Social networks are pulling out all the stops to get advertiser dollars, but what do they really have to offer marketers? New Media Strategies' CEO explores the topic.

This has truly been a landmark past few months for online marketing -- and social network marketing in particular -- with the biggest developments since the advent of AdWords occurring within days of each other.

Most of us have followed these developments closely, but here's a quick recap: Google fired up the hype machine with the launch of OpenSocial, which allows widget developers to easily port apps from one social network to another. MySpace then announced profile-targeted ads and a self-serve product for small- to mid-size businesses. Less than 24 hours later, Facebook unleashed a trio of revolutionary offerings for marketers: Social Ads, Beacon and Pages.

Also worth noting is that all of these launches are either soon or immediate, giving strategists little time to assess, plan and evaluate which tools are right for their business. 

Here's a quick overview of what these tools have to offer advertisers, with commentary to follow:

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