Shoutem.com is an online platform that allows you to set up your own Microblogging community.

You can use it to

• Start a group
• Create a support network for your site,
• Use it to interact with customers online.

There's nothing to install and you can use your own site URL. Sign up for an account at Shoutem.com and start customizing your microblog. Like twitter each user can customize their own profile including background and colors. You can also post photo's, links and your current location.

When posting a link, shoutem displays a thumbnail shot of the site you are pointing to. This may increase click through as readers can see where the link leads and make a more informed decision about whether to vist the site. This protects you and other users from spam sites, or sites that may harm your computer.

As administrator you can block individual profiles meaning you can keep your site spam free. Individual users may also choose who they receive shouts from.

Shoutem is currently in beta, which means you can try out some of the pro features that they'll later be charging for. You can add your own ads and use your own domain for free. There is one drawback, your site is still hosted on the shoutem server, so any traffic you may bring will add statistics and page rank to shoutem, but not to your domain.

Site Integration'

Shoutem has several widgets for you to post your status updates on your website. You can also post your shouts on twitter, facebook and ping.fm at the same time! Updating your status across the web has never been so easy.

Shoutem.com has many of the same features as twitter. For beginning your own microblogging community it's a fantastic (currently) free service.

To try out a demonstration check out Supwiththat.com Post irritations, quirks and complaints about every day life.

Start your microblogging community now @shoutem