Trendy Lime has done it again with their own interpretation of Valentine’s Day.  This year, join them for an exclusive Gods and Goddesses Ball complete with everything the higher deities of the social networking scene deserve: cocktail reception, incredible DJ hosted music set, an interactive entertainment program and endless networking and socializing.

Set at the sultry Harlot Club, a venue for San Francisco’ elite, this will prove to be an evening of social networking at its finest. The Harlot club sports a high-ceiling lounge furnished with eclectic pieces that range from the Gothic to the eye catching.   The God and Goddess Ball is sure to be a night to remember as we invite our attendees to rejoice in the spirit of dance, socialization and networking.  Aphrodite will be envious as you mingle with some of the hottest social professionals and trend-setters.  Gamble with Loki as you navigate the social scene with like minded individuals who are interested in technology, travel, photography, fashion and media.  Make Bacchus wish he was there as you dance the night away to one of the area’s hottest DJ lineups.

There will also be a FASHION INSTALLATION by PinkWeave, high-end online shopping portal featuring emerging upscale designs from around the world. There will be Gods and Goddesses come alive intertwining the magic of fashion in its most artistic form and lifting your senses to a sublime beauty where you would like to dwell forever.

A photo-show, “URBAN GODS & GODDESSES” by Italian blogger and social media guru Luca Sartoni, will be featured with some of the Silicon Valley tech celebrities being featured in the show.

Come dance the night away to the tunes of DJ Nader. Dress as your favorite god or goddess and mingle with other tech-savvy, fashion-centric professionals.  Unleash your inner deity and dress in theme: toga, fantasy, mythology all provides inspiration for costuming.  Once again Trendy Lime will set the bar for high society networking at this celestial event.

Admission: $10 Early Bird / $20 Regular Price, tickets at http://gngsf.eventbrite.com

Trendy Lime is the world’s trendiest network and events production house, setting the standard for classy exclusive events in the hottest of venues in San Francisco, LA and Sao Paulo.  Our international social network comprises 4,000 members – over half of which have a masters or doctorate degree.  Most of our members enjoy professional careers in Finance, Law, Media, High Tech, Marketing or Fashion and 4 out of 10 of them speak 3 or more languages. Every fifth member of Trendy Lime holds a C-level position.

Sponsors include: MaryKay, Bloomingdales, Samsonite, RedBull, jetBlue Airways, intel and HP

Search is where it’s at on Facebook. Moving even further away from display ads, Microsoft has announced it will no longer be selling them on the Facebook site at all. The move was accompanied by the announcement that Microsoft will also be using Bing as the default for web search on Facebook on a global scale, pushing beyond the current U.S. restrictions outlined by their existing partnership.

Microsoft has said in a blog post that the decision to stop selling display ads on Facebook was a mutual decision, and that Microsoft would like to focus on the aspects of Facebook advertising that make sense. As Microsoft has already shared its plans to expand its current Bing offering on Facebook, it appars as though search may have a lot to do with the monetization of Facebook and related advertising options.

Right now Microsoft Bing is still rolling out new features on a regular basis, seeking additional adoption from web users and mobile users alike. Upon launch, Bing was already rather inclusive as far as features go, with a multimedia approach to search that also leveraged the social web more directly than Google. Incorporating Twitter and Facebook into their long term search plans indicates Microsoft’s hopes around the social web as they pertain to its own investment in Facebook.

Bing’s search results on Facebook, however, are pretty dismal. Going along with Facebook’s simple format for displaying information, it’s difficult to even tell that it’s a Bing search. Unlike the vibrancy of Bing’s main search portal, Bing results on Facebook are merely a series of links. That’s archaic compared to most search engine’s increasing ability to better contextualize search data. This is particularly notable as far as Bing is concerned, as its move towards contextual search results is one way in which Microsoft could be looking to out-do Google.

This process of contextualizing search data has been an ideal attached to the potential of social networking platforms, with Facebook leading the race. As Facebook continues to open up its platform towards more default public sharing, Microsoft’s Bing is leveraging that publicly-shared information to provide more relative search results in some cases. Tying search into more aspects of our actual Facebook experience can be another way in which an improved Bing presence on the social network could be used to Microsoft’s advantage.

