My "Ad" Space

MySpace.com has taken a lot of beatings from the media and is blamed for distracting students' studies to the point that it has been banned from many school campuses. It has also been blamed for being the cause of heinous crimes like child molestation, yet it remains the most-talked-about Web site and is a great place to advertise for free.

MySpace dominates conversations at some point or another while eating at restaurants, walking down school hallways, even cell-phone conversations.

Many have a MySpace profile for fun, but there are thousands who use it as a tool to promote and advertise their business.

The major advantage of having a profile for a business is that it is free. Buying and registering a domain can be as cheap as $10 a month, but the costs of maintenance, upkeep and professional page design can reach into the thousands, making operating a business Web site expensive.

Why do that when MySpace is 100 percent free and users can design pages on their own with an easy step-by-step guide?

Not only is the site free, but there is no limit to how many profiles one can have. Multiple-business owners can put as many profiles as desired and advertise their work globally.

Businesses have gained recognition and even profited by using MySpace as a stepping-stone to networking with established businesses and getting their products in stores.

The Fat Rabbit Farm clothing and design company, which is owned by two Valley College students, is just one of many businesses that have found success after beginning on the networking site.

Despite the common misconception, MySpace doesn't harbor only negative things. It's a legitimate place to advertise and sell, network and profit.

With more than 100,000,000 registered members and millions of users who visit the site on a daily basis, the world is just a click away for any aspiring talent.

Singers and bands can set up a profile to promote their music by uploading up to four songs to their profile, which are available to download or display for millions.

MySpace is one big networking and advertising circle, and the more "friends" a band has the greater their chance of being heard.

Solo artists and bands have the opportunity to have their music heard around the world without the radio or a need for a record deal. Record deals are even being offered to independent artists with large MySpace followings.

Such is the case for singer, model, and actress Tila Tequila, who appeared on the cover of "Maxim" and "Stuff" magazines after getting recognition for having more than one million "friends." She turned down two record deals and is currently working on a self-published album and also has her own clothing line.

Tequila is one of many who has benefited from the site's exposure. With more than 1.2 million "friends," Christine "Forbidden" Dolce appeared in the October 2006 issue of "Playboy" magazine and was featured on the Tyra Banks show, all because of MySpace.

Not enough people give the site the credit it deserves. Too many blame it for a variety of negative occurrences and deem it as being toxic when it has clearly helped many profit, succeed, and gain fame.

Whether people want to accept it or not, MySpace has helped many achieve the "American Dream."