Social Networking

Facebook and Twitter are at the top of the food chain of social networking. Rafe Needleman makes predictions for all social networks for 2012. Google+, Yelp, and mobile social networking are making an impact but how great of one? How will social networking affect the presidential election this year?

Mobile social networking is growing rapidly because a majority of people own smartphones. Smartphones already know where you are to how your friends, but now with help from the NFC, smartphones will know what you are buying from what store. That is the next step in mobile social networking.

Due to Twitter’s consumer/fans platform of spreading brand messages, Twitter can create a highly effective campaign. Super Bowl XLVI ads won’t be seen without a Twitter tag attached somewhere.

As everyone saw in the 2008 election, social networking helped candidates reach the younger voters. In this year’s election, the candidates will need to have a strong social network following to have an effective campaign. Needleman predicts that without a strong following on each social network, those candidates will not succeed.

Google+ doesn’t have a leg to stand on against Twitter and Facebook. Google+ has made advancements in their some of their services and the toolbar, but it still isn’t enough compete in the “daily diet of the social networks” (Needleman). Needleman’s predicts that Google won’t get rid of Google+ just yet. He believes that Google will try to promote Google+ with Gmail and other Google services. He also states that most people won’t switch from Facebook to Google+ anytime soon.

Needleman believes that 2012 will be a milestone year for startup Initial Public Offering (IPO). Facebook and Yelp are set to go public in the beginning of 2012. This should be a great success if all goes well.\n\nTo read the entire article go to: http://news.cnet.com/8301-19882_3-57347281-250/5-social-network-predictions-for-2012/

By Katherine Bangert