Everyone has a Myspace profile. I was shocked when I received a Myspace message from my eight year old niece, even she has a Myspace profile. I’ve been a Myspace member for years, way before it was the “in” thing. I was introduced to Myspace via a class I took at UCLA called the Musician’s Crash Course. The prediction then was that Myspace would be the next big thing and the prediction was correct. Myspace has become part of American culture, so much so that Myspace is going mobile.

MySpace URL: Myspace.com/Marenda

According to Marilynn Mobley, Senior Vice President at Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations firm:

• Myspace is the largest online social networking portal on the web

• Myspace has 61 + million registered users with 21+ million unique visitors

• Myspace is the second largest destination on the web, by page views

• Myspace splits 50.2% male, 49.8% female

• Myspace reaches more men online than ESPN.com & reaches more women than iVillage.com.

• The primary age demographic is 16-34

• Myspace has 1.4 million registered bands and over 350,000 band blogs

• Myspace attracts 220,000 new registrants daily

• Myspace has 50,000 groups including fashion, health, wellness, fitness, sports and recreation, music, film, TV, etc.

Considering these statistics its obvious why many businesses have jumped on the band wagon in hopes of striking Myspace gold.

The problem with most businesses that create Myspace profiles is that they fail to understand Myspace Member Mentality (which is ever changing). The one principle in Myspace User Mentality that never changes is that Myspace Members are not particularily interested in being sold anything.

Discovering something new is part of the Myspace experience. Introducing a new product, service, business, or website to Myspace Members requires a persuasive yet subtle personal touch.

Will people buy products they discover on myspace? Absolutely. I have been a member of Myspace since 2004 and in that time I have bought books, music, made donations, and supported various businesses that I discovered on Myspace. The businesses that I supported did not solicit or spam me. In a few instances they responded to something I wrote in a blog and I discovered their product by visiting their blog. It pays to take a genuine interest in others and to actively participate in the community.

Any business that hopes to gain new customers via Myspace or any other social networking site must trade in the impersonal corporate attitude for a more personable personality. What works in the office, at the store, or in print advertising does not necessarily work for Myspace profiles. Myspace is about connecting with people.

Members of social networking websites like Myspace are interested in first and foremost their own motives, whether its self expression, finding a date, sharing life experiences, or promoting their business. Secondly, members of social networking sites are usually interested in networking with like minded individuals with similar interests and goals, not entities that are trying to sell them something.

In order to effectively promote your business on Myspace you must:

1. Have a clear understanding of Myspace Member Mentality and adjust accordingly.

2. research, study, and identify your target audience.

3. Create a profile that reflects the interests of both your business and target audience.

4. Complete all sections of your profile not just the About Me section. Take the time to include a headline, include who you’d like to meet, list your interests, your website links, company information, add your favorite music/movies/books. Make your profile professional BUT personal.

5. Your profile should include a picture(s) of people not products or logos.

6. Commit to social networking not selling.

7. Actively participate in the community.

8. Avoid pushy sales tactics.

9. Never spam.

10. Add relevant content to your profile frequently that coincides with your target audiences interests while cleverly tying in your business (products/services).

11. Focus your efforts on creating interesting content that will intrigue, engage, and call your Myspace friends to action.

12. Offer your Myspace friends freebies and incentives.

Create a Myspace marketing plan using the chart below as a guide. Each box in the chart is a means to connecting with Myspace members and promoting your business. Follow thru and follow up, be genuine, and you should find success easy. Avoid the urge to just add anyone to your friend list. When it comes to adding, requesting, and accepting friends keep your target audience in mind and make them your #1 friend priority.

Video is not listed on the chart but is another very effective means for communicating with Myspace members and for creating viral marketing campaigns.

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