House of Social Networks

I was working with a client yesterday (11.7.2008) and came up with a great metaphor to frame how social networking is helpful. Each kind of social network is a like a room in a house. How might each one help us with our work and play?

Facebook to me are the rec or living room. These networks are colorful, full of pictures and are great places to entertain — you can create an event and see who is coming or post something you’d like to share such as an article, music or video — something that typically would be experienced in one’s living room. The space is somewhat cozy, friendly and a good place to find friends, old and new. It’s becoming more of a place to find collaborators for projects, but still leans heavily on the casual and recreational.

Linkedin is a place to network on work-related topics. I think of it as the office, in my case, the home office! It’s all about business and the posted profiles are basically our resumes, though there is a softening of the edges as more participants add non-work-related links and streams to their blogs or Twitter feeds..

Twitter is the attic. It’s a creative and private space, or at least has that feeling, though anyone can find out what you’re tweeting at anytime. It reminds me of a place one would retreat to use their ham radio — a private, quiet space for learning with a dash of madness. Twitter, like all…