For those just diving into the realm of social media, social networks are sites that allow you to create an online presence for yourself. If managed properly, this presence can be a very powerful tool and enables clients and prospective clients to find you and get to know you and your business. Typically, these networks allow you to share information within the community of the site. In the beginning we had MySpace and Facebook, social networking sites have now expanded to the worlds of Linkedin, Twitter, Digg and Stumble Upon just to name a few.
So, what about WordPress? Isn’t it a social network too? No…at least not yet!
WordPress MU (multi-user), is releasing a new platform, Buddypress, that will have built in features similar to existing social networks, giving WordPress the "appearance" of being your latest social networking site. If you don’t use WordPress MU, which requires dedicated hosting, don’t worry because WordPress offers many social networking plugins to their users.
There is one other main difference between WordPress and all the social networking sites. On WordPress and other blogging platforms, individuals come online to their own specific location. With the popular social networks, while users have their own "page" or presence online, it is not really their own as it is just an extension of the social network that is hosting the user’s presence.
How do you implement the features of social networking while using a blogging platform?
The key is plugins, and WordPress has many free and user-friendly plugins available. Many of the networking plugins provide one-click access for your readers to other popular social networks where you have a presence. Most blog owners utilize either an icon or a form of drop-down menu appearing at the bottom of single posts or on their blog’s sidebar. Popular plugins include About Me, Social Links, Social Bookmarks, Social Dropdown, SocioFluid, and Tweet My Blog, just to name a few.
Some examples of WP plugins that help spread your online social presence.
- Socialite – This one publishes your WordPress posts to sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.
- Twitter Updater – Just what it appears to be, Twitter Updater is a plug that notifies Twitter of your new blog posts. WordPress even offers a widget form of this plugin that will display your Twitter feed in your blog sidebar.
- Lifestream – Possibly the most complex, this plugin logs all your online social activity on other networks and provides a live stream for your blog readers to follow you socially online.
The key to successful social networking with WordPress is not just enabling your readers to follow you through your other connections, but engaging them to stay invested with your blog.
WordPress also offers several plugins to facilitate engaging your readers.
- WP-Polls allow you to build online polls you can then add to your blog post or your sidebar. Readers are able to interact with you and leave comments.
- FV Community News allows readers to publish news items to your sidebar.
- How about providing a space on your sidebar for top or recent comments? Top Commenters plugin facilitates this function.
As the Internet and the growing number of online communities continue to grow, you need to be ready to help plant your social networking seed and offer your readers their own presence on your site too and WordPress can help you do just that with the simple addition of a multitude of readily available plugins.
