Dear K-Loggers,

My take: There isn't any magic in social networking software. The value this
software provides is much more basic than many people think. Here's what it
provides:

1) It contains solid (but private) contact information on all members.

2) Profiles are available on each member (on LinkedIn you can put in a resume
for example).

3) There is a safe, formal method of requesting contact with other members you
don't know. This is like UserLand's spam free e-mail but more formal.

4) The connection info (you know D through B and C) is more of a gimmick than
something that provides real value. There is a small amount of comfort involved
in knowing how you are connected to other people (you can also get info on how
many people they are connected to, which is like a PageRank for social
networks). This is the part of these networks that confuses everyone.

5) There is a search function for finding other members based on information in
the profile (interests, company, job title, etc).

Now that we have demystified social networking software, let's think about how
to apply the features in an open system that works in conjunction with weblogs.
The current systems are too closed and limited to be of much long term value.
Here's my thinking:

1) Solid information on weblog authors. It would be great to have standardized
weblog profile and contact information. Currently, contact and profile
information on weblogs, if it is there at all, is all over the map. It really
sucks. Sure, you can read what someone is writing on their weblog, but you
often need ESP to determine who they are, what they do, etc.

2) A safe way to share contact information. Way too many people publish their
e-mail address in the clear on the their weblogs. There should be a way to
restrict that (via a spam free e-mail feature) that would allow the weblog's
author to release solid contact information (e-mail, phone, address) to readers
that they authorize.

3) Search!! This is a simple and powerful feature. Want to find Microsoft or
Google webloggers? Why wait for someone to build a list that may or may not be
out of date? A search function on social networking profile information derived
from weblogs would solve this quickly and with much more accuracy than a random
Google search.

4) Categorization. Have a look at Jon Udell's lists of CXO webloggers on the
right hand side of his weblog. How easy would this be to create if you had
solid contact information contained in a social networking system. In fact, you
could build directories on the fly customized to your needs based on good
profile information.

5) Community and portability. The advent of open profile information would
allow people to create custom communities. There is a lot of power in creating
ad hoc communities of members using this type of information. It could also be
used to allow members of that community to build contact lists in other
applications (e-mail and IM) that are constantly and automatically updated (a
new role for Newsgator -- creating auto updated contact lists for e-mail apps).

OK, this would be very, very easy to do in the weblog world if we start right
now. All that is needed is a simple standard for an XML profile (as simple as
RSS) that can be published by weblog authors in a form on their weblog tool of
choice. If the vendors (UserLand, Blogger, and SixApart) did this, within weeks
sites like Feedster and Technorati would have tools that took advantage of that
information. This would then usher in a whole new deluge of innovation similar
to what we are seeing in RSS today. Let's put Friendster out of business and
open this up. It would also make social networking software more useful for
closed Intranet weblog networks.

Here are the features that I want to see on a weblog profile system (in
process):

> A simple XML profile for public consumption.

> A simple XML profile that is password protected that includes restricted
profile information (contact information in particular).

> An easy-to-use profile publishing page on my weblog tool of choice. I should
be able to restrict on the form, via a simple checkbox, any information I don't
want to publish in the public domain.

> Spam free e-mail introductions (or an automated introduction system that works
via my dynamic weblog tool) where I can release my restricted information to
people I designate.


Sincerely,

John Robb
http://jrobb.mindplex.org
(I will probably write more about this today on my weblog)