NOTE: I posted this in February but with our improved comment system, I’d like to reintroduce it for feedback.

If there is anything I have learned from my 40 years on the planet, there is a point with anything where it goes from being the cool, hip new thing…to commercialized and overexposed…to burnout.

As a former radio DJ, I can tell you I saw plenty of hot new trends (punk, disco, new wave, college rock, second British Invasion, hair metal, grunge…) go from being underground cool cult favorites to becoming mainstream and over marketed to complete burnout. Oh, they might return in another form like Happy Days, That 70′s Show or Pop-Punk as nostalgic fun, but the second version is never as exciting as the first.

This past week two social networks that I’ve had little or no contact with were suggested to me. One was Naymz.com (similar to LinkedIn and Plaxo) and the other Ning (no not Bing, Ning!) which is a Facebook style self-starter social network.

So as a small business owner, I am enticed to jump in with both feet on these new networks.

Well, I don’t know about you, but for me there are only so many hours in a day.  And I know for my customers as well as myself, our job is supposed to be running a business.  For most companies that don’t have someone dedicated to social media it is very tough to keep up a blog, be faithful to tweets, and monitor their Facebook wall, let alone add in these new kids on the block.

Now we start adding in copycat networks that try to sell themselves as the “new thing” and to create a buzz.  The only problem is, its like taking a shot of beer in the morning to cure a hangover, its never the same as the initial buzz. Like Warrant and Winger in the 80′s, some social networks may have come along a little too late in the game and may be trying too hard to be like someone else and not original or innovative. They think the buzz of last year is going to carry them this year. When the Warrants and Wingers of social networks start to appear, it might be time to start watching for the inevitable social media burnout in your customers.

Right now in the business community, it might be time to be cautious about putting eggs in too many baskets.  You not only risk your own premature burnout on social networking, but you also may be leaving profiles on networks that you will soon ignore and that can work against you.  Then, when some of those fringe social networks soon morph into the next MySpace (see the Village People) your reputation will go down with them.

Remember, with any hot new thing, there are only a few that make it through to long term success (see Bon Jovi, U2, Prince). My advice, be cautious…guard against your own burnout, and choose quality networks where you can provide quality material and services to your customers and potential customers.  Create a strategy and know where your customers hang out.  Don’t get sucked in because its new and because “social networking is hot!.”  That leads to disco and disco leads to Disco Demolition Night.  And that was not a good place to be.