Anyone who has spent any time on the Internet knows that social networking is the next big web communication wave. You've probably gotten emails from friends asking you to join one or two or more of them, and I would bet you are a member of at least one social network. For the longest time I resisted. I just didn't "get" what they were all about, and I especially didn't see any value in spending my time messing with them. Finally, I caved, and I am now a member of a number of social networks. Some I've really enjoyed; some I still don't "get"; and some I just think are stupid.

So, before I get too specific, the reason I bring this topic up on a jewelry making site is that I think social networks, when you pick the right ones and do the right thing with them, can add value to your jewelry designing, depending, of course, on your goals:

If, for example, you have a jewelry making business where you sell your jewelry, then they can be a great way to connect to potential customers. As an exmaple, if you have a blog you use to promote your jewelry site, you can use these to feed links into or just update a wider audience about your products.

If you are a total hobbyist with no current plans to sell your jewelry or making any kind of income from your hobby, then social networks an be a good way to hook up with like-minded jewelry makers and crafters.

I've spent awhile now trying to understand different social networks (SN) and figuring out what, if anything, about them works for me both professionally and socially. Here is my opinion (so far)on some networks that I've joined:

Twitter: I'm totally loving Twitter. Twitter is sort of a super short blog network. You only can type in 140 characters per post, and you follow other members and they can follow you. It's really hard to explain if you haven't tried it, but what I like about it is that it's very fast (140 characters doesn't take long to type!), it's pretty easy to understand once you get going, it provides a way for me to post links about updates I've done on my site here, and it's a fun way to connect with people I know, but again, very quickly and briefly.

LinkedIn: I also like LinkedIn, though it seems to me to be more of a place to post your professional information and make professional contacts than to just socialize or promote your business. This is a network that makes sense to me because it is sort of like an on-line resume that anyone can view and if you are looking for work or looking for workers, you can post this to members of your LinkedIn group.

Facebook: Though I am a member of Facebook, I have to admit I still am not "getting" this one. People are writing on walls and sending me donuts. Huh? One nice thing about it, though, is that I have set it up to get my Twitter feeds, so I like that. Otherwise, if anyone can explain this social network to me, I'll listening.

MyCraftivity: This is another social network I'm enjoying. As a member of MyCraftivity, I can add links in the blog section to updates, much like Twitter, and I can chat with other crafters. Generally, I have found this SN pretty easy to navigate. It also allows you to post videos and pictures.

MySpace: Of course, who hasn't heard of MySpace? I also have a page there where I post links via the blog and generally try to include information about my jewelry making and writing. However, my computer doesn't seem to like this SN very much. Granted, it probably is time for an upgrade, but it's pretty annoying that it is so slow for me to move around over there. Plus, I just don't find it user friendly. I can't tell you how long it took me to set up my page over there! The up side is that, from what I've heard, it is a great way to bring in traffic. So, once I get a new computer, maybe I'll find out if this is really true or not.

GoodReads: This is another SN that may or may not be a good fit for the jewelry hobbyist, but considering all the great craft books out there, some of you may like it. I use it to help promote my writing as well as post links about what I'm reading and the book reviews I write for this site. It doesn't seem to have a very active community when it comes to forums, but it pretty easy to navigate, and if you are a book lover, then you'll like it.

CraftStylish: I have to admit, though I'm a member, that I haven't spent as much time on this network as I would like to. I like the concept a lot of connecting crafting to fashion. This SN seems to still be under construction a little, so that's why I haven't done a lot over there, but I think it has potential.

Shew! Okay, those are the social networks I've attempted to figure out. There are so many more out there, and there seem to be a lot for those of us who enjoy arts and crafts. So, let's here your thoughts on SNs. List your profile links to SNs in the comment section so we can all check them out, and feel free to make me your friend, tweet me, or send me a donut!