3 Steps to Increase Traffic Using MySpace

MySpace commands the attention of 74M+ users and is one of the most popular destinations on the planet. By definition, this achievement is out of reach for most players on the web today.

Realizing that the chances of growing their respective destinations to the cult-like status of MySpace are slim, many online service providers have opted to instead "Feed the MySpace Beast." This strategy enables the great unwashed masses that are NOT MySpace to capitalize on the massive success that the popular social networking site has achieved, without competing directly with them for eyeballs.

For those of you who live under a rock and do not follow the wise teachings of Pete Cashmore, I have summarized the "Feeding" strategy below.

How to Feed MySpace:

Step 1: Create Widget that uses your online service.

Step 2: Enable Widget to be placed on MySpace, Blogger, etc. by end users.

Step 3: Track Widget use and watch your traffic grow.

Photobucket has executed this strategy rather brilliantly. Their photo widgets have become pretty standard fare on many MySpace pages, despite the fact that Photobucket is an independently owned and operated concern. If I were a betting man, I would guess that their strong presence on MySpace has played no small part in the tremendous growth they have experienced in the last 12 months.

The growing number of folks that are interested in capitalizing upon the success of MySpace has interesting implications in the long run. For now, online service providers that "Feed the Beast" have simply solidified MySpace's status as one of the premier destinations on the web. But as we all know, if you eat too much you are bound to get sick. How long will it be until this feeding frenzy turns sour?

Check out this post by media blogstar Steve Rubel for more thoughts on the mounting gold rush.

technorati tags: myspacebeast, web2.0, webservices