Let’s digress from the topic of outsourcing shall we and let’s take a peak at the power and influence online social networks and the web as a whole can have on politics, pop culture and yes, even American Idol!

I must admit my wife and I are big fans of the show and music reality TV as a whole! But, as an Internet Marketer myself, I have been yet again blown away by the power of Online Social networks to influence offline events such as American Idol. Well, if you have been watching the show this season, you will notice that one particular contestant is sticking out like a sore thumb week after week - Sanjaya Malakar. This young guy from Hawaii is not in the Top 10 as a result of his singing abilities, but due to some Internet Campaigns driven by such weblogs as Vote for the Worst. This site as well as other social networks have proven once again the power of the Web to influence the masses.

We saw the same phenomenon take place with the whole Vote for Rory campaign for the NHL All-Star Game, that once again spread wildly through such channels and You Tube, MySpace and a variety of Hockey forums. Until the last week, Rory was actually still ahead of Top Defenceman, Nick Lidstrom in the voting! We have also seen the power that online social media has had in exposing and bringing down politicians. It’s power and reach seems limitless at this point!

So, with the viral potency that online social networks have these days, will this be the downfall of shows like American Idol that are purely dependent upon public opinion for their results. Some might say…"well, there are only a small percentage that will try to skew the results, but the most are simply wanting to see the best singer win". I have also heard of a couple American Idol fans in MySpace who have planned a hunger strike until Sanjaya is voted off - a little extreme, but maybe the pendulum swings both ways with public influence. But, the reality is that Sanjaya Malakar still remains in the competition after much more talented singers continue to exit the show. I will be interested to see how far he will go.

Similarly, Social Networks certainly can have a powerful influence on your Internet Marketing efforts! In order to remain competitive in this new User-controlled web, ebusinesses will need to find new and innovative ways to engage their audiences through such means as Video, Podcasts, blogs, vlogs, wikis and so much more. It will also be important to establish a presence in targeted social networks where you can begin a meaningful dialogue with prospective and existing customers. The successful Web companies of the future will be those that find effective ways to collaborate with and engage users in such a way that they will spread the word (hopefully a good word:))

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