Evaluating the several social sites on the Web these past months, I came to the conclusion that with very little effort StumbleUpon could effectively rule the Web social scene. The social discovery site with its 4 million users is one of the most popular such sites in any event, but with just a few modifications or additional features SU could spread its rather infectious and eclectic value into social media, suggestive search and networking arenas.

SU2 Or Facebook With Looks
As we all know, StumbleUpon is already a community only with a more loosely defined set of functions. The addition of more customization and a little added flexibility at the blog and profile level, could transform SU into a super functional, artistic and fluid Facebook for all intents and purposes. Think of Facebook in the shape of an art museum and the idea should sink in.

SU2 Search Engine?
The SU toolbar and options have become a must for SU users and the blog world in general, and it is no secret that SU is one of the easiest and most reliable means or sharing and driving traffic available to bloggers. The addition of a search bar to the SU toolbar would effectively insert SU into the suggested search venue and add great value for users. I am sure that SU has millions of pages, images and video already indexed, and providing extremely relevant internal searches would be an awesome feature.

SU2 Vs Digg and Propeller
Digg is ugly! If there is a more tasteless popular site on the Web I would love to criticize it. Outside its massive appeal and usefulness as a traffic conduit, Digg is in my opinion worthless. More appropriate to this article SU could present news and articles in a much more attractive and effective way. I actually do not see why there is not already a fancy news aspect to SU. Imagine the user generated content on SU focused in sections for topical discussion.

As for Propeller, the content there is actually quite excellent but once again ugliness, ineffective communication and a maddening submission and promotion elements are suitable only for the die- hard fan. In my mind’s eye I see a site that combines the best of these three with new technology to present something much more dynamic than we see now. StumbleUpon may just be the “all in one” site for this type of interactive community.

SU2 and Business Networking
Second only to Digg, LinkedIn represents everything Web 1.0 in a Web 2.0 world. I think I have roughly 350 contacts on this network and beyond recommending someone or delving into Q&A on occasion, LI is effectively useless for any kind of progressive networking. Imagine stumbling a business only section of SU or searching richer profiles replete with images and color on SU2. This may be a little of a stretch, but we are not talking about semantic search or Me.dium here. Adding a dynamic professional aspect to SU would be a very attractive feature for many.

Like It or Not
At the onset of this year (and for some even now) small incremental additions to Facebook, MySpace, Digg, Propeller (ok they got worse) and a host of other supposed Web 2.0 sites have awed the blog world. Yes, to some extent this includes me as I find myself remiss not to mention every single solitary Facebook widget that falls of the apple cart. In all seriousness, do you ever ask yourself: “Where is that next awesome innovation?” Perhaps most of these sites are just resting on their laurels, or maybe they are waiting to surprise us with something fantastic?

SU is without a doubt the most stable, attractive and useful sites out there. There is just something great about being able to see what other people think and what they find in such a way. Images, dynamic content and essentially a “piece2 of every stumbler resides on the SU site. Imagine SU with the functionality suggested. I hope someone there reads this and perhaps makes the site all it could be.