A compilation of various social networks, communities + virtual worlds

A list of communities ranging from virtual worlds, social networks for youth, boomers and the retired.

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Tell me what you really think of me

Do you take critiques well from friends? Brands are learning that if you want to start a conversation, there's going to be a listening part associated to the relationship. And this is proving to be a difficult hurdle for brands who are used to shaping the consumers perceptions with one sided communications. But as Matt Freeman, CEO of digital-media advertising company GoFish says, "It's a cultural change for brands that are used to having more control over their communication...and cultural changes take time."

Its also a matter of how you want to manage the feedback, which in the web 2.0 realm is inevitable. Do you want to handle the negative critiques head on,"in your own backyard?" Or as Dave Morgan, former head advertising strategy for AOL says," would you rather have it pop up on blogs, social-network pages, and other sites where you may never see it. "It's sort of like how taking your medicine right away is better."

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More reinforcement

More reinforcement that its more about building actual relationships than going for the big 'grand' hit.

Seth Godin proposes that its better for advertisers to put their money in the back end. "The best time to promote something is after it has raving fans, after you've discovered that it works, after it has a groundswell of support. And more important, the best way to promote something is consistently and persistently and for a long time."

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What's next in advertising

"What's next in advertising - moving from advertising to marketing," is a really smart presentation worth seeing. In a nutshell its all about -- branded utility.
see the slideshow here

props to Jeff for this excellent find

Emerging from behind the corporate logo

Corporations are using company blogs to reveal more of their human side. Jeremiah Owyang discusses the pros and cons of the Corporate, Team and Personal Blogs.

read it here