Dave D
Class Action Private Investigator with 19K direct connections [dgd at cruzio dot com]
I love LinkedIn, but what about other networks?
I'm an open networker with about 1,000 connections. As a result, I get a lot of invitations to connect to OTHER networks. I have hesitated to join yet another network because of the time it would take to respond to everyone. However, I have also seem that other networkers belong to several networks. So, my questions are:
1. If you were only going to add one more network, which one would it be? Why?
2. What other networks would you consider? Why?
3. Are there any networks that you would avoid? Why?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Dave Dees
Dave.Dees@G2RI.com
99.99% of connection invitations will be accepted.
Good Answers (18)
Peter C
EU Customer Acquisition Director at ServiceMagic
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (3), Professional Networking (2), Job Search (1), Staffing and Recruiting (1), Advertising (1), Internet Marketing (1), Public Relations (1), Blogging (1)
Despite the 'millions' that are thrown about by some networks when talking about registered users like it was a Cold War arms race, what really counts is the number of active users and the quality of those users.
Each of Viadeo, Xing and Linked'in each have their own 'personalities' and have different qualities and for the moment 'geography'. Although I work with Viadeo, I have long used and like Linked'in but I use it as it was designed to be used - as an online address book for people I already know. The job board is not so relevant to me as to get a job in Silicon Valley I would need a US work permit.
The idea of being on different networks may be an aneathma for certain people but people will soon appreciate and use each of these networks differently. Saying I only use Linked'in is great but what happens when two large networkers, say one on Network A and one on Network B meet and invite each other to 'join their networks'? Do you refuse to join their network
because you only use Heinz Ketchup?
In some respects it is a little like the early days of IM when you would be on AIM and someone would invite you to join MSN. There would be a standoff sometimes and some people would end up with each of the AIM, MSN and Yahoo IM systems on their computer. A hassle but these people got great power by being the connectors between different networks!
Why not be on several networks - at least to extent it is free. You stand to gain even by passive networking or being 'on the other' network. The same way you stand a better chance of winning the lottery by buying a ticket than by not buying a ticket.
Facebook is worth your time. It is going in the right direction and is easy to use. For example, to add a group on Linkedin can take up to 1 year. They are that badly understaffed. On Facebook, you can add a group in under 10 minutes. Because Facebook is a little more personal than Linkedin, people are a little more particular about who they connect to. The networks are more genuine.
Second place would go to Jobster. They are doing some innovating and winning users over in the process. They may merge with Facebook though. There are lots of others that are out there, but these are still at the top of the list. Some of these might include Xanga, Friendster, and Ecademy or Open BC. Jobster is moving in the right direction and is best for people in the US who live on the West Coast. Xanga and Friendster are still out there, but aren't attracting huge new audiences or innovating for now. Open BC is big in Europe, but then LinkedIn is growing there too. Ecademy has gained a few additional users, but doesn't really promise anything that LinkedIn doesn't.
Avoid spending time with more than three social networks. Your time is more valuable.
Links:
Bruce K
bruce.kane.linkedin @ gmail.com | Professional Services Consultant (Microsoft Exchange) | LION / open networker
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There are no other networks. None. Stop looking. LinkedIn is the holy grail of networks. Suggesting otherwise is heresy and you shall be spanked. And not in a good way.
<jedi mind trick>
These are not the networks you are looking for. We can go.
</jedi mind trick>
bruce.kane.linkedin@gmail.com
open networker: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brucekane
Jeffrey T
Senior Vice President; IGR (U.S. Government Relations and Public Affairs); linkedin.lobbyist@gmail.com
I take a different approach. There are only so many hours in a day so my networking philosophy is to choose one and become proficient in managing it. I’ve chosen LinkedIn. When I am not servicing my clients or not preparing for a pitch to get new business, I try to utilize LinkedIn as business development recourse. Juggling two, three or more business networking sites would pull me away from concentrating on LinkedIn and be terribly inefficient with my time.
