Social networking is as popular as ever, so how can you go about capitalizing on this interest for your business, your brand, or your online presence in general. Sure, you could try investing in some freelance web coders to create a social network for you, but it’s a lot easier to use a free plug-in instead.

WordPress may largely be known as a blogging platform, but it can also serve as a social networking platform thanks to the BuddyPress plug-in. In effect, this serves as a social network “in a box.” It includes all sorts of features you’d normally find in a standalone network.

For instance, you can get users to register on your website. From there, they can set up their profiles, post messages, make friends (connections), create groups, and so on. This social network can be good for businesses, to be sure, but it can also prove useful for schools, communities, clubs, and other similar organizations.

Check out the live demo and find more information about BuddyPress in the WordPress Plugin Directory.