| Official Site / Service Blog |
(short for the phrase "Web log") Blogs are web-based tools that allow users to post a topic (or entry) and allow other users to view this topic and post their respective comments/responses to the topic. Most social networking sites are based around blogging as they are the basis for communication among users. Easy to use blogging tools that clearly display topics and responses is critical is selecting a social networking site. |
| Page Tagging |
Page tags are simply words that best identify a page or person who maintains a page. For example, if you are a skydiving fanatic, you should tag your page with phrases such as skydiving and skydiver so that when other users want to meet someone who skydives, your name and page shows up in the search results. Page tagging is important for allowing others to find your page or any kind of content (photos, videos, music, etc.) on the Internet. |
| Classifieds |
Classifieds are collections of items that are for sell or that are wanted by users. Classifieds essentially connect consumers. Examples of classifieds include job postings, personals (i.e. people looking for dates), product listings (i.e. users trying to sell things such as electronics, houses, pets, etc.). Classifieds are a great way to find products that are relatively inexpensive because you typically communicate directly with the owner of the items. |
| Instant Messenger |
Instant Messenger applications are programs that allow Internet users to communicate with each other in real-time using web-based chat or voice communication. Users typically download an instant messenger, create a profile (username and password), get their friends to download the same instant messenger, then chat with each other through web-chat or voice communication. Instant messengers have taken over traditional chatroom communication due to the fact that users can control the number of people they communicate with (i.e. direct one to one conversation) versus most chat rooms having multiple people (sometimes hundreds) chatting among one another. |
| Video Content |
Video content is becoming increasingly popular and part of most social networks. Video content can include user generated content (home videos) as well as professionally produced content such as CNN news feeds. |
| Profile Page |
This is the heart of any social networking site. A profile page is created by a user and has all of their personal information on it including biographical information, their blogs, pictures/photos, personal videos, personal likes/dislikes, and anything else about the users that he/she decides to post on this page. The profile page is the center for sharing and networking among users online. Profile pages can be public (i.e. anyone who comes to the page can see them) or they can be private and only seen by those designated by the creator of the profile page. The key to a good profile page is what types of information can posted on the page and how customizable the page is (i.e. colors, layouts, HTML/Non-HTML, etc.). |
| Multi-Lingual |
As online networking become international, there is increasing demand for sites translate their offerings into multiple languages. This entails translating all site text and currencies into those of the new language. The most popular languages for site translations are English, Chinese, and Spanish. In some instances, there is not much translation but more content programming as many countries speak English but don't want to necessarily consume English (or Western content). In these instances, the sites remain in English but the content is localized and catered towards to target consumer (i.e. more Australian content for an Australian site or more British content for a UK site). |
| Photo Sharing |
Photo sharing is extremely popular in today's Internet world. The ability for users to upload and share photos has become the driving force behind many recent Internet revolutions including social networking sites and photo sharing communities. Some sites offer a limited number of photo uploads and some offer unlimited photo uploads and sharing. |
| eCommerce / Retail |
This entails the ability for users to purchase additional products or services. For example, users have the ability to buy related and unrelated items such as music, books, electronics all through this service using their existing account. If the user has to go to another site to purchase the item, then the referring site does not offer commerce but simply clicks users to another partner for purchase. |
| User Contests |
Contests are becoming an increasingly popular way to keep users around and make sites more sticky. Contests involve offering users of a site the ability to win cash or prizes in some form of competitive arena including singing, drawing, video content, anything other type of contest whereby a winner can be determined. |
| Video Chat |
Video chat is the ability to communicate with other users on the web via a chat or voice application but also see the person you are talking to at the same time through video screen. |
| Minimum Age to Join |
Age required by the social networking site before you can register |
| Customize Skins |
Customizable Skins allow users to change the look of their profile pages including colors, layouts, fonts, content boxes, etc. This is critical for users that don't like the default profile page looks. |
| ChatRooms |
Chatrooms allow users to communicate in real-time through electronic messages in a "room" with multiple users. Chatrooms can range in size from 2 people to hundreds of people who are interacting with one another about specific topics. |
| Photos |
Allows users to post photos of themselves or anything they want for others to see. You can sometimes limit which users can see your photos. |
| Max # of Photos |
Some sites restrict the number of photos you can post on your profile. |
| Invite Friends to Join |