Good luck. JT
Jeffrey L. Taylor
U.S. Federal Government Relations Group
Barnes & Thornburg LLP ( www.btlaw.com )
750 17th Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
jtaylor@btlaw.com
202-408-6931 (d)
202-289-1313 (o)
703-407-4714 (c)
202-289-1330 (f)
SKYPE: washington_lobbyist
Eric H
President at One Source Personnel, Inc.
Best Answers in: Government Policy (1), Non-profit Management (1)
LinkedIn is the gold standard. If you want an easy to manage addition try Plaxo if you haven't already. It is more of a contact manager but it automatically updates new information (promotions, moves, etc... assuming the other side keeps their info updated). I suppose I've just illustrated how superior LinkedIn is!
Eric
ehanson@charterglobal.com
It's all about your networking focus. Do you want to meet new people or just get in touch with those you already know?
LinkedIn is of course the reference in the US, but if you want to reach more than one million business people in Europe, you can't avoid Viadeo.com.
Check out the multilingual interface and community hubs.
Links:
Dave,
Zoom Info (zoominfo.com) is pretty good because it allows you to post your experience, job level, past colleagues, job desires, etc, etc. I have received several calls from this site about new job opportunities that I would have otherwise never knew about. Take a look at it and see if it's what you're looking for. Good luck!
P.S. I could always use a new connection if you have time.
Thanks,
Dan
Links:
For those folks saying LinkedIn is the greatest thing since sliced bread- nonsense. The world doesn't stop at the New Jersey shore or California cliffs. Try Xing. Try Zoominfo. Try Viadeo. If you really need to expand and would like ideas other than our own try the above.
Well, I am really happy with OpenBC (now XING), but most of my US contacts are on LinkedIN. I use both. At this point, I have decided that I won't be joining any more, since it is ridiculous: I have a limited amount of time and if my contacts are not willing to join either of my preferred ones, then... well though luck.
Furqan N
President & CEO at Viridus, Inc.
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The value of a network is primarily based on membership. No one wants to be the first person at a party! According to Alexa's traffic ratings (see link below) LI ranks #37. The only other social network ranked higher is Facebook (#7). My personal experience with FB is that it is a younger demographic that does not have the "professional bias" of LI. None of the other professional networking sites rank in the top 100 (I don't include Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com in this category of networks).
Links:
Jonathan H
Chief Communications Officer at Physicians for Human Rights
Best Answers in: Non-profit Management (4), Compensation and Benefits (1), Direct Marketing (1), Non-profit Fundraising (1)
LinkedIn is fine, but a bit old school. Check out Facebook, too, if only to be aware of more leading edge, easy-to-use online tools for networking and community-building. Regardless of which tools you use, the key is to build genuine relationships and to participate in the community.
Links:
John V
Network Ambassador - Innovation - Open Future Ltd. - TopLinkedIn.com - Lion - Christchurch - Ryze -
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (3), Job Search (1)
Hello Dave
LinkedIn is a very good network, but what is it really? It's a network of 10 million registered people 5 million of which are so badly "LinkedIn" that effectively they are not members at all.
LinkedIn is valuable because the other 5 million people can be found using an excellent search engine. In addition LinkedIn pages are listed by other search engines, and sometimes that's useful.
LinkedIn Answers is a very useful new service. Sadly those writing answers to the service most are not necessarily the best experts available. However, everyone who tries to write a reply to a question benefits from the process of developing a message worth communicating. Every participant benefits, even if a really useful reply isn't written.
The weakness of LinkedIn has been the lack of forums where people could express and develop ideas. The best example of this that I know is on Ryze, but Xing also has useful forums. LinkedIn has developed forums on Yahoo, and while these work, they are not as well differentiated into interest groups as the Ryze or Xing Forums. Recently I've become involved on Viadeo. In theory they should ave very active and useful forums (Hubs) too. I've developed to Hubs there, in English, and while there has been growth, those hubs are not yet working as I would wish.