The old tactic of becoming a default tool across as many partnering services as possible is one that Microsoft is now able to better employ on web-related platforms, particularly Facebook. With the social network claiming over 375 million users now, accessing those users on such a large scale could be a major benefit for Microsoft Bing.

Source: Cafe Press

According to a press release published today by the Oxford University Press, the 2009 New Oxford American Dictionary Word of the Year is “unfriend.” Yes…as in “I’m unfriending you because I can’t keep up with all of the TMI you publish online.”

Just to clarify, the official definition is as follows:
unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook

“It has both currency and potential longevity,” notes Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US dictionary program. “In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year. Most ‘un-’ prefixed words are adjectives (unacceptable, unpleasant), and there are certainly some familiar ‘un-’ verbs (uncap, unpack), but ‘unfriend’ is different from the norm. It assumes a verb sense of ‘friend’ that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!). Unfriend has real lex-appeal.”

Word of the Year Finalists:

Technology

• hashtag – a # [hash] sign added to a word or phrase that enables Twitter users to search for tweets (postings on the Twitter site) that contain similarly tagged items and view thematic sets
• intexticated – distracted because texting on a cellphone while driving a vehicle
• netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory
• paywall – a way of blocking access to a part of a website which is only available to paying subscribers
• sexting – the sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone

Economy

• freemium – a business model in which some basic services are provided for free, with the aim of enticing users to pay for additional, premium features or content
• funemployed – taking advantage of one’s newly unemployed status to have fun or pursue other interests
• zombie bank – a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which continues to operate because of government support

Politics and Current Affairs

• Ardi -(Ardipithecus ramidus) oldest known hominid, discovered in Ethiopia during the 1990s and announced to the public in 2009
• birther – a conspiracy theorist who challenges President Obama’s US birth certificate
• choice mom – a person who chooses to be a single mother
• death panel – a theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live, when care is rationed
• teabagger – a person who protests President Obama’s tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773

Environment

• brown state – a US state that does not have strict environmental regulations
• green state – a US state that has strict environmental regulations
• ecotown – a town built and run on eco-friendly principles

Novelty Words

• deleb – a dead celebrity
• tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman

Notable Word Clusters for 2009

Twitter related:

• Tweeps
• Twibe
• Tweetup
• Sweeple
• Twitt
• Tweepish
• Twitterati
• Tweetaholic
• Twitterature
• Twittermob
• Twitterverse/sphere
• Twitterhea
• Retweet

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Keep it simple stupid is an old mantra but one often overlooked it seems when it comes to technology. While I love Facebook, it has become a bloated page of semi-useless information for me. Facebook has been phenomenal for me connecting me with great people both professionally and personally but seeing my homepage flooded with updates of my friend’s latest “Mafia Wars” conquest or an app that tells me my stripper name is really discouraging and counterproductive. Yesterday’s news on the launch of Facebook Lite was music to my social networking ears!

This version, originally designed for countries where broadband internet access is lacking or tough to come by, is a great alternative for those of us looking for a less intrusive and more minimalistic version of Facebook. After reading MG Siegler’s glowing review of Facebook Lite at TechCrunch I had to give it a shot. In order to check out Facebook Lite visit http://lite.facebook.com and sign in as you normally would. You’re presented with a somewhat barren view of your Facebook page compared to the full version but it’s clean and very straightforward.

Eric Eldon’s review at Inside Facebook points out one fact you’ll either love or hate “The profile page is similarly bare. However, there’s no bottom toolbar for any third-party apps. There are currently only a few crucial in-house apps available.”

Don’t get me wrong, I can definitely be an app junkie but I really like this clean interface. I think the rich application pool has been one of the reasons why Facebook is so appealing to users, however too much of a good thing can also be counterproductive. Taking this slim and trim approach is a good thing and will hopefully welcome in new users as well as court back those suffering from Facebook overload.

AdAge’s David Berkowitz does point the shortcomings of this version for brands and marketers using Facebook. Without a way to access Facebook Pages, companies looking to interact with people will have to get crafty.

