Our MyST Blogsite generates highly qualified leads compared to other venues of online lead generation. One of the primary reasons is we have a trust factor, which we built (and continue to build) by providing dependable and accurate information through the blogsite. As a result, actions are more meaningful for business and the customer."
But HoffSpace (like many social networks) is probably turning a profit.
Carlos:
Great comments. I have been to HoffSpace BTW - there are some things you can never un-see and I will require therapeutic counseling for a long time. ;-) However unappealing HoffSpace may be to you and me, it is a "conversation" that probably creates new business transactions. Sure - it seems like worthless droning about a nut-job actor, but the fact that you know about it, is yet additional evidence that social computing is effective.
In contrast, Linkedin is not really a social media site - sure we refer to it as a social network, but the degree of user generated content is very limited. Twitter (a flow application) embraces conversations far better than Linkedin. I've used Linkedin for 5 years - not a single new business deal has ever emerged from that effort. Using Twitter for 8 months, I can point to three deals as a direct result.
While it's easy (at an academic level) to debate the value of online social connectivity, the point of this post is to discuss the value of conversations that lead to business. There is certainly a possibility that your outrageous hypothesis is true, just as the outrageous valuations for systems such as FaceBook suggest there is ample evidence that Cluetrain was right.
Setting aside the possibility that the planet is becoming increasingly ignorant (or maintaining a constant level of ignorance), whether affected or disaffected by social media, aren't conversations emerging as a primary means for determining how to spend income?
I spoke with a group of bloggers in Phoenix recently. What I found is that very few had any business from their blogs despite a lot of effort. I have 5 closings and 7 active buyers directly from [our MyST blogsite] in 2008. I know because I ask. One person told me they have been reading my blog for almost a year before they called me to buy a property."
