Comments on: Social Networks I Could Possibly Do Without http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/ Rebooting the workforce Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:49:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: aliza sherman http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291893 aliza sherman Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:25:04 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291893 I actually find Ning.com to be incredibly useful for creating private, affinity groups & social networks. I use it as a platform to build communities in specific areas - such as a community for Alaskan businesswomen, one for survivors of carbon monoxide poisoning, one for older moms. I don't think it is the same kind of service as a Facebook or a MySpace so can't really be compared in the same way. Apples/Oranges. I actually find Ning.com to be incredibly useful for creating private, affinity groups & social networks. I use it as a platform to build communities in specific areas – such as a community for Alaskan businesswomen, one for survivors of carbon monoxide poisoning, one for older moms. I don’t think it is the same kind of service as a Facebook or a MySpace so can’t really be compared in the same way. Apples/Oranges.

]]> By: Ian Hendry http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291701 Ian Hendry Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:50:55 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291701 Yes, the issue with Ning networks is that the low barrier to entry makes it also hard to differentiate yourself. I think Ning could become a phenomenon with teens who realise they can create their own Facebook and have low expectations of it, but it's hard for businesses to stand out there. My issue with most of the sites mentioned in this piece is that although they all wear a business suit, they still serve the needs of the individual way ahead of the businesses that get listed. You can't use any of them to search for a type of company you may wish to deal with. Sure, you'd get results showing which individuals know PR, for example, and have done it in former roles, which may be useful it you are hiring, but not if you JUST want to get the details of a reputable company from all your contacts. Hey, you can ask a question of your contacts? Sure, I could do, but isn't this just dragging things out more than it need to. I'm not asking for much, after all - just details of why I should do businesses with the employers of the millions of people listed. I don't expect our WeCanDo.BIZ site to be listed alongside LinkedIn and Xing any time soon (it went live last week and is currently UK only), but I think we provide something for businesses in social networking that few others do. Ian Hendry http://www.wecando.biz Yes, the issue with Ning networks is that the low barrier to entry makes it also hard to differentiate yourself. I think Ning could become a phenomenon with teens who realise they can create their own Facebook and have low expectations of it, but it’s hard for businesses to stand out there.

My issue with most of the sites mentioned in this piece is that although they all wear a business suit, they still serve the needs of the individual way ahead of the businesses that get listed. You can’t use any of them to search for a type of company you may wish to deal with. Sure, you’d get results showing which individuals know PR, for example, and have done it in former roles, which may be useful it you are hiring, but not if you JUST want to get the details of a reputable company from all your contacts. Hey, you can ask a question of your contacts? Sure, I could do, but isn’t this just dragging things out more than it need to. I’m not asking for much, after all – just details of why I should do businesses with the employers of the millions of people listed.

I don’t expect our WeCanDo.BIZ site to be listed alongside LinkedIn and Xing any time soon (it went live last week and is currently UK only), but I think we provide something for businesses in social networking that few others do.

Ian Hendry
http://www.wecando.biz

]]> By: JTPratt's Blogging Mistakes http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291676 JTPratt's Blogging Mistakes Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:04:14 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291676 On the reverse side of it, I wonder out of all the social networks created by bloggers and site owners using the Ning.com service - how many of those are around after a year? On the reverse side of it, I wonder out of all the social networks created by bloggers and site owners using the Ning.com service – how many of those are around after a year?

]]> By: Marsello http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291665 Marsello Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:18:11 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291665 I haven't heard of any of these sites, well maybe except Xing. Multiply seems to be a pretty popular site in the 3rd world countries along with Friendster, I often get "mail order bride" type offers from foreign women in those sites. Maybe I should outsource my dating life using these sites ;) I haven’t heard of any of these sites, well maybe except Xing. Multiply seems to be a pretty popular site in the 3rd world countries along with Friendster, I often get “mail order bride” type offers from foreign women in those sites. Maybe I should outsource my dating life using these sites ;)

]]> By: aliza sherman http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291647 aliza sherman Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:51:39 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291647 I totally agree with you, Okko - if you are in Europe, Xing is a must-have. I don't think the U.S. membership is that high and so for doing business in the States, it isn't as immediately valuable. Not that I haven't any interest in working more globally (hey, I'm a Web Worker so practically global by default), but for Stateside, LinkedIn serves up more. I totally agree with you, Okko – if you are in Europe, Xing is a must-have. I don’t think the U.S. membership is that high and so for doing business in the States, it isn’t as immediately valuable. Not that I haven’t any interest in working more globally (hey, I’m a Web Worker so practically global by default), but for Stateside, LinkedIn serves up more.

]]> By: Okko http://webworkerdaily.com/2008/04/17/social-networks-i-could-possibly-do-without/#comment-291638 Okko Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:22:22 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/?p=2141#comment-291638 Just my two cent on XING... It's been by far the most valuable professional network that I've signed up for and still use. Living in Germany, virtually all former and present colleagues as well as most professional acquaintances are on it. I'd go as far as saying that in some sectors of the tech/web industry it has become more commonplace to connect on XING as a means of exchanging details, rather than business cards, email, mobile numbers etc. This may be reflected by the fact that XING charges users upwards of €5/month for some very basic functionality, such as seeing who has looked them up. The transition from OpenBC to XING occurred alongside aggressive internationalization. XING currently boast 17 languages (compared to only one for most rival networks), which explains why most of the action may be happening away from the domestic US market, as you point out, where competition is stiff. I'm just offering this as a counterpoint to your impression of unwarranted solicitations (which, by the way of anecdote, I find much more frequent on LinkedIn). Just my two cent on XING…

It’s been by far the most valuable professional network that I’ve signed up for and still use. Living in Germany, virtually all former and present colleagues as well as most professional acquaintances are on it.

I’d go as far as saying that in some sectors of the tech/web industry it has become more commonplace to connect on XING as a means of exchanging details, rather than business cards, email, mobile numbers etc. This may be reflected by the fact that XING charges users upwards of €5/month for some very basic functionality, such as seeing who has looked them up.

The transition from OpenBC to XING occurred alongside aggressive internationalization. XING currently boast 17 languages (compared to only one for most rival networks), which explains why most of the action may be happening away from the domestic US market, as you point out, where competition is stiff.

I’m just offering this as a counterpoint to your impression of unwarranted solicitations (which, by the way of anecdote, I find much more frequent on LinkedIn).

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