There are plenty of disagreements about the role of social networks as marketing tools but many bootstrappers realize that with limited resources they remain a key ingredient.

For my final post in the "Bootstrapping the media" series, I'd suggest that this is even more the case with bootstrapping a media business.

Here's why:

• Social networks serve as a great focus for the small but growing otaku you've identified as a key audience
• They provide a means of interaction and direct response about what your audience likes and what you could be doing better
• They provide a place for like-minded people to interact in the context of a common frame of reference-your new media business!
• They create a platform for viral marketing through virtual word of mouth about your newest products and services
• They may provide a key road map showing what the next level in development of your bootstrapped media business should be.

My own newly re-launched media business PostRanger.com already has spaces at both Technorati.com and MyBlogLog.com. Feel free to join and follow our progress.

And we'll be creating more in the near future to support our Allentown News and Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Metro products and others in the pipeline in the near future.

Here's a previously posted list of some of the key social networks for the tool box of any bootstrapper and certainly anyone interested in bootstrapping a media business.

More later at BootStrapMe.com...