The aim of this article is to explain exactly what online social networking is, highlight its dramatic worldwide growth and discuss why it is an essential tool in the promotion of every home based internet business.

So what is Social Networking? Social networking is the interaction of groups of individuals brought together by a common interest(s). The internet has taken this trend to a whole new level as websites have sprung up over recent years covering almost every topic imaginable.

Most people had probably not heard of the Facebook and MySpace social networking sites until quite recently. But in just a few short years they have built memberships or 39 and 206 million individuals respectively.

The average Westerner has more friends than two years ago and this rise is attributed to the explosion in these online social networking sites, coupled with the communication phenomena such as email and instant messaging. This industry is growing at a rate of 47% a year and currently reaches 45% of web users.

Developing your social networking skills is imperative for every modern day internet business owner, if you are looking for a constant flow of visitors to your website. One very powerful aspect of online social networking is the "blog". A blog is a website where entries are written in date order with the most recent entry or post at the top of the page and the oldest towards the bottom. The aim of the blog is to provide commentary or news on a particular subject of interest to you.

A blog is a wonderful tool for exposing your business to the online world. Keep your content fresh and update it regularly as this is what search engines love; this will help generate a higher search engine ranking for your blog once indexed. You can mention anything on your blog such as a new product launch for your business, a monthly promotion or something as simple as congratulating one of your team members on their recruitment efforts.

The interactive nature of blogs and online social networking sites keeps visitors coming back again and again. Therefore, the more you expose your business by using these methods, the greater the income you will ultimately generate for yourself.

Online social networking can be a powerful tool for your business if you use it in the right way. If you are new to this phenomenon, try and get to grips with it as quickly as possible by doing some in depth research. Register accounts with some of the popular top social networking sites and start posting regularly on your blog.

These incredible social networking trends show every sign of continuing for years to come and they will continue with or without your inclusion. So, get involved immediately and start a fresh torrent of visitors to your business.