3 Powerful Online Self Improvement Systems

Are you "in the know" when it comes to using the Internet as a tool for creating a better life for yourself? Are you in touch with the latest ways of improving your life by knowing which websites to hang out at?

Well, whether you think you have it down pat, or if you are lost as to what it's all about, here is a brief primer that will illustrate 3 ways to use the Internet in your self improvement efforts!

Let's start with a brief comparison of 3 different types of sites: Bookmarking, Networking, and Multi-purpose sites.

Bookmarking

Online bookmarking sites are primarily dedicated to people finding individual web pages on the Internet, deciding that they like the content, and then adding that URL to a bookmarking site so it can be:

• Retrieved later
• Shared with other users
• Voted on for popularity

There are many bookmarking websites, but some of the most popular include Digg, Stumbleupon, Reddit, Del.icio.us, and Netscape.

For bloggers and website owners, these types of sites are also a ticket to success, and I will explain that in more detail below.

Networking

Online networking sites are geared more towards content and personalization so that you can share more about who you are as a person, your interests, the things that go on in your life, etc.

These types of sites are heavily into interaction between members, and most will have various systems of finding and sharing content with other people. Popular networking stops include sites like MySpace, Hi5, and Ning.

Multi-purpose Sites

There are other sites that don't fit cleanly into one of the above categories simply because they serve different purposes, often related to business networking or content that follows a very specific theme.

The most popular of these sites with regard to business networking is LinkedIn, while Seth Godin's Squidoo is one of the best sites to set up a page about a specific theme or concept.

And, of course, let's not forget my own site: Personal Development Partners.

What does any of this have to do with self improvement?

Well, quite frankly, humans tend to pick up the habits of the people that we surround ourselves with!

Since the majority of our online time is spent reading text or looking at pictures and videos, it simply stands to reason that the more content we view which is empowering, inspirational, uplifting, or informative, the easier it will be for us to keep growing in that direction.

In other words, if you hang around with the "right crowd" on the Internet, then you will tend to keep your state of mind in the general vicinity of the crowd that you hang out with.

On one hand, if you hang around chat rooms, message boards, and blogs where people are acting rude, inappropriate, or offensive, you will eventually start to pick up some of those habits.

On the other hand, if your chat, message board, and blogging time is spent with people who are out-going, positive, confident, inspirational, or empowering, then you will also start to act in a similar manner.

How to practice self improvement Online

Bookmarking

As I indicated earlier, online bookmarking sites can be a powerful tool for success if you own a website or a blog. Even if you have no interest in making money from your site, unless you are just typing to have a conversation with yourself, you are interested in people finding and reading your site, and that is where bookmarking sites come in.

The more you interact with people in these bookmarking communities, the more people who will find your site. Digg and Stumbleupon have both become notorious for sending so much traffic to people's websites that the site can't handle the load, and it crashes.

Well, which is better? Having just a small trickle of like-minded people coming to your website (joining your "crowd"), or having so many of them bang on your door that your cup runneth over?

Obviously more traffic is the correct answer to that question, so by signing up with bookmarking sites and interacting with the other members, you will help them out while at the same time helping yourself out.

In addition, if your website or blog includes content that can assist other people, your efforts at being a part of these bookmarking communities will also result in more people finding your site.

p.s. – As part of the Personal Development Partners interface, you can find people who want to work with each other for mutual success at these types of sites.

Networking

Remember, the online networking sites are very heavily geared towards actual interaction with other members, so you have a huge opportunity to find and get to know people who think the same way that you do.

MySpace, although very popular, is actually the least user-friendly of these sites – at least at present. Other sites such as Ning and Hi5 allow you much more flexibility in order to find communities that are geared specifically towards your interests, including personal growth and similar concepts.

Multi-purpose Sites

If you know exactly what it is that you want to accomplish, then finding a multi-purpose site might be your best bet for hanging around with like-minded individuals.

Most of the other sites that have been mentioned will include people who are into pretty much anything that you can imagine. However, you can find multi-purpose sites that are very specifically geared towards lifestyle-enhancing content.

For example, LinkedIn is primarily about business networking. If you have a product or a service, and you want to network with other product and service providers for mutual benefit, then LinkedIn is a great place to start. In addition, LinkedIn is also very much about networking between both small and large business owners, and they have unique systems for finding others.

Squidoo is about as specific as you can get. Each Squidoo page, called a "Lens" is about a very specific theme, and you are given a huge range of options as far as what you want your Lens to be about. Just as with blogging, once you have a Lens that is about a particular subject, it will be very easy to find others who share your interests.

My own Personal Development Partners site is obviously about personal development, and it combines aspects from many of these sites, including groups and forums, member interaction, networking, and blogging.

Conclusion

The bottom line to all of this is that the Internet can be a powerful ally in your quest for personal growth and development. Unlike your job, the geographic neighborhood where you live, or even your own family, on the 'net you get to choose
where you hang out!

If you hang around with the right crowd online, you can all play off each other's strengths for mutual long-term as well as short-term benefit.

On that note, listed below are the sites that I frequent, including a link to my personal profile at each site. Feel free to stop by and add me as your friend or as part of your network.

Have fun, and I'll see you out there! 🙂

My Online Sites:

Personal Development Partners ~ Digg ~ Stumbleupon ~ LinkedIn ~ Del.icio.us ~ Reddit ~ Squidoo