Secrets to Success Deborah Cole Micek and John-Paul Micek

MySpace versus Facebook

After about a dozen business owners and Internet marketers at a conference in San Francisco last month told me how I just HAD to join Facebook, I figured I should at least have a profile there.

Now, I just need to decide which is better -- MySpace or Facebook -- when it comes to networking online.

Here's where you come in. Since the jury will be out on MySpace versus Facebook for at least another few months, in order to give both a fair test-drive, I thought I'd ask you which social networking community you prefer.

Please send me an e-mail and share your thoughts on which of these social networks you prefer to spend your time on, and why.

If you haven't joined either, please do yourself a favor and join both today. They've both already proven to be valuable to me when it comes to attracting new clients, furthering existing relationships and making new friends.

On another note, MySpace owner Rupert Murdoch has announced plans for a major upgrade and overhaul of the online network. Looks like not only is he paying attention to the rapid growth and popularity of Facebook, he's fighting back!

Michael Arrington editor of Tech Crunch highlighted several key facts on the MySpace platform that mirror the primary benefits people rave about on Facebook. It will now allow third-party developers to create applications that run within MySpace.

The set of APIs (application protocol interface) and a new markup language that MySpace will have with its new platform clearly indicate it is listening to the chatter from Facebook fans.

MySpace also is addressing privacy controls with its new upgrade. Soon you'll have the option of what types of friends can see certain content on your page.

The most fascinating thing to me about the new competition between the two is how the end user will be the one who benefits.

Too many who think they dominate the marketplace simply sit back and rest on their success, instead of constantly focusing on how to make their product or service better for their customers and clients.

Competition between these two popular social networking sites is a good thing for all of us, because every year, we will have additional ways to connect and bond with our business associates, friends and clients.

So let the competition begin and let us all benefit from the improvements.

Either way, we all win.

It's the best example of the effective application of Game Theory that I've seen in the marketplace lately.