Community About Communities

Beyond the Monetization of the Social Network

I am recycling bits here; but this article: “Social Capitalism - the Monetization of the Social Network” brought back this topic to my memory:

These days community and monetization go in the same paragraph and even in the same line; most of the times that takes the form of monetization through advertisement and up sell/cross sell of services/products. However I want to offer the thesis that it is not always about monetization, at least not that directly as expressed in the paragraph above (nothing against money; I like it as well as the next person).

I believe online communities / social networking it is also about helping people realize about possibilities they never thought about before; I bet you have been in the situation when you saw someone do something and thought to yourself: “that is a neat trick and would help me; I will do the same” Well. Online communities allow you to share that effect across the world with so many people that the implications are amazing..

I think is also about better products; for the customers and for the company creating those.. online communities offer this incredible opportunity for a true partnership that should benefit both (yes, more money for the companies.. but better products for the customers as well)

What do you think?

Filiberto Selvas