“You can’t find Pages in the search results on Lite, even if you’re already a fan; only people show up,” notes Berkowitz. “Updates from Pages don’t appear in your Lite inbox. Branded Pages’ status updates still appear in the News Feed, and you can click that to go to the Page, but there’s just the stripped down Wall rather than all the tabs (there’s still a link to the Page’s photos and videos). It’s yet another reminder for Page owners that to stay top of mind with consumers, it’s important to post updates regularly.”

I think he has some valid points and with most people probably opting for the rich, full version of Facebook, companies probably need not worry. As for new users opting for a “lite” version or people looking to scale back their information overload, I’m sure this will only be a small number in comparison. But even so, these people are choosing a less intrusive way to enjoy what Facebook has to offer and are probably not going to be up for this level of engagement from companies and brands. As with any marketing program, using Facebook and Twitter is only the start and not the only methods for connecting with customers.

Facebook has been a great way to connect with new folks in the industry and has also connected me with a bunch of old friends from my days in the Navy and college I’d never think I’d hear from again but at times I open up my Facebook page and am overwhelmed. This version definitely helps me feel like I’m back in control! Go ahead and give Facebook Lite a shot and let me know what you think of this slimmed down, minimal version.

I’ve been asked to serve as Co-Chair of the upcoming Social Networking World Forum, a highly valuable event designed to help businesses navigate the Social Web.

I will share the state of Social Media for 2009 and look ahead to trends in 2010. Separately, I will also discuss Social Media’s blow to Public Relations and how this stinging slap in the face will actually service as an opportunity in the form of a communications wake up call.

Social Networking World Forum has gathered some of the most prominent and prolific voices in the industry including:

- Jeffy Taylor, CEO of Eons.com, CEO of Monster.com
- Angela Courtin, SVP Marketing Content and Entertainment, MySpace
- Richard Jalichandra, CEO of Technorati
- Michael Donnelly, Director-Worldwide Interactive Marketing, Coca-Cola
- Scott Monty, Head of Social Media, Ford Motor Company
- Jeremy Holley, VP Consumer & Interactive Marketing, Warner Brothers Records
- Chris Heuer, Chairman, Co-Founder, Social Media Club
- Lauren Coberly, Director of Worldwide Marketing, Kodak Direct
- John H. Bell, Managing Director, 360° Digital Influence – Ogilvy PR

The team at SixDegrees have offered a 15% discount for me to share with you.  In order to receive the discount, you must register via PDF here and fax to: +44 (0) 117 321 8301. Be sure to enter the code “PR 2.0″ or “Brian Solis.” If you use the online registration, you will not have an opportunity to enter the discount code.

Looking forward to seeing you at the event.

For updates, make sure to follow @SocialNetworkWF on Twitter.

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Sourced from PR 2.0, “Casting a Digital Shadow: With Social Media comes great responsibility…”

While speaking at the intimate and immensely valuable Zappos Insights event (Zappos Live), I shared thoughts of how the culture of any company or brand is as strong as the individual personification of it.

Everything starts and fortifies with you. Your actions and words online are indeed extensions to how people interpret, perceive, and react to the brand your represent. Concurrently, you also represent your personal brand – the digital identity that’s established through the collection of digital shadows you cast across the social web.

During my discussion, I asked those in the room to stop and think a bit about what it is they stand for, believe in, and aspire to become and whether or not the search results in Google, twitter.com/yourusername, Search.PeopleBrowsr.com or Collecta might reinforce their intentions or paint an unexpected and possibly surprising picture.

Everything we share online is indexed on the Web for years to come. When we Tweet, upload videos and pictures, post on blogs and comments, update our status on social networks, we cast a digital shadow that parallels our activities and mimics our convictions in real life. This digital shadow is strewn across the web only to be reassembled through the search pursuits of others – whether they’re prospective partners, employers, employees, customers, influencers, or stakeholders.

Curiosity Killed the Candidate?

A recent study performed by CareerBuilder.com validates the behavior of identity sleuthing and year over year patterns forecast subsequent ubiquity.

The professional network asked 2,500 hiring managers whether they search Facebook or other social networks to discover information about prospective employees. An astonishing, but not unexpected, 38-percent of respondents said yes. In comparison, only 22% of hiring managers acknowledged searching social networks in 2008.

