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The top social networks are all experimenting with opt-in marketing: MySpace encourages users to add brands to their friends lists and has always allowed bands to connect directly with fans through MySpace Music. Meanwhile, Facebook creates groups, like the Apple Students group, focused around companies and organizations. YouTube is attempting a similar thing, kicking off their branding attempts in August with the help of Paris Hilton - that hasn't gone so well, with some users seeing it as corporate intrusion. These tactics will no doubt be more effective that buying banner ads on the networks, which are largely ignored by users anyway.