Embracing Technology

Online social networking has been on the internet for years now. Although during the early existence of online social networking websites, recruitment was generally from word of mouth or “members getting members”, it has soon evolved when the crowd gets larger.

Awareness of such online social activity has since propagated to the offline media and various electronic advertising.

It is not difficult to say that everyone has heard of Friendster, Facebook, MySpace or others.

We have heard people or artistes promoting their profile on the radio, blogs or news.

Companies too did the same and most recently our local telecommunications provider, Maxis is also advertising on television about their services subscribers can use including Facebook, Flickr and Yahoo Search on their mobile phones.

 

 

This post is not going to explain more about online social networking but will focus more on how you can make friends in Friendster.

Why not Facebook you may ask? Yes Facebook is growing very rapidly and we will come to “How to make friends in Facebook” post in the very next future, just stay tune.

In Malaysia, Friendster had a large following even before Facebook exists.

There are still many Malaysian Friendster users that are on Friendster to check out what’s hot and not with their friends and also to get new acquaintances.

Are you one of them?

 

There are basically many types of people in Friendster.

Some joined because they were invited by friends. So, they join and fill in some necessary information, leave it there till one fine day there’s nothing else to do, then they login and check out some friends.

Some are active, they will make login a daily chore like checking emails.

Others are in between and extreme active users will basically post bulletins everyday, forward whatever messages, and posting comments.

 

Whatever your objectives or plan, below is my observation and tips to make “more” friends in Friendster. It is entirely my personal opinion and use only at your own risks:

 

1) Update profile on “Want to Meet”

Update your profile on “Want to Meet” and set as “Anyone” or “You!”. This will indicate that you are interested in making more friends.

 

2) Shoutout

Set your shoutout to include the words “Add me” or include your email address if you request your friends for Last name or email address to add you.

 

3) View profiles

Do not set view profiles anonymously. This will allow others to track that you have viewed their profile. This will in turn get them to view your profile and add you as their friend if interested. Once you have that set, just check out everybody’s profile pages!

 

4) Birthday

Pay attention to your friend’s birthdays. Check out the birthday list and give them a birthday wish via message or comments posting.

For eg. Try to use nice graphical Birthday wishes such as those from here : http://080808.com.my/shop/free.jsp

 

5) Message (do not forward chain message)

If there is a general reason for you to send message, send a message to introduce yourself and wait for the reply. If you do not get a reply, just move on. Do not send follow-up to interrogate but leave kind messages.

 

Most importantly, do not ever forward chain message/spam/junk/threats!

 

6) Send a smile

A smile is actually a special variant of message. If you intend to send a message or found out you’re just going to send a lame message, try including it with a Smile. The recipient is more inclined to read it.

 

7) Comments

Post comments to a friend of yours when the need arises, especially when he/she has added you, during special dates or holidays. Check tips no 4).

Combine graphical comments and text together.

 

Add as Friend

View profiles and if the person is welcoming and would like to get more friends just like you, hit the Add Friend link.

Beware though; if someone is not interested in expanding their network of friends, giving enough hints to everybody, then it’s better for you to stay away from them.

 

 

There you have the 8 simple tips to getting more friends from Friendster. It is always the best to make friends with honesty and sincerity, so whatever it is, just be honest.

 

Following are also some observation I found which should go to the DO NOT tips.

 

 

1) Mind intro?

If you are keen to make friends, some might not. So you are always bound to have people who would be curious why you are adding them.

The worst comes when they post a comment like below to your profile:

“Do I know you? Mind Intro?”

And you already have a full introduction of yourself in your profile page in “About Me”.

If you would not like to accept friendship, it is all too easy to hit the Decline on the friends request. You can also send a message asking for further details on the person but it is absolutely rude to post on the comment list.

 

2) Follow sexy photos

Not all sexy photos are real people. Not all sexy photos are girls. It is better to follow non-sexy photos or those with no photos at all. Period.

 

3) Post egoistic messages

Do not post ANY message to show your ego. Eg.

“I do not simply add people. If I do not know you, don’t add me. I will delete people who I do not know and I will not entertain any messages from people I don’t know”

 

4) Bulletins – do not simply send junk/spam

Use bulletins only when you need to. Not for simple “on9” or “offline” status. You can use instant messengers for that.

Do not send chain messages that threaten bad luck will befall your friend if you do not forward to another number of people.

 

I guess most people with agree with me on the above if not everyone, what about you?

 

Other Links:

10 Things I Hate About Friendster – http://blog.alvinchong.net/2007/02/27/182/

Things People Do on Friendster – http://www.jpsimbulan.com/2008/01/31/things-people-do-on-friendster/