Social Networking and The 3rd Place

The Internet is where most people are going for information at their fingertips, but does it take the place of "The 3rd Place" where people meet with each other? Where do people gather Now to meet on a daily basis?

Sociologist, Ray Oldenburg (The Great, Good Place) talks about how society has been eroding those 3rd Places in America and is those places are needed "where everybody knows your name." What Oldenburg calls "The Third Place" is different from home and work. It's somewhere people can relax in good company on a regular basis.

These Third Places are diners, coffeehouses, espresso bars, gyms, hair salons and other places that provide a jumping-off point for conversation within the community. People want an authentic and connected way of life and do not want to be isolated.

I have lived in the heart of the city, but one of one of my favorite places is actually in an suburb north of Seattle, Washington, in a 3rd Place created in a former shopping mall and built around community college with classes.

It has a bookstore, food court, an open area for music events, guest speakers, book readings, and group get togethers, such as game players, knitting and crocheting groups, wine tasting, food classes, discussion groups and any number of things. I can take my laptop there and always feel welcome, listen to live music, just relax, sit, have a cuppa coffee or tea, eat, visit, read, or just hang out in the community. It is a warm, welcoming place and friendly place.

It is great to get out of the noise of the big city, there is no dealing with the parking downtown (actually about 20 miles away), BUT not a convenient 3rd Place Online Social Network Community to meet with others with like-interests in the comfort-of-my-home 24/7 with vast creative interests and subjects to pursue.

In Social Networking communities there are people with similar personal and business interests and activities that email, instant message, blog, and talk with regularly. Social networking is a powerful way millions of people regularly communicate information and is here to stay in our every day life. They share information on a daily basis.

Ning and Facebook are Social Network sites and are widely used in North America and are based on trust. They have no cost for membership, some do have online marketplaces and have connections to other businesses, such as LinkedIn.

As you become a Social Networker and decide where your community of Contacts will become on an ongoing basis, they will get to know you and Trust You. Value is created as you share information with your community and You build your business by what is called Internet Attraction Marketing. People will be "Attracted" to you and business - monetary income will result from little effort on your part. The millions of people who communicate daily on the internet make Social Networking a powerful tool to tap into.

Below is an example of what can happen if you spend a "wee" little bit of time linking your sites together while you are communicating on your Social sites.

You link your Blog to your Social Networking sites:
Example:

Facebook ---> Blog

Ning ---> Blog

**Action & Results -- You can get leads and contacts with you are actively participating in these Social Networking sites.

Real Action and Monetary Success happens when people talk, share information and VALUE - You can be that person.

For further support with Social Networking and Internet Marketing Contact:
Kathy Beaman - email: kathy@SmallStepsMarketing.com