Question

Topic: Strategy

E-enabled Relationships

Posted by Anonymous on 3/8/2004 at 5:08 AM ET 100 Points
I was recently invited to join an electronic relationship network with LinkedIn. I welcomed the invitation and joined out of curiosity, keen to find out what it did, how it did that, and what I might get from it. Possibly also what my clients might get from it. Like almost everyone, I have also received emails from time to time asking me to validate my details for someone who has jumped on the Plaxo wagon. There are others also, like Groove.

This set me thinking. What is the role for electronic support for building relationships. What works? There has been much discussion (some of it is helping me - click here to see my other question) about email. I am interested in views about the role of technology in supporting relationships more broadly though.

Specifically, I am not interested in CRM or about general email. But how about LinkedIn? Has anyone specifically obtained work or a job through a LinkedIn network? How about any other networking software? Has anyone got any other good news stories?

How about war stories? Anyone had a confidence abused by one of these?

After specific experience (first or second hand), rather than opinions if that's OK.

Thanks in advance, Hugh
To continue reading this question and the solution, sign up ... it's free!
SUBSCRIBE
Or, SIGN IN

RESPONSES

  • Posted by Pepper Blue on 3/8/2004 at 10:53 AM Member
    Hugh,

    Business 2.0 had an article in their November 2003 issue where they called Social Application Networks or as I have seen them called Social Network Application Programs(SNAPS) the Technology of the Year. If this link doesn't work I can email you the article.

    https://www.business2.com/b2/web/articles/1,17863,541922,00.html

    Anyway I am just getting involved in them mainly because I started meeting people through conventional networking events who swore by them.

    These are small business owners like myself who were now in contact with SME owners/decision makers and who were starting to get real business from them.

    My experience is that the hybrid models work well and make a lot more sense. One which I recently joined is Ryze. It is a SNAP plus live meetings. So far, so good.

    As mentioned above I have also heard good things about www.ecademy.com, which I heard about from one of my Ryze contacts whom after a local Ryze event I then met with to swap ideas on how we can help each other. He spoke very highly of it and I am going to check it out.

    Same concerns as you, but so far I have been treading cautiously and I like what I've seen.

    Plaxo did not work for me with regards to organize my Outlook. Too intrusive, did not solve a pain that is great enough to warrant going through all the dance steps.

    Hope that helps.

    Tim
BACK TO TOP

Post a Comment

Related Discussions

Community Info

Top 25 Experts
(Strategy)