(My personal invitation to join Viadeo is on this help page.
http://www.ate.co.nz/viadeo/)
There is great benefit arising from networking if you PARTICIPATE in reading forums and if you ALSO write to these forums yourself. Yes it does take time, sometime lots of time, but that is the process of self education and self development. I have noticed the changes that happen to people who regularly try to participate.
They begin hesitant and sometimes incoherent. Two people I know used to write the most silly questions, and never had anything useful to say when I first met them three years ago. Another started a network called "couch potatoes" when she first began on Ryze.
Many people I've networked with have become much better informed, and with that much more confident in their own views. As they practice writing, not only do their own ideas become stronger, but their ability to express themselves clearly also develops.
I've mentioned three people:
One is now the articulate and respected leader of a network about world religions.
One is now a dynamic local leader in his local community, driving along the business association in his own town, and enlisting help from around the world in that process.
An the "Couch Potato" is not the active leader of a highly successful network on world political and economic affairs, began her own monthly podcast about a year ago, and recently has become a radio host.
Those are not small returns for becoming active in networks.
That sort of return is a good reason to be involved in at least one other social/business network outside of LinkedIn.
If you do a Google search on my name, you'll see that several social network sites come up. Perhaps that's another reason to be active beyond LinkedIn
"John Stephen Veitch"
Google me.
Russ W
Freelance Web Designer/Developer
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (26), Professional Networking (2), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Property Law (1), Non-profit Fundraising (1)
Personally, I also have a profile on Facebook, Tribe.net, Xing (formerly OpenBC), and Orkut.
Facebook, although improving, has a very large number of High School kids, and not as many business people. It's ok, but i haven't found it very fruitful. (It has also been blocked at the firewall of my office, so it is an evening pursuit...)
Tribe is also a better place for informal discussions than serious business relationship building. People with common interestscome together to form "tribes" to discuss those interests.
Xing has a larger presence in Europe than the USA (and several of their discussion groups are in languages other than english). People there want to do business, but the language issue could be a hinderence in some cases.
Orkut (owned by Google) actually has several times more members than LinkedIn. Their "community" system is similar in structure to Tribes. I've not found it as fruitful as LinkedIn, but I haven't been as active there either...
I've looked at Doostang, Ryze, and several others and found that I was just getting pulled in too many directions. For now, I focus on these few...
LinkedIn is the best and easiest to negotiate of the bunch. If you decide to venture into any of the other social networks, look them over and report back, but you will find that being LinkedIn is always best. ;-)
--Russ Wickstrom, LION (http://www.linkedin.com/in.russwickstrom)
Minneapolis, MN
Sheilah E
Owner, ★SME Management:.......... Business Management and Accounting Consultant
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Hi Dave,
I spend most of my free time on LinkedIn, but I also belong to Ray's group Yahoo open networkers. The two go hand in hand and compliment one another well.
I have also considered Xing, eAcademy, and a few others but I haven't joined because i simply don't have the time to invest in too many groups.
To date IMHO LinkedIn is my first and best choice.
Sheilah
sme@gci.net
LION Lets link
Ray V
Social Media Strategist, Speaker, Corporate Community expert
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I have published some reviews of other portals on the Open Networkers Blog:
www.opennetworkers.blogspot.com
Greetings,
Ray
Eric M
Embedded Software Manager, LION
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (8), Offshoring and Outsourcing (2), Web Development (2), Project Management (1)
Basically I use Linkedin for the world, Xing for the german speaking countries and Viadeo for France.
I explain in my blog post why using non-LinkedIn networking sites for Germany and France.
Links:
Stewart R
General Manager - Europe at Crawford Technologies
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (2), Sales Techniques (1), Software Development (1)
Dave,
Answer 1. Don't add another on-line network. Add a real-life networking group to your list and start crossing the two over... for example, recommending a real-life contact to your LinkedIn list and vice versa. In the UK, I'd recommend Business-Scene (link below).