Users can invite their friends to see their profile page content. This invite is usually in the form of an email sent to the friend which they can accept and subsequently join the site the invite came from. |
| Post Comments |
Allows users to post messages (along with a picture in some cases) on another user's profile page for others to read. |
| Tags |
Tags are words that allow users to categorize content and for other users to search for content. |
| Browse User Profiles |
Allows users to browse a listing of profile pages of other users. |
| General Search |
General search allows users to input search terms which if found anywhere on a user's profile, will show that user's profile. |
| Friends List |
This is a list of users that you have allowed to join your friends network and gain access to all of your content (videos, photos, blog content, etc.). |
| Bulletins |
Bulletins allow websites to post important messages for users to read and comment on |
| Ability Block Users |
Allow users to block other users from sending them messages, commenting, or seeing content posted on a profile page. |
| Create User Groups |
Allow users to create a group which is a # of users that share comment interest or discuss a particular topic. Groups can be invitation only or open to anyone who wants to join. |
| User Blogs |
User blogs (web logs) allow users to post entries about any topic and have other users read and comment on these entries. Blogs are digital diaries that can be open to the public for anyone to read or comment on or seen by the owner of the blog or a select few users as defined by the blog owner. |
| Forums |
Forums (commonly referred to as message boards) allow a company, or individual, to post an entry on a topic and have other users comment on those entries. Forums are very similar to blogs in structure and functionality. |
| Messaging / Mail |
Messaging/Mail allows users to communicate with one another through private email messaging usually done through the web browser (not an email client). |
| Address Book |
An address book is a digital black book that allows users to store the personal information of important people they want to keep in touch with. These address books can be integrated within social networks and allow users to very easily communicate with a group of users with a single click. |
| TV On Demand |
TV On Demand is a service that allows users to watch their favorite TV programs from their computer on demand (searching and clicking on the show they like). Not all TV networks allow their content to be watched on-demand. |
| Videos |
Allow users to watch video content submitted by users, professionals, or a website itself through the browser or some form of video player. |
| Music |
Allow users to post and listen to (from a profile page) music from their favorite artists. |
| Music Videos |
Provide users with music video content from bands/artists that can be watched through a web browser or other video player. |
| Games |
Allow users to play games including card games, puzzle games, action games, trivia, etc. |
| Classifieds |
Classifieds are collections of items that are for sell or that are wanted by users. Classifieds essentially connect consumers. Examples of classifieds include job postings, personals (i.e. people looking for dates), product listings (i.e. users trying t |
| Event Listings |
Allow users and the website itself to post information on up and coming events including concerts, parties, conferences etc. |
| Book Category |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Horoscopes Category |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| News Category |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Sports Category |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Weather Category |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Multi-Lingual (Other Languages) |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Adult / Sexual Content |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Explicit Photos |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Regional Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Romance/Relationships Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Games Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Entertainment & Arts Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Sports & Recreation Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Automotive Groups |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Hobbies & Crafts Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Pets & Animals Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Health & Wellness Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Sexual Orientation Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Jobs/Career Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Cultures & Community Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Family & Home Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Fashion & Style Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Food & Drink Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Schools & Education Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Religion & Beliefs Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Computers & Internet Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Government & Politics Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Business & Finance Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Science & History Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Ability to Create a Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Music Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Travel Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Diet & Fitness Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Fan Clubs Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Schools & Alumni Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |
| Film/Television Group |
Content category whereby users of similar interests communicate and discuss any and everything about the topic |