An Overview of Some of the Social Network Web Sites

As one of the many people trying to earn extra money through programs on the internet, I can tell you that trying to keep track of sites, blogs, friends, etcetera on the web can drive a person insane. On top of that, I am always looking for new ways to earn money and do so more efficiently. Bookmarking sites like Digg (http://digg.com/) or Stumble Upon (http://www.stumbleupon.com/) don't have what we as internet entrepreneurs need. In order for a person who is online most of his or her day to keep organized, he or she needs a place on the web that will act as a complete office including the support people and friends that stop by. And if that place will pay for your time there, so much the better.

I went on a hunt for such sites that would provide everything I would need and, at least, some of what I want. I found several places that could be classified either as business oriented social network sites or as community social network sites.

The first site I looked at, MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/), was a community one. I was disappointed from the very first page. There was hardly any information about the site that I could find without joining it. I checked what other people were saying at forums and message boards about this place. Most of it was negative. Most people were saying that their rules were too restrictive without reasonable cause and there are no earning incentives. The one redeeming quality was that MySpace does offer the ability for members to customize their pages.

FriendsWin.com (http://www.friendswin.com/), also based on community, was the second place I investigated. It turned out to be more of a place for artists and dating. They did offer a way to make money through commissions for sponsoring customers (purchases services) and referring members but their only method of payment was by check sent to your home. I wasn't too fond of that. It would mean that any payment to me would be delayed by as much as two weeks. If they had a payment method that went through an online financial service site, it would cut down the delay time considerably. I also didn't like the fact that I couldn't customize my space within their site.

I, then stopped by myLot.Com (http://www.myLot.com/). This site is more business oriented and offers quite a bit in the area of earning incentives. You can make money just be participating in discussions, responding to posts and comments, posting to a blog, and referring friends to the membership. The minimum payout is $25 and is only done through PayPal. Unfortunately, you cannot customize your space with them and you do not get an internal blog; you must find another site for your blog and then register it with MyLot.

Gather.Com (http://www.gather.com/), another business oriented social network site, ended up not having as much to offer at MyLot. You can earn by participating but you don't get paid in money. They have what they call Gather Points™, which can be redeemed for gift cards. And again, there isn't any means to customize your own pages.

I decided to look at a new social network site, weBOSS.Org (http://www.weboss.org/). Supposedly this site has combines MySpace and Your Tube (media service site). If this is true, why isn't there a way for members to customize their space? They also state that what they have is an earning site and yet all they have is a symbolic credit structure. Despite the fact that the owner(s) are saying that they have combined MySpace and YourTube, this place, I would assume was more for businesses.

A friend told me about Yuwie! (http://www.yuwie.com/southdream). They seemed to have everything I needed and wanted. My space within their site could be customized using templates and programs (both within their site and within separate software) for MySpace layouts. They have an internal blog for each member along with a place for pictures, and a profile page. Messages can be sent within the site between the members. There are clubs to join and create. Members can earn money by viewing pages, sending messages and comments, and bringing in referrals. It turns out that until you reach the 10 level (sounds like a pyramid to me), it takes forever to earn the minimum $25. At level 1, a page view isn't even worth $.001!

I, then, read about the social network site, Narple (http://www.narple.com/index.php?do=/public/). It's similar to Yuwie! except it also has a forum to hang out in. You can be paid for the same type of activity but you're paid in points that are cashed in once a month. Your actual payment is based on revenue from ad revenue from the entire site (Profit Sharing Rate) which means you're never to clear on what you're going to receive, if anything. The customization they allow isn't as flexible as it is at Yuwie! but they give you enough to work with.

Soon after evaluating Narple, I found three more social network sites that were set up visibly exactly like Narple: Lazzeo, Zubby, and Rotatrix Friends Network. In my opinion, Lazzeo is the best out of the three and I found I liked better than Narple or Yuwie because of their earning incentives.

Lazzeo (http://lazzeo.com/signup?friend=southdream) is set up so that the members are able to cash in on revenues earned by advertisements. In fact, the members are encouraged to insert their own ads as long as it is done tastefully and goes by the site's terms of use. Members are not allowed to advertise in the forum except on the boards that are specifically for that. Payments are made according to the terms of the individual advertising programs. Example: If a member is using Adsense by Google on his or her pages, that member won't be paid until the minimum of $100 is met and the payment will come from Google, not Lazzeo.

Zubby (http://www.zubby.com/) is just starting out. The first thousand members are receiving a piece of the pie but those members after that are receiving points just like the program at Narple.

Rotatrix Friends Network (http://www.rotatrixfriends.net/index.php/public/) has a payment system that is uncommon. It's done with money but in order to qualify, the member must be in their Traffatrix System or be a paying for their membership.

As you can probably tell from the way I described some of these sites, I do have my favorites. At this point, I think that Lazzeo and Yuwie! are going to be the places I can achieve the most and not have to run myself ragged. What social network site is best for you? It's a personal choice. Check them out before plunging in. Read their "About Us" page, their FAQS pages, and their terms of use before making your decision. If the site allows it (some do and some don't), study some of the members' profile pages.