeed. I could go down the list of the top 20 apps and continue showing you things that have nothing to do with networking.

Let me offer you some alternatives:

1: Top Employees
Access the career history of potential employees and talk to people who worked with them to make sure you make the right hire.
17,000,000+ users at LinkedIn,

2: Blog Roll
Write on your area of expertise, enjoy feedback from your peers, link to your blog or web sites and have your article referenced by Google within 30 minutes of writing it.
300,000+ users at Ecademy

3: Moving People
Tired of updating old addresses and phone numbers and getting bounced emails? Let people you want to stay in touch keep thier own contact details up to date without lifting a finger!
35,000,000+ users at Plaxo,

4: Super Border
If you're thinking of doing business somewhere unfamiliar, how about a database that lest you pinpoint and contact any English-speaking lawyers who enjoy sailing and wine, live near Barcelona, and used to work for XYZ Partners?
3,000,000+ users at Xing

5: Lapel Sticker
Want to meet real business people in your area to find out if they can help you develop your business, advocate your services or become your customer? With hundreds of events monthly, organise and publicise your own events, even carry out registration and take payment in advance from attendees for your own events.
300,000+ users at Ecademy

I'll stop there, as time is money.

The "Big 5" networks are strictly for business, and they segregate the serious from the part-time business people by using a very simple qualifier: They charge for extended use of features or additional, more convenient access to the membership of their networks. Most have free use options, but one can spend a little cash to get rid of ads, run groups, advertise, mail your network updates, search for suitable candidates, etc. Like most business services - you pay more for better quality and choice.

Owning a credit card is a pretty good proof of age, and a qualifier for serious intent in a business is when it puts its money where its mouth is.

Facebook is free because your personal data and interactions with your 'social graph' is being sold to the advertisers.

There are places for social networking.

There are places for business networking.

But if you think there is a place where social networking and business networking can meet, you're wasting your time.

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Comment by Priscilla Ferguson on January 9, 2009 at 11:19am: Facebook=personal time, far-flung family, non-serious, after-hours.
For business contacts I agree Facebook is not the place. Your suggestions were beneficial for a newcomer. thanks

Comment by Staci Wallace on January 9, 2009 at 11:19am: I hate to be the only one to disagree, but I suppose it depends what line of business you are in. For me, I am in the business of changing people's lives. I strongly believe that great leaders are formed, not because of what they DO, but WHO they become in the process.

Although I am founder of a competing Social Network to Facebook or Myspace, I strongly embrace their power and their benefits to connect ordinary individuals who are looking for "connection". By having the Facebook account, I have had individuals find me, connect with my services, and experience drastic life change. Most recently was the gal who found me, connected with our network, and lost 97.7 pounds in only 7 months.

Yesterday, I was contacted by a very well known leader who heard of me 12 years ago and is now going through a difficult divorce. She found me on Facebook of all places!

I believe that building a great business is about building great relationships. As we can see by the social network craze, not everyone speaks the same language. Using social media is a powerful tool for business expansion. The key is to know who speaks what language and make your presence (branding) available to that network.

Perhaps paying for ad space isn't the best way to utilize those networks. The best and most beneficial use is to use them to create relationships. "People want to know how much you care, before they care how much you know." -Zig Ziglar

Nonetheless, everyone has varied marketing practices that work for them. I have just found that the Facebook hype has its benefits, if you use for the right advantage.

Cheers,

Staci Wallace

Comment by Youniquely Chic on January 9, 2009 at 11:18am: Thanks! I have been debating setting up on facebook AND Myspace, I won't waste my time!

Comment by Chuck Bartok on January 9, 2009 at 11:17am: Facebook, like all other Social network site can be a Boon or Bane.
One must allocate Time slot daily to Visit. My students have found no more than 1 hour (usually Scattered 3x) to be very effective and allow time to Focus on the Main Thing.
I introduced a couple of my Corporate clients to Facebook and it has proved financially rewarding.

They are very Targeted and appeal only to
narrow Niches.

Comment by Joanne (JP) Stein on January 9, 2009 at 11:15am: I agree regarding LinkedIn... It's through emailing a new business "link" that I learned about this site.

My favorite parts about LinkedIn are:

Having real conversations about topics. (Participating in the Question and Answer section is key here. The more you give the more you get.)

Having access to subject matter experts who willingly share their knowledge.

Being part of a global community and learning how things vary based upon cultures.

I have met the most incredible people just by being active in the LinkedIn community. There's no other way I could have met so many talented people in such a short period of time.

To your success and happiness,
JP
"Career Angel"

Comment by Margaret Wolf on January 9, 2009 at 11:15am: I personally like Facebook. I don't see where it has helped my business but it is a fun easy way to communicate with people as an alternative to an e-mail. Plus, everybody gets to read your posts. With an e-mail, only the recipients of the e-mail get to read what you say. Yes, it can be a waste of time but so can just about anything else. I think it is about if you enjoy how you spend your time. After all, it is your time.

Comment by Pamela Lampkin on January 9, 2009 at 11:13am: I really like facebook. I have connected with high school friends and college friends. Never thought of it for networking or business but I am sure it can lead to that from your friends. I haven't used it in the networking capacity as of yet. It's addictive to me. I know where to go for certain things. I go to LinkedIn for business and Facebook to play and possibly network. Wasting office isn't so bad sometimes...I get bored easily!

Comment by Donna Miles (Moore) on January 9, 2009 at 11:12am: I believe that all the networks have quite a bit in common, Although I am new to the networking world, I find myspace for my daughter to be a great networking tool, she's a christian rap artist. As for me as I build my business I have found a lot of multi-touch systems in place. If you know what you are going to use each site for by being intentional, they all will serve some purpose.

Comment by Lance Brown on January 9, 2009 at 11:11am: I can't say I totally agree. I guess it depends on whether or not you believe in getting to know the people you are working with or selling to. If you do face book is as good as any avenue although the other ones you mentioned may be a little more targeted. But considering Mike Dillard just joined face book I have to think he knows what he is doing. As he says he has built his business on 3 things. Build your list,get to know your list, and then market to your list.

Comment by Carol Evans on January 9, 2009 at 11:10am: I joined Facebook, my first foray into network marketing to increase my business exposure as I had been told Spacebook was for young and Facebook for professionals. It has not increased my business one iota, however, I have re-connected with old friends from many moons ago and have been making new friends. So I will use it for friendship. My company doesn't allow us to advertise so that makes it difficult and I was hoping to build relationships that would lead into other areas. So I guess I will try Linkedin and MetroCityConnection for business.