You can bet that Google is part of the process as well.

In addition, 24%, which represents one in four hiring managers interviewed, conceded that the results contributed the decision to hire a candidate. 34% however, dismissed candidates based on what they uncovered.

This is a trend that’s years in the making however.

In 2006, a survey of 100 executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet surfaced the shocking truth that Seventy-seven percent of recruiters reported using search engines to find background data on candidates. Of that number, 35 percent eliminated a candidate because of what they found online.

The reality is that that individuals who are currently employed are also at risk of losing their job based on their behavior on social networks and what they share online.

Earlier this year 16-year-old Kimberley Swann posted a series of updates that revealed her discontent with her menial tasks on Facebook:

“first day at work. omg (oh my God)!! So dull!!”

“all i do is shred holepunch n scan paper!!! omg!”

“im so totally bord!!!”

Two days after her posts hit the social web, she was fired.

British Airways staff created a webwide uproar when they called passengers “smelly and annoying” and Virgin Atlantic fired 13 for complaining about passengers on Facebook.

Of course, there’s also the widely discussed example of the “Cisco Fatty” incident.

Connor Riley took to Twitter after receiving a job offer from tech giant Cisco, “Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.”

Moments later, Cisco employee Tim Levad saw the update and responded, “Who is the hiring manager? I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the Web.”

The incident evolved and unfolded on Twitter. She later apologized on her blog and noted that she already turned down the offer. Cisco remained supportive throughout the ordeal.

In the case of Philadelphia Eagles employee Dan Leone, he was fired after posting his unhappiness with the Eagle’s loss of player Brian Dawkins to the Denver Broncos, “Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver … Dam Eagles R Retarted!!”

The D.C. Department of Employment Services fired a contractor who worked with the city’s youth summer jobs program after a string of TMI Tweets that referred to his job location as “ghetto” and his ability to clock hours in without working:

“In america’s ghetto anacostia… If I get scared i will just yell chinese carry out! They will not shoot me.”

“thank goodness my boss is making things easy, he told me to pretend to do work so he can mark me down for hours.”

I think we’re all aware of the careless and reckless Dominos employees who posted a YouTube video that showed a cook disgustingly defiling the food designated for customer orders.

And, there is certainly no shortage of firings because of MySpace.

Non-tenured high school teacher Jeffrey Spanierman was fired after hosting an inappropriate MySpace page that contained nude photos of men, foul language and inappropriate conversations with students. He sued and later lost his case.

Two employees of Houstons Restaurant were canned when managers received access to information in a private MySpace group that divulged derogatory statements about managers, customers, and also private information about upcoming product knowledge tests. The two filed suit claiming invasion of privacy. Hillstone Restaurant Group, which owns the Houstons chain defended its decision with a statement to CNN, “This is not a case about ‘cyber-snooping,’ the First Amendment, or privacy. It’s about two staff members who were let go for unprofessional conduct, including disparaging comments about our guests, and sharing a product knowledge test before it was administered. This misconduct was voluntarily brought to light by a member of the online group.”

While we enjoy freedom of speech, we must still be mindful of what we publish and share. Even if it’s in a seemingly private and protected environment

And, it’s not just a crystal ball for employers. Everyone searches the names of those who either intrigue them or emerge as a potential contender for collaboration or interaction.

Why not? It’s only smart business to gather intelligence and research before an introduction or engagement.

Kaplan Test Prep released a report last year that indicated that one in 10 colleges and universities explore social networks and common search engines when considering aspiring students for admission.

Fortunately or unfortunately, this practice of investigating people will not dissipate. The only elements that will change are the increases in the total percentages of search queries performed by decision makers.

It’s not all bad news however. The truth is that the search experience related to you is defined by you. Acceptance of this reality represents half the distance to crafting a more strategic and effective representation of who you are and what you stand for online and in the real world.

Deleting your profiles is not the answer. Deleting offending material and updating your privacy settings, on the other hand, is a good place to start. The truth is however, that it takes more than editing what exists today. In order to truly shape our personal brands as they’re viewed remotely, from a distance, and without our explicit input, we must take the reins and contribute to its silhouette at the very least.

