These days, if you want to make sure that your getting, holding, and retaining website visitors that are hungry for whatever it is that you might have to offer then you will want to make sure that you keep up with the new trend of social networking.

Having the best computer systems or the new how to book that will revolutionize some industry or an awesome recipe that makes spam into a tasty treat is just not enough to entice internet shoppers to purchase your product anymore.

With all of the research tools such as the amazons, and google search enabled, price comparing websites, shoppers are only going to become returning loyal shoppers when they feel that they know you and can trust you and that you offer some distinct content that they can identify with.

Net savvy consumers are not going to trust strangers with their money anymore regardless how good a product or service might actually be.

Social networking sites are seeing strong growth and have developed a unique online presence that is continually refreshed by user generated content, and this promotes ongoing consumer interest and visitor loyalty.

So where are the visitors that you want and need at your web- site gathering and more importantly, returning and staying?

According to Nielsen//NetRatings,

MySpace.com heads the list with with 38.4 million unique visitors and a year over year growth rate of 367 percent. Blogger takes the Next position at number 2, garnering 18.5 million unique visitors and growing 80 percent year over year, followed by Classmates Online with 12.9 million unique visitors and a 10 percent year-over-year increase. Rounding out the top five social networks is the New on the scene "YouTube" and the old guard and standby "MSN Groups" with 12.5 million and 10.6 million unique visitors, respectively.

Although it's not certain yet how strong these social sites will become given the youthful nature of most of their clientele, it is certain that they will not be going anywhere soon.

Those youthful members of such online communities Buy, and when they do, they also tell their friends, "a lot of friends" about that cool new widget that they just bought from a great website that they found from their network.

Repeat visitors are up to 8 times more likely to make a purchase than a new visitor according to a study by " study by WebSideStory".

The normal conversion rate of between 1.5% and 3% for new visitors has never been much to get excited about, but with an estimated 45% of all internet users spending more and more of their time at MySpace, MSN Groups, and elsewhere, website trade is also growing at a tremendous pace with up to 23% conversion rates not uncommon.

In my book, those figures are enough to convince this old grand-paw that it's time to pay attention to the youth of our society and to follow their lead.

Have you hugged your teenager today?