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Posts Tagged ‘myspace’

Myspace vs. Facebook – Which Is Better?

The answer depends on how you answer two questions:

• Why do you want to set up a social network?
• Where are the people you want to connect with currently networking?

Facebook – The Better Social Networking Platform For Businesses

If you are looking for a social networking tool to use for business, Facebook has grown up.  No longer seen as a network just for teens, in 2010, Facebook became the first online entity to surpass Google in visitor traffic  per month.  You can follow people, organizations, businesses, and even Governments on Facebook.  The question once asked by doubters “is Facebook ready for business?” has been answered.  The new question has become “is your business ready for Facebook?”

Myspace – The Better Social Networking Platform For Music Buffs

While Facebook has evolved into a dynamic multi-purpose social networking tool that appeals to people of all ages – and to businesses, Myspace continues to attract a typically younger, more defined crowd – especially those interested in sharing multimedia and following the entertainment industry.  If you love music, videos, and celebrities and want to connect with a hipper crowd, Myspace has historically been the place to get connected.  However, in January 2011, Myspace laid off almost half of its 1,000 employees – a clear indicator we may see a decline in future developments unless Myspace finds new ways to breathe life into a subculture that has not been able to compete with the broader appeal of Facebook.

Facebook Wins for Business, Family, and Friends

If you are interested in connecting with others for business purposes, Facebook currently offers the best social media platform for business, families, friends, and of course, attorneys – that is, unless you are an entertainment lawyer, then you should exploit both Facebook and Myspace.

What is the correct way to refer to Myspace?  Is it one word or two?  Are both words capitalized?

Use one word when referring to Myspace and only the first letter “M” is capitlized.

The social media platform publicly promotes its name this way:  Myspace and NOT My Space or MySpace.

Will Myspace survive in the face of Facebooks’ success?

Hmmn.  Myspace might survive, if they stop firing CEOs faster than pop tarts warm in a toaster. Oh, and they need to get a real brand, too.

Myspace who?

If I say “Twitter,” do you think of a little blue bird or people sending out tiny annoying messages about the cat?  You’d be pretty accurate if you did.  And if I say “Facebook,” do you picture an “F” and their “Follow Me? tag line?

The trouble is most people do not even recognize the Myspace symbol, nor can they conjure a single, distinct brand image when asked to.  That is because Myspace uses multiple taglines that conflict and make little sense on their own.  “A place for friends,” and “a place for freedom;” which is it Myspace?  And, freedom means exactly what?

Myspace is a social media networking platform that has gone through more identity crisis’ than just about any other major social networking player.  Today, Myspace largely caters to a fairly defined crowd:  People and businesses interested in video, music, and the pop/entertainment industry.  Any social network that targets a niche market is going to have a hard time competing against the “Wal-Mart” social networks that grow by selling in higher volume to the masses.

Myspace – the Virgin Records of Social Media Networks

Anyone can join MySpace for free and start getting connected or to stay on top of the latest happenings in media culture, but you can also use Myspace as a powerful platform to promote or sell your own music and videos.  And, if you like playing with a custom design look and hacking code, Myspace is a lot of fun.  But if you want to connect with people in your “real” life (like Mom, Dad, Uncle Jeff, and your high school buddies from the past) you are more likely to find them on Facebook than on Myspace.

Although its numbers cannot compare to those experienced by mega-social networking beast, Facebook, or even by Twitter, Myspace has its own purpose and place in the sun.  For now.  But it should take a serious look at Virgina Records — a retail business that went after the same crowd Myspace wants — a record giant that closed its last stores in the U.S. in early 2009 (and they even sold hats and t-shirts in addition to music and pop culture!)

So, again, will Myspace survive?

Yes.  But it will never be a force to reckon with again.  I mean, golly , Beave, Facebook has its own movie coming out next year.

The biggest problem I foresee for Myspace has it has proven to be a fair-weather friend when it comes to confusing the needs of its members with its need to make money (and in business, the two connect be disconnected without terrible consequences.) If the past is any indication of the future, Myspace has no trouble laying off its CEOs (so frequently, it has been the subject of more than a few jokes) in an effort to change its  focus.  And that has seriously damaged Myspace branding.  Myspace does not know who they are -so how should we?

My advice to Myspace if you want to survive is simple business advice I would give to anyone:  stick with what you know best.  However, in your case, before you can do that, you first need to figure out just what it is you do best.