It had to happen at some stage. Amazon has joined the social media set by acquiring Shelfari, a social network focused on books. It is a natural progression for a company the size of Amazon and I am a little surprised it has taken so long.
Shelfari is a blend of social bookmarking and forum that allows users to:
- Build virtual bookshelves – and fill them with books
- Discover books to add to their bookshelves, and share with friends
- Rate and discuss books with their peers
- Participate in online book groups
- Interact with authors
The announcement on Shelfari’s blog included:
We’ve got some big plans ahead. With more resources and Amazon’s expertise in building a platform where people come to share ideas, there are a lot of new opportunities in the future that will benefit each of you. In the meantime, you’ll continue to have access to the great community and tools that you’ve always known and used on the site.
One wonders how long it will be before the front page becomes an Amazon billboard for book sales or perhaps partner with Amazon to display ads on their profile page. Time will tell. The acquisition is a step in the right direction for Amazon – hopefully it will benefit Shelfari members as well.
