I'm sure you have heard about social networking, after all it is incredibly popular worldwide. With social networking websites people can connect with friends and family, meet new people and join communities. There are many different social networking sites and some are targeted to specific niches while others are more general. Even those general websites may contain groups that are to bring together likeminded individuals. If you are looking to meet people that share the same interests then social networking is what you need.

There are many different social networking sites to choose from with the most popular being Facebook and Twitter. These sites have millions of members worldwide. Then there are a number of smaller social networking sites like Adult Friend Finder and Orkut. There are also many niche targeted social networking websites like Ravelry and Library Thing. These sites target specific interests so members can meet other people with similar interests.

What is Social Networking?

Social networking websites are really just one big community of people that come together to connect with one another. You can socialize with people that live on the opposite side of the world. You can chat, share photos and share videos with people all over the world. You can meet people that share your interests and build new friendships. You can locate people that you have lost touch with over the years. When you join a social networking website you will create a profile and list some of your interests and then other may contact you or send a friend request if they share those interests.

Making new friends and socializing is just one of the many benefits that come with social networking sites. Another benefit is the ability to meet people from all over the world. Sites like Facebook have members in Australia, United States, England and many more countries around the world. If you have family or friends that live in another country you can easily communicate with them through a social networking site.

Not only can you keep in touch with friends and families but you can also develop business partnerships and build a targeted audience for your business. Many social networking sites will allow members to make friendships based on their common interests and characteristics. You fill in your interests or your business information in your profile and others will find you based on those interests. For example, if you have a business that sells children’s clothing then you can mention in your profile that you have a children's clothing business. You can also join parenting groups or start your own group and build relationships with other members. When you build relationships on a personal level you gain the trust of your potential customers which will make them very valuable customers.

Social networking really is a fantastic way to meet new people for many reasons. You can meet new friends that share a hobby or have the same religion or you can build business relationships. Because social networking is so popular, it is a tool that business owners should use to their advantage.

Social networking is one of the fastest growing social and marketing tools available online, enabling you to contact potential clients all over the world.