Internet activity is being highlighted by the enormous growth in the numbers using Internet Portals like MySpace.com and FaceBook.com. A google search for 'Social Networking' will reveal the entry in Wikipedia.org listing over 120 Websites in this category. Add to this the many community based websites having their own forum and it's evident that large numbers of people are connecting on-line with friends and acquaintances. In most cases, there is no initial cost involved with participating at the basic level.

The American Business portal, Linkedin.com, recently announced that they had over one million United Kingdom based account holders. Linkedin attributes much of its success to its Question and Answer section where a member can invite those in their network to answer a question on a particular subject. After a few days the poster will review the answers and nominate one as the most helpful. Like many of these portals, the majority of members contribute only their time rather than their cash!

As in the off-line world, the valuation of an on-line company is often based on the perception of a few wealthy individuals. One such company, California based Ning.com, has successfully attracted over £50 million of investment valuing the company at almost quarter of a billion pounds. Marc Andreessen, formally of Internet pioneer, Netscape and Gina Bianchini have created the Ning platform which currently hosts over 250,000 customisable Social Networking Websites, mostly at no cost to their participants.

Perhaps the newest initiative capturing the imagination of the growing numbers in on-line communities is Twitter.com. Described as a micro-blogging service, participants keep their followers informed by text-based 'tweets' of up to 140 characters. When you receive an email telling you that Barack Obama is following you on Twitter, even though you're only one of about 50,000, you immediately believe that you just might be listened too!!

FSB Salisbury Branch committee member, Richard Parsons, is building his online reputation by actively participating in many of the Internet's social and business networking websites. Being connected through an on-line community should enhance the effectiveness of off-line networking, hopefully, leading to the successful marketing of local goods and services.

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