Search Engine Land Now Has Community – Sphinn

Search Engine Land has launched a new social community web site called Sphinn. What is it? It is a social site for search and interactive marketers designed to allow you to share and discover news stories, read and take part in discussions, discover events of interest and network with others. I know, I know… you must be thinking, “Not another social media site to keep track of!” Get used to it as I see no end to social media sites continuing to pop up all over the place. This one is especially cool however as it is associated with Search Engine Land. We all knew it was coming and here it is.

Danny Sullivan provides more details on what Sphinn’s purpose is:

• Provide a way for those in the Search Engine Land community to better comment on stories. The existing commenting system will go away, to be replaced by Sphinn.

• Allow everyone to share and comment on news stories about search and interactive marketing using a Digg/voting model that’s appealing to some.

• Allow the Search Engine Land community to start discussions independently of SEL stories (i.e Sphinn is also the Search Engine Land forums area). In our short history, we’ve gained a huge readership at the site. At the moment, eaders can only comment about what SEL authors write about. Sphinn will allow them start discussions independently of SEL stories. Plus, people can vote for discussions they think are particularly good.

• Help with virtual networking. One of the great things about search marketing is how welcoming people are to those coming into the space. A goal of Sphinn is to allow people to set up their own virtual business cards using profiles and make friends while they are here.

• Help with in-person networking. They run a number of Search Marketing Expo events, plus people meet up at events other than these. A common problem aside from knowing what’s going on is how to network when you are there. The events calendar at Sphinn will help you find things to go to plus list yourself as attending, which should help with networking.

There you have it. I’ve signed up and already found a handful of friends that I am currently stalking. I assume that once they stalk you as well, you become mutual friends. In setting up your profile, there is the ability to list many of your other associations such as your Flickr profile, MySpace, Digg, MyBlogLog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and even forum profiles such as High Rankings, Search Engine watch, Cre8asite, SEOmoz, DigitalPoint and WebmasterWorld (hey where Small Business Ideas Forum). You can even add your blog feed which will display some of your latest posts.

Very cool and congratulations to Danny and Search Engine Land on giving our industry another awesome tool and resource.