"“Thefacebook is an online directory that connects people through social networks at colleges and universities”

Actually, Thefacebook is much, much more than that. It’s a definite must for current college students, graduates, and faculty alike. It’s an excellent and still burgeoning resource for advertisers. Cell phones aside, Thefacebook has fast become the primary way college students communicate with one another (far surpassing the abilities of email and instant messengers programs). It’s a $13 million dollar enterprise. Launched to the public on Wednesday, February 4th, 2004, Thefacebook.com has seemingly revolutionized the way college students socialize. Thefacebook offers the ability to learn about and communicate with people through a virtual network that allows access to personalized user profiles. Any one with a university email account can register and then be given access to their school’s facebook network. Registered user’s can interact with other users through messages sent over the network, adding “friends” from their school as well as others to their social network list, and creating and joining network “groups” of mutual interest via invitation. Various other networking sites exist offering similar capabilities, however what may be Thefacebook’s most distinguishing and powerful characteristic is that it’s a virtual network grounded in a physical one. Each school’s cyber community has an actual presence which allows for a more tangible application of Thefacebook’s resources. In short, Thefacebook makes things feel more real. Student’s are drawn to looking up the profiles of other’s they have yet to meet, but could potentially; given the willingness to walk down the hall or switch seats in Calculus class. More than any other site, users feel personally connected to this virtual world because it directly exists outside their dorms rooms.

The power of the Thefacebook has been seen by many advertisers who recognize the buying power of the young marketing base that Thefacebook is able to connect. Millions of college students have registered for the site giving advertisers a strong base to market their products and services to. Viewing their personal pages four to five times a day, Thefacebook has become a primary communication resource for everyday college students. Sending messages, updating personal pictures and information on a regular basis, checking the updated profiles of others; these have fast become the daily habits of the average facebook user. With the high traffic volume that flows through the site, advertisers have clamored to display their products and services on the site, gaining much needed exposure in the large market schools. The Face Book offers a sized-based rate for it’s per day advertising service, charging up to $25 dollars a day for an advertisement. As one can imagine, the high volume of users added to the large number of advertisers translates into the sound of many overflowing cash registers and the sight of ever increasing bank accounts. Revolutionary, young, fresh, and most of all, filled with tremendous growth potential, Thefacebook.com is a direct reflection of those it services most. As the founder of the site, Mark Zuckerburg, simply states “What exists on the site is a mirror image of what exists in real life.” Oh Mark, how right you are." [Via PimpWiz.com]