How many hours a month do you spend on social networking sites?

[MichaelCorfman]

We announced today that we passed the milestone of 1,000 members in the GPWA Facebook and LinkedIn groups so I thought it made sense to ask about member's participation in social networks. How much time do you spend each month on social network sites?

There are quite a few of these sites. Some of the most well known include Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Bebo, Orkut, Hi5, and Friendster. Personally, I have accounts on the first four of these.

How much time do you spend on social networking sites? Besides letting us know how many hours, I invite everyone to post which networks they use and what sort of activities they engage in on social networking sites.

Michael

[MichaelCorfman]

I think I average three-quarters of an hour a day on social networking sites so I checked 20-25 hours per month.

I'd say about half of that time is personal and half is business. On the personal side I've created a family group and post a few pictures on occassion, but mostly I play a few games - parking wars and (Lil) Green Patch on Facebook.

On the business side I've created groups for the GPWA and Casino Vendors on both Facebook and LinkedIn, and spend a little some time managing and nurturing the growth of those groups, and more time establishing business-related contacts. I've also created a fan page for Casino City on Facebook. I spend some time using the Places I've Played application and planning new features. Finally, I've also created events (such as one for the GPWA Conference on Facebook) and posted pictures from conferences.

Michael

[Skinski]

Not nearly as much as I used to . Maybe half hour tops a day.

[LiveCasinoPartners]

i would spend more time (2 hours/month), but I just can't see the conversions. I've dabbled with the social sites, but it does'nt pay off for me as well investing my time in content.

Is anyone making a decent conversions? or any quantifiable results?? If so what did you do?

[TheGooner]

but mostly I play a few games - parking wars and (Lil) Green Patch on Facebook.

Really - that useful huh?


I think I created a facebook account about a year ago but I can't even remember my facebook signon now. Niothing of interest.

Similarly with mySpace. Joined. looked. left.

I check linked-in once every 2-3 months - nothing ever happens there. There is nothing that matches (say) the stickability of this forum or CAP, PAP, APCW etc. Even the groups are a dead-loss there.

Seriously - what is it with social network sites?
Is it just the COOL factor to poke people and appear trendy?
Or is it the obsessive compulsive disorder to "collect" more numbers, names and links than the next person?

What on earth do you people actually GET out of these sites that brings them back?
Complete mystery to me.

[MOGmartin]

got to disagree with gooner here, social networking sites are exactly what they say they are, SOCIAL networking, ie, chatting with you (hopefully pre-existing) friends (although I do know people that have met others on fb etc, which I do find a bit sad).

But not for business, or constructive converstations really about any topic, thats why we have forums like this one!

[Chris-AffiliateClub]

I think Facebook has some value - I end up using the chat function on there and have had a few affiliates chat to me on there.

It is mainly about keeping in touch - its good for affiliates and people you work with to see your personal side in my opinion (helps build trust etc).

Also, I believe you have to be disciplined and only use social networking sites when appropriate

[wallstreeterww]

Im slowly starting to get more time to actually spend more time on sociial networking sites. It took a while for me to get the hang of it.

[Chips]

It is building for me, with all the forums, emails, chats... It is hard to get the time to really develop it, I have been making an attempt on Facebook to build it. I do agree it is good to be visable (from an AM standpoint) but for an affiliate the conversions are slow and I think it is better to focus the energy into your sites.

[thepichi]

I think it is better to focus the energy into your sites.

I'm starting to spend more time on social networking, and I have to say it's not lost time. Of course it's not as important as your main site. But each day social networks sites are more important for people, so we have to keep an eye on them.

Cheers!!

[rmeeuwsen]

I have not tried it for a gaming site yet.

Just started it for a travel site. Posted a few links - got a few clicks back.

[GPWA Teresa]

Guilty as charged- I have the facebook for my blackberry application, and so I'm constantly checking messages, updates, comments... I'm accessible at all hours of the day and night.