Just seen that Facebook has bought Instagram for $1 billion, 2 weeks ago CNN nearly bought Mashable for $200 million. There must be something these big companies know about the future of social media and I want in, you should as well. I have read about the increasing power of social media in bringing forth new schools of thought and even ushering in new cultures, it may be time to start going beyond reading and thinking about social media.

So, I find myself thinking (as part of doing), what does it take for a social site to “blow up” as they say in social media circles? A name that captures the imagination of the target group is a must, but don’t shout it out loud before you register it as yours, trademark it and copyright it first then shout about it. The next step is to get people to talk about it on other social media sites, there are two benefits to be attained here, free marketing for your sites to potential users but also free advertising for your site to potential buyers in the future. I am only intending to create a site to sell it on, I think there is only so far I can take it but there are bigger players who I would rather take the risk of taking it global. If the buzz is showing signs of growing, the next best trick is to get endorsed by a global cause or personality, this creates great leverage for your site but be clever about it, remember it is social media, any obvious signs of capitalism and profiteering will drive away potential growth. In the process of avoiding being percevied as a capitalist profit making venture also avoid aligning with causes that draw negative appeal.

Watch this space, one more channel to test my marketing education. Check out my friends at 3-MOB, they are an ever growing force in Zimbabwean social media, http://www.3-mob.com/