For some reason, people always want to associate social networking with the ability to sell something when we should take all social networking at its face value.

It’s about socializing, not about selling stuff to your friends.

Can you imagine that in your day-to-day social life, every time someone says "hi" to you, you hand them a brochure or try to sell them something:

"Hey, Jim, how’s it going? I haven’t seen you for a while."

"Bill, great to see you, too. You can’t imagine what a terrific deal I have for you for term life. I mean these prices cannot be beat!"

Can you imagine your entire life being tied to commerce?

"Joe! Hi! How’s the wife? I have a discount coupon for you for the next time you rent from Dollar. Ten percent off, buddy!"

"Frank! Thanks, but that’s nothing. Have you thought about buying your steaks from Omaha Beef? Here’s a special code. Fifteen percent off your first order!"

Obviously this is not the way friends interact. So why are they going to suddenly interact online like that?

Understanding that they won’t is understanding the Achilles heel of commercializing social networking.

People on social-networking sites, whether Facebook or MySpace or Twitter, are networking to connect with people, not products. It can’t go over too well if you are seen online only to exploit your friends.

Now, that doesn’t mean that independent rock bands with fans or artists with collectors cannot have pages on social-networking sites to promote and sell their products. A modest amount of that is tolerated and perceived as a legitimate outlet.

Make no mistake, the Internet and social networks will definitely broaden a market for anyone with something to sell. And it’s quite inexpensive to use the mechanism. But many aspects of it are quite overrated.

And just see how unpopular your social-networking home page becomes once you start spamming all your followers and friends with endless sales pitches and spam. Nobody is there for that.

That said, find people to network with, no agenda, people with common interests, get them talking about their interests and passions, ask them what they do for a living. Make friends, friends for life. That’s what Social Networking is all about.

I appreciate you!

Cristiana Martinez A Mentor with a Servant’s Heart.