By Chris Kauza
Technology Editor
According to Forrester Research, Facebook is the closest and fastest growing competitor to MySpace, with more than 60 Million active users (January, 2008). Earlier this year, Forrester predicted it will have the same number of users as MySpace by early 2009. OOPS! Somebody forgot to update the memo...
Who are Facebook users?
- more than half of them are past college, with their average age being 25 years old or older
- Facebook is the 6th. most visited site in the U.S., with more than 65 Billion page views a month
- half of all active users return to it daily, spending an average of 20 minutes or more on the site.
Impressive, but can Facebook really help you be a more effective networker? It depends on your purpose...
I see Facebook and LinkedIn as two social networking platforms that should be integral to all of your professional networking. They help establish your credibility as a networker, and also serve as a platform to help others get to know you better – whether before or after an in-person meeting. It's fairly quick and easy to set up your profile, and you can be as active or passive with these as you like, and still receive lasting benefit.
I have also found the Facebook groups to be more active, interesting and diverse – yet focused at the same time; think of it as an example of “Long-Tail Economics”. You can be focused on your niche and simultaneously exposed to a global community. Granted, there is still the issue of what is and is not relevant information to you, but Facebook's platform seems to be more effective at helping users sort this out than MySpace.
As with LinkedIn, I have used Facebook to reach out to people and build new networking relationships. I have not only expanded my circle of influence online in these communities, but I have also been able to expand my knowledge and expertise as well; some examples:
- I have added an application that will help me learn Chinese
- joined groups that give me travel tips on various cities I have (or will) visit
- reconnected with old friends (reconnected with two high school friends in the last two weeks)
- I am able to “see what my friends are up to” with the real-time status updates & integrated online chat functions
I can be as professional as (and simultaneously a little more personal than) I am on LinkedIn. For example, I originally started out on Facebook as I did on LinkedIn page – open only to people I knew really well. But after joining a few groups and starting to expand my network, I started meeting new peopleand seeing a more powerful web application emerge.
One example of how I am using Facbook to promote a business organization and relationship creation, is through my work with a new non-profit that uses Facebook as a cornerstone in our Marketing plans. If you look at the Board Members page, you will notice that each of us has tiny little buttons under our pictures, leading you to our profiles on other social networking sites. This makes it easier for people to find out more about us, and thus promote better connections. Think of it as the electronic equivalent of being in a meeting room, wearing a name badge, extending your hand to someone nearby and introducing yourself. In most cases, the person will reciprocate and an interesting relationship can be created.
I think the Groups function on Facebook is one of its strongest networking features, and we will discuss that further in a future issue. For now, establish your profile on Facebook and take a look at who else you know is already on there (you may be surprised!). You can find me there – feel free to “add me as a friend” (Mention The National Networker in the invite). The National Networker fan page is there - you can become a fan by clicking here. Check out some of the other groups available for you to join. Don't find one that suits you? Create your own and tell me about it – we may profile you in an upcoming issue!
In the meantime, if you have questions about these or other technologies, feel free to email me at ckauza@soltusgroup.com or to connect with me on LinkedIn.
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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.
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2 comments:
"Anonymous" - thanks for the comment! I took a look at the engine and it looks interesting, and I subsequently shared it on Twitter, which feeds into my other networks (Facebook, etc.). I'm always looking at other networks, but so far am sticking w/LinkedIn / Facebook / Twitter / eCademy / Plaxo (sort of) for now...
Chris, great post. I also use LinkedIn and Facebook for social networking and have been able to refer a lot of business and help people through these sites.
I have also been able to reconnect with many people from previous jobs, high school and college. In an ever-connected world, it's mandatory to use these sites as a way to bridge time zones and countries and we are continuing to grow closer. Please keep the great posts coming!
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