We are in control of the digital shadow that materializes when the spotlight is cast upon us.

Take this opportunity to showcase accomplishments, strengths and talents. Reinforce what it is you stand for as well as what moves you. In many ways your profiles and the material you share online contribute to a digital resume, whether you agree or disagree. It’s there, right now, talking about you, without your direction. Opportunities that may have presented themselves to us never materialized because of our digital shadows. So, do something about it. Just don’t lose who you are in the process.

Yes, we’re still human beings. Yes, we have fun. Yes, we do things we don’t want the rest of the world to know about.

Decide whom it is you’re trying to impress with your social profiles and updates and realize that answer may change over time. Just “think” about what it is you’re sharing and why before you upload to the public Web. Anything not conducive to the reinforcement of a strategic outward facing personal brand should be relegated to the private viewing of your bona fide, genuine social graph. Again, there are privacy settings within each social network and you govern who sees what. Let the privacy controls and the corresponding content serve as the church and state of your online persona.

There are benefits and consequences associated with each bit of content you share, even if they’re not immediately discernible.

And parents, it’s never to early or too late to help guide your children.

Start monitoring their online behavior as soon as they start spending significant time online. Actively Google them to assess the results. Help them create and craft content that serves as a placeholder for their identity now and in the future.

Who we are and who we want to be often reside at opposite ends, where the space between is distanced or narrowed by our actions, content and words.

What does your profile or search results say about you?

UPDATE: For those looking for a social network to help present your experience (other than LinkedIn), please true Resumebucket.

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by Brian Solis, via PR 2.0

All your face are belong to us! For those who don’t remember, or know, the significance of that statement, read about it on Wikipedia.

Shot at SXSWi 2008

A few news outlets reached out to me for comment regarding the uproar sparked by the recent change to Facebook’s Terms of Service (ToS). It inspired a public response as I am not only someone who spends a significant amount of time in the online social field studying digital anthropology and new marketing, I’m also a willing participant in and contributor to the Facebook economy.

So, why is everyone upset?

When you read the new ToS, it’s actually quite alarming…

You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof.

If you were to summarize this section, it basically screams that your content is theirs to use when and how they want.

Naturally, bloggers, reporters, analysts, and influential Facebook pundits collectively responded in outrage and surprise. The news continues to draw angst, frustration, and also sparking debates as it permeates real world communities outside of Techmeme. Famed celebrity gossip blogger, Perez Hilton recently called for a boycott to the globally dominating social network.

Now, confused, somewhat hostile, and critical Facebook constituents have solicited a very human response from Zuckerberg. In it, he attempts to provide a deeper explanation and meaningful rationale behind the ToS modification. It is this response that is potentially difficult for everyday people to comprehend and accept as it is a stark reminder that the social web, is well, social.

“People want full ownership and control of their information so they can turn off access to it at any time. At the same time, people also want to be able to bring the information others have shared with them—like email addresses, phone numbers, photos and so on—to other services and grant those services access to those people’s information. These two positions are at odds with each other. There is no system today that enables me to share my email address with you and then simultaneously lets me control who you share it with and also lets you control what services you share it with.”

Mark Zuckerberg basically attempts to extinguish the flames of his critics by asking us to “trust his team” that our content will not be used in any way that we would disapprove. The ToS language is explicit in its design and ambition that could serve as the flashpoint for something not yet visible or public. However, their is a potentially disastrous risk involved for any company with a multi-billion dollar valuation and how it uses personal content. For this reason, Facebook’s actions are governed by the market and its ability to dictate the future success or failure of the network.

But to be honest, we should be worried less about how Zuckerberg and co. will use our content when compared to the bigger threat and perils associated with publicly sharing content in general.

His explanation essentially serves as a wake up call to users of all social networks and other forms of social media that what we share online is now shared not only with those we know and trust, but those we don’t know. And, trust is moot when content can freely traverse network to network and person to person without feedback, knowledge or insight until something or someone potentially forces a new revelation wrapped in unsolicited context. Trust gives way to blind intent.

