LinkedIN is a professional networking site -- it's not like MySpace or similar social media websites except in the fact that it uses the social networking model.

The social model is a method of expanding your connections to other people by inviting them to connect to you, and in-turn connecting to your extended network of contacts and connections.

A powerful way to build connections to others (which may lead to job offers, orders for products or services, a new employee or other professional contact), create a LinkedIN account and start adding contacts.

Here's the benefit: Lets say you have ten friends, business associates, customers or others who know what you do, like you, and would refer or recommend [READ MORE...]

Common Name: Plaxo

Niche: Personal Social Networking

Slogan: We keep you connected to the people you know and care about.

What they say about themselves: "First, Pulse is not a place to see how many online "friends" you can collect. It’s meant to be a better way for you to stay in touch with the people you actually know and care about — your family, your real-world friends, and the people you know from business."

What I say about plaxo: Ok, now here's something that looks similar to other social networks -- but it is different.

Plaxo does not try to compete for members and promise them they can meet new friends and share everything with the world.

Plaxo is more of an a social networking aggregator. The service, which started as an online address book site includes features so you can keep track of your favorite websites, web services and people.

Members can create a public and a private profile page, then add links and the plaxo "Pulse" feature will track which of your contacts has added new content to their blogs, Facebook, MySpace, Flikr and other social media content sites.

A comprehensive address book makes it easy for you to organize home, work and other contacts information. You can create your own calendar, send eCards and other event based features.

While the site claims to very strongly support users privacy rights, it should be noted that Plaxo recently became a subsidiary of Comcast Interactive Media. If their promotional material is to be believed, they will not use your private data for any type of user profiling or marketing -- but they are owned by a very large commercial online player.

www.plaxo.com

Common Name: mixi

Niche: Japan, 18+ social networking website

What they say about themselves: I don't know, I can't read Japanese, and you can only get access to the site if you are invited by another memeber.

What I say about mixi: They must be doing something right since they have an 80% share of the Japanese social media networking market and have grown from approximately 10,000 memebers in 2004 to nearly 20 Million in 2008. I'll add that I like the idea of viral networking. Rather than "blogs" mixi calls it personal postings "diaries" (even the Japanese interface uses this word). Mixi is free to use and designed for the 18+ Japanese social networking market.

http://mixi.jp

Common Name: NetModular

Niche: SaaS - social Networking for Business

What they say about themselves: "Netmodular sites are not part of some amateur Network, we create beautiful and effective Social Networks that delight users and enhance your brand." -Jesse Tayler, CEO, Netmodular Community"

What I say about NetModular: At $9500 for setup and $10k a year, NetModular is aiming to shake a few bucks from the corporate blog wanna be's -- as Frank Zappa would say, "strictly commercial"... although I think Frank would have hired someone else if he was around for Web 2.0.

www.netmodular.com

Common Name: Hyves

Niche: Holland's #1 Social Networkng Website

Slogan: Always in touch with your friends.

What they say about themselves: "Holland's most popular website, with over 7 million members and over 2 billion pageviews per month."

What I say about Hyves.net: Well, I'm not from Holland, but the members look like they are having fun. Active user pages with lots of "friending". Videos are their own, (not YouTube). Site has a multi-lingual interface, (mostly european laguages). Main features are personal pages, videos, photos and connections to schools / classmates. The namesake "Hyves" are topical interest groups, for example their World Soccer Hyve with over 350,000 members!

www.hyves.net