Leveraging Social Media Networking

In my discussion of Facebook, Twitter, Twitter directories and Delicious, leveraging social media networking is the theme. Here is a list of topics and points regarding social media networking.

Allowing people to connect with others of like-mind or common interests as friends, colleagues or business players.
Building a presence as a trusted and valued member of the group.
Fostering online networking relationships.
The power of the group to enact change.
Social networking ^[1] (Facebook, Twitter, Fllickr, LinkedIn, Myspace).
Social bookmarking ^[1] (Digg, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Technorati, Reddit).
Social search to find information, an alternative to traditional search engines.
Facebook groups.
Facebook fan pages.
Facebook Like.
Facebook Share.
Twitter follow me and I will follow you back.
It is not who you know but who knows you back.
Creating brand, loyalty and reputation.
Be careful what you say online as for example employers scan Twitter prior to interviews and job offers, or as a regular check on employee sentiment.
Be open and transparent. Post a picture. Be real.
B2C (business to consumer) and B2B (business to business) applications.
Human psychological implications prevail online as does in the physical world (self-esteem, addiction, bullying, trolls).
Privacy issues (not exclusive to Cybespace).
Service platform issues (sites are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination; some are in perpetual beta status).
If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends. – Jeff Bezos (Social media can only expand on the 6,000.)

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^[1] The distinction between social networking and social bookmarking is a blurred line. Consider both bullets as one if you prefer. Listed sites are examples only. By no means is it comprehensive.