Answer 2. I am also a member of Ecademy, but not for networking purposes as it's not the right demographic for me. It is, however, good for SEO purposes. I am a member at Xing, Spoke and Ryze but don't actually maintain any of those as they're not as good as LinkedIn for my needs.
Answer 3. I've not had a bad experience with any of the business networks, and I would avoid personally social networks (MySpace, Facebook, WAYN etc.) as they're not what I'm looking for out of my networking experience.
Links:
Dave,
I have been a member of Linked In for over 18 months now and while I am very satisfied with the network, I only use it as a research tool when I want to look for certain contacts in new markets.
About 7 months ago, I joined Ecademy, and several other Business Networkds since.
I Guess the answer to your questions depends on your purpose in Networking. If it is for social purposes then join as many networks as possible and only actively participate in a couple of them and intermittently in the others. It will expand your coverage and profile over Cyberspace and you will get connections from time to time. It's a bit like baiting hooks in a long fishing line you trail behind your boat with no real hopes of catching much, but the occasional catch is always welcome.
If it is for business purposes then you must focus on the Business Networks that cater to the demographics you are targeting.
My personal Preference is to use a combination of a couple of Business Networks. As I said I use Linked, In more like a Data Base bank of contacts for its sheer size. More in a Data mining operation. Then I transfer those contacts to Ecademy if Possible. Ecademy is by far the best Network I have seen out there. The only problem is that the demographics are lopsided ( Too Heavy on the British Side and not enough in the rest of the world) but that will be corrected with time. The US membership is growing steadily, and so is the Asian side. It is the optimal Network for contacts communication. It takes a few seconds to create your own club (group) and you can even charge for membership and be the sole recipient of that income. Many consultants use that service as a Cyber Office reaching clients world wide. It is also the most Search Engine Friendly and the fastest way I know to raise your internet profile. Litterally on the top of Google Search within 4 days if you actively post in clubs, blogs and articles. It would be my very first recommendation to you and anyone out there.
If you are looking to Network in a particular Industry, there are very few Business Networks out there. That's a shame because it would be very effective. Our Company, Morlando Technologies, has created, at the request of our clients in the Real Estate and Building industry a Business Network Similar to Ecademy in terms of SEO, communication ( Clubs, forums, Blogs, articles...etc) but with additional tools in communication and research: www.leadsandbids.com. It's Industry Specific, (the only one I know so far), it concentrates on the Real Estate and Building Industry world wide. It brings the Property Owners around the World (residential, Commercial and Industrial) together with the Professionals who service them and the companies who cater to those professionals. It allows the Property owners to post their construction and property improvement projects for free on a Bid Board create specifically for that purpose, and the professional members bid on those projects and thus interact directly with their client base. There's a free Market Place board where various ads are classifieds by their respective categories such as: Real Estate Listings, business Opportunities, Employment, Miscellaneous, Finance, Equipment Lease, Rental, Sales, Services Providers...etc.
Just like Ecademy, L&B has its own Internal PM system ( Private Mail) but in addition to that it also offers Public Chats, Picture Gallery for the profiles to promote projects and company products, and Instant Messaging System. It will soon have You Tube Video presentation in profiles as well and many more features will be introduce on a quaterly basis.
It is a fairly recent Business Network since it was launched a month ago today, on February 12th. However it already has members from over 16 different countries and the activity and volume of business transaction being done is extremely high since every member is focused on business and not social objectives. It's an On/Off-line Network
Christian-Adam R also suggests this expert on this topic:
More Answers (2)
Rom G
Economist at Intel Corporation
Best Answers in: Organizational Development (2), Public Funding (1), Venture Capital and Private Equity (1), Corporate Governance (1), Change Management (1), Planning (1)
Great question... I had no idea there was so much out there.
Hi David;
I'm also using Plaxo (becuase it allows me to synchronize my private email) and Facebook.
Plaxo seems to have useful features, Facebook seems to be 99% composed of people under 25 years of age (so far).
-Dave
