WhySpace

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I haven’t really had a lot of truck with MySpace pages, so I guess I’m behind the times. I’m not sure I understand why someone with their own existing web site, featuring photos and links and what have you, would also need a MySpace page. What (and this is an actual question, not rhetorical grumbling) can you do with a MySpace page that you can’t do with your own web page? Why do you need both? I’m asking seriously. Leave a comment below.

  • http://www.monkeyouttanowhere.com/thoughts/ Kevin D. Hendricks

    The alure of MySpace has more to do with the people on MySpace and the connections you can make, rather than the specific features of MySpace. Because frankly MySpace’s design and function suck. You want (I won’t go so far as to say ‘need’) both because the MySpace page offers another avenue for people to connect with you. Often these are people who don’t have a blog, don’t have a web site and some don’t even check their e-mail very often. You can be sure they’re not visiting your site, not reading your e-mails and not subscribed to your RSS feed. But they will read comments, bulletins, messages and blog entries on MySpace. MySpace gives these less than techie folks a space on the web.

    Something else that MySpace does that your web site can’t is create a tangible connection between you and your audience and between your fellow audience members. I can agree to be your friend on MySpace and everyone else can see that connection–my friends who have never heard of you may check you out because I’m friends with you. It’s similar to a blogroll, only it’s every member of your audience, not just the ones with blogs (OK, it’s everyone with a MySpace profile).

    It’s kind of a weird little subculture, but it’s interesting. I’ve recently dived into Facebook, which is actually a lot more functional and useful.

  • http://www.monkeyouttanowhere.com/thoughts/ Kevin D. Hendricks

    The alure of MySpace has more to do with the people on MySpace and the connections you can make, rather than the specific features of MySpace. Because frankly MySpace's design and function suck. You want (I won't go so far as to say 'need') both because the MySpace page offers another avenue for people to connect with you. Often these are people who don't have a blog, don't have a web site and some don't even check their e-mail very often. You can be sure they're not visiting your site, not reading your e-mails and not subscribed to your RSS feed. But they will read comments, bulletins, messages and blog entries on MySpace. MySpace gives these less than techie folks a space on the web.

    Something else that MySpace does that your web site can't is create a tangible connection between you and your audience and between your fellow audience members. I can agree to be your friend on MySpace and everyone else can see that connection–my friends who have never heard of you may check you out because I'm friends with you. It's similar to a blogroll, only it's every member of your audience, not just the ones with blogs (OK, it's everyone with a MySpace profile).

    It's kind of a weird little subculture, but it's interesting. I've recently dived into Facebook, which is actually a lot more functional and useful.

  • http://nohats.com/weblog/ Ted

    Also, if you happen to be in a band, MySpace provides tools for listing upcoming gigs and posting samples of your music online. For small acts, is isn’t unususl for them to find gigs this way–instead of dropping off a tape at a bar, you drop off a card with your myspace page listed.

  • http://nohats.com/weblog/ Ted

    Also, if you happen to be in a band, MySpace provides tools for listing upcoming gigs and posting samples of your music online. For small acts, is isn't unususl for them to find gigs this way–instead of dropping off a tape at a bar, you drop off a card with your myspace page listed.

  • http://www.inthatnumber.com/ Phisch

    I have a friend whose blog is on MySpace (she has a teenager, so that’s how she was introduced to it). Since hers is set to private, the only way for me to view it is to set up my own so I can see hers. And then there’s the ever popular reason “Just Because” closely followed by “Everyone Else Is Doing It” and a little further behind is “I Don’t Want to be Left Out.”

  • http://www.inthatnumber.com/ Phisch

    I have a friend whose blog is on MySpace (she has a teenager, so that's how she was introduced to it). Since hers is set to private, the only way for me to view it is to set up my own so I can see hers. And then there's the ever popular reason “Just Because” closely followed by “Everyone Else Is Doing It” and a little further behind is “I Don't Want to be Left Out.”