As the 2008 year draws to an end, online marketing predictions for the New Year are ushered in by the Kelsey Group; they claim that 2009 will be the year when more local marketers jump to fill the social networking space.

While an economic forecast laden with negatives, analysts show nothing but positives in the social networking sphere. Some of the biggest social networking sites, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn are also among the fastest growing. If the Nielsen’s report, Fastest Growing Social Networks for 2008, is correct, Twitter has had a 343% growth since September 2007, with LinkedIn growing 193% and Facebook following with a 116% growth.  

So what do all these predictions and numbers mean for online marketers? Every one, and I mean every one, is getting in on the action.

"Oh!" said @RedRidingHood, "what fine tweets you have!"

"All the better to entertain you with," said @Wolf.

"And what good listening skills you have!"

"All the better to hear you with, my little dear. It’s all about listening."

"And your eyes; what great vision and insight you have!"

"All the better to guide you with, my pet," grinned @Wolf.

"And oh! oh!," tweeted @RedRidingHood, in a bright fit, "what sharp wit you have!"

"All the better to participate in a relevant and helpful way with” tweeted @Wolf, adding @RedRidingHood as a new Facebook friend.  

With everyone flocking to the social networking space, chances are your niche customer is hanging out online, ready for your fabulousness. In mapping out your new media marketing strategies for 2009, take the time to research. The first step in engaging customers online is to know where to find them. Unless you know where to find your people, your social media strategy will not be effective.

In honor of brevity and to focus your efforts, I’ve collated a minimal list of sites I’d recommend to anyone just starting out with social networking. Assuming you have done your do diligence and created a primary place to express yourself aka a website or a blog, developing profiles on the following sites will help you begin to communicate, connect and share with your particular audience.

            Social Networks:

·        LinkedIn

·        Facebook

·        Ning

Chances are you can find your particular audience among the millions of people populating these fast growing online networks.

            Microblogging Networks:

·        Twitter

·        Plurk

·        Kwippy.

Microblogging platforms offer a good mix of community size and ability to hold conversations which is a quick and effective way to connect with existing or potential customers.

Social Aggregators:

·        Friendfeed

·        Social Thing

Social aggregators are still unproven when it comes to brands engaging with customers, but aggregators can help keep track of buzz and conversations occurring around a specific topic.

By all estimations, people are continuing to stampede to the online space; rally the wagons and gather up your flags so you too can stake out your claim of the market.