The success / failure of any social networking tool depends on both its qualities (ease of use, usefulness, integration tools, etc.) as well as the buzz it is able to generate among Internet users.

Some tools like MySpace, even though they are functionally less appealing then their competitors (Facebook), continue to survive because they have reached a critical mass of users who find it difficult to “defect” to another platform. Humans by nature are resistant to change, especially when there is a potentially negative social stigma associated with doing so.

Some users are savvy enough to realize that different platforms also cater to different demographics and maintain a presence on more than one, to capture the widest possible audience for their business or personal brand. Depending on how serious you are about building your brand, users should participate in any network that broadens their reach.

Using tools like http://www.ping.fm , RSS feeds and each networks own integration tools/APIs, is a smart way to minimize the amount of time it takes to keep all your networks updated/fresh. If you treat it as a branding/marketing activity and not your “life” it takes relatively little time.

As Internet-connected cell phones like the iPhone, Blackberry an GPhone continue to proliferate, the number of “always on” social networkers will continue to climb rapidly. Those who want to take advantage of this phenomenon would be wise to not dismiss any social network, new or established, that has active members that you want to reach with your brand.

Yes, I’m registered on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, I think I may even be on Plurk.

I find Plurk idiotic. I’m bored with Myspace and facebook - but I keep coming back to Twitter. I’ve clocked nearly 3000 updates since September 2007.

I think that plurk, MySpace and Facebook are still a bit labour intensive - and I’m sick of all the spam and rubbish that goes along with it. I’m a 40 year old lawyer with three teenagers and a 7 year old. I don’t want vampire bites, sheep thrown at me or be told I rank third with “prettiest eyes”.

Twitter is still very simple to use. Wait until Phreadz goes public. You hit a button and record your speech and video. Dead easy - and it threads your conversation…. and it’s full of people who are grown ups in the test version.

There’s a place for blogging, but it needs to be:

1. Simple to use
2. FOC (free of crap)

Easy.