MySpace is for old people (or spammers)

down they go
Originally uploaded by zwieciu.

Is the world spinning faster, or does it just feel that way?

E-mail is for old people. That much seems clear. Now hear this...

Touted by many as the next big thing in online advertising, 580 million dollar baby MySpace is becoming passe. Its user base is plummeting.

For months, associations have been contemplating how to harness MySpace. I've heard it talked about frequently over the past year. Some have actually set up pages on MySpace. Some even thought that associations should each have their own MySpace. So, is it time to move on to the next thing, or do you push ahead with a MySpace initiative?

Spam is being blamed as the reason for the recent downturn in the MySpace community. Gee, you mean social networking is being harnessed for corporate profit? And oddly enough, it seems that more people want people as friends, not organizations or products.

Is MySpace's time in the spotlight over? I wouldn't say that, but I do think we should be looking to the next thing.

So what have we learned? Here's what I'm taking away:

1. Trends are changing faster than ever. By the time an organization takes the time to evaluate a new trend and create a strategy around it, they're too late. What should we do? Do you ignore trends altogether, or do you just jump on board with new trends as they come along, hoping that something sticks for at least a year so?
2. Considering a YouTube strategy? It could be too late, unless you launch by the end of the year or so.
3. Thinking about living a Second Life? Better get crackin'!
4. I'm subscribing to TechCrunch today.

Concurrently, I've been reading The World is Flat. Another thing that is becoming clear to me is that we need to be running faster. That seems to fit in here somehow.

Tagged: Association Management Associations CAE Certified Association Executive myspace second life social networking TechCrunch YouTube