What you share online, from pictures to updates to virtual gifts to videos, paints a picture of who you are and what you represent, regardless of your intentions. Everything accumulates into one vault that ultimately represents your social capital and Facebook, and any other social network – including Twitter – is merely providing you with the ability to define the impressions you feed, the perception you shape, and the personal brand that results from your online participation and contributions across the entire social web.

As Kara Swisher so brilliantly educates us, “Here’s the key definition of interactive: ‘Mutually or reciprocally active. That means once you send something to others, it is out there in cyberspace forever, never ever to return. And that goes double on social networking sites, where–let’s be honest–people egregiously overshare and then get all righteous when it is explained to them that sharing means, um, sharing. As in: You cannot take it back, if you have shared with 476 of your closest “friends,” your bikini shots from Cabo.”

Read the full post on PR 2.0.

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by Brian Solis, sourced from PR 2.0

I recently discussed the viability of Twitter evolving beyond a micro community into a standardized platform for macro conversations. It’s certainly the path Facebook is traversing. And, both are making significant progress in the race to syndicate and aggregate the discussions that are important to us within our respective social networks.

There is another emerging platform worth discussing as it is quietly growing into an alternative solution to the disparate communities that are pervasive throughout the social web.

Ladies and gentlemen, add FriendFeed to your radar for listening, participation, and relationship building.

Defining FriendFeed is easier said than done. In fact, it’s less of a competitor to Twitter and more of a vertical threat to Facebook’s prized News Feed. The News Feed feature in Facebook is considered the central nervous system to the social graph. It powers conversations, connections, and collaboration. As Facebook Connect “connects” you and your social graph across the Web, it will increase in value as it aggregates all outside activity into one centralized stream for your friends, and friends of friends, to review, interpret, and respond. Also, don’t rule out an acquisition of Twitter either.

FriendFeed is one of the most prominent examples of a dedicated lifestream (brandstream). It channels your social activity and also that of your social graph into one simplified river of relevance. As new items appear in the stream, it invites bookmarking and threaded conversations that promote dialog. For example, you can import activity from flickr, youtube, twitter, backtype, blogs, Last.fm, Seesmic, Upcoming, LinkedIn, Yelp, Amazon, Picasa, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, Disqus, and 12 seconds. The growing list of services currently sits at 60, but technically you can integrate any service that generates an RSS feed. Most important is FriendFeed’s ability to port your Facebook status into your stream. Technically, you can now host, contribute to and participate in a more comprehensive “news feed” with the potential of reaching a far greater, or perhaps focused and dedicated audience of people who either aren’t on Facebook or prefer something different.

FriendFeed is also unique in that it offers custom rooms to host and join dedicated conversations related to any given topic. Your stream can also export to websites, outside communities, blogs and social profiles.

We celebrated Twitter’s rise to 4.5 million uniques in just over two years, which was enough to surpass Digg’s highly regarded traffic milestone. In less than a year, FriendFeed is nearing one million unique visitors, representing a 3,170% increase.

When compared to other social aggregation and lifestream services, FriendFeed’s trajectory is incredibly promising. You’ll also note that the category represented through the following services is also on the rise, with Tumblr at 1.4 million unique visitors, AOL’s SocialThing realizing 186% annual growth and Google’s Jaiku open micro community platform is still on the rise with a 33% increase over the last year..

If you compare FriendFeed to other micro communities, it appears to be the only platform that is not only growing, but also cultivating an active and significant user base. Plurk is the largest alternative micro community with 256,000 unique visitors and Yammer places a distant third at 86,000.

FriendFeed will only continue to increase in significance, broadening its reach, expanding its user base, and diversifying its user base from early adopters to mainstream market catalysts over the next year. This momentum will continue to be fueled by the addition of new and popular services combined with the dedicated evangelism and amplified awareness generated by influential (and passionate) users such as Robert Scoble, Louis Gray, Chris Brogan, Laura Fitton, Michael Arrington, Dan Farber, Chris Messina, Brian Oberkirch, Loic Le Meur, and Dave Winer. And, it’s not just the usual voices who will propel FriendFeed as a viable conversation platform, it extends to the many, many others who are authoritative and trusted within their dedicated spheres of influence and reach.

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