The Networking Power of LinkedIn Groups
Today I was discussing some options for a client that was looking for a way to bring together literally hundreds and thousands of alumni from a particular university department. They were sold on the idea of LinkedIn Groups. Here’s why I think it is an ingenious solution for anyone out there looking to bring together their staff, friends, and more.
First of all, LinkedIn is a social networking site like MySpace and Facebook, except it’s designed specifically for business interaction. If you haven’t seen it yet, you really ought to. It’s like super charging your resume with legitimate endorsements and recommendations because it’s completely powered by people you know and trust.
The “six degrees of separation” theory says that we can eventually reach every human being on the planet through a chain that connects all the people we know with all the people they know and on and on. LinkedIn is built on this concept, except only 3 degrees of separation is the maximum. So I create a profile, post my resume to it, and endorse other people. But that’s not all. They can then connect to other people and those folks are now within my network. If I ever wanted to contact any one of them, I could enlist the help of the person I do know to gain the introduction. The whole concept is genius. Business cards squared.
Well, you can also set up, for free, a LinkedIn group. In this case, people with similar backgrounds can link to each other via the group. For example, let’s say I wanted to hook up with old high school friends and acquaintances. I search on LinkedIn, and behold, there’s a group there representing my high school. I put in that I’m an alumnus from said school, and get connected to it. Now I have access to everyone within that same group.
I know what you’re thinking… This concept has been the dream of the internet since its inception. But the good thing about LinkedIn is its structure. You have control through spam because to communicate with others in the network, you have to go through other people. That one added measure is enough of a security function that your email box doesn’t get nailed. And the introductions that are made are always endorsed by someone known to you, or it doesn’t go through.
So, a cheap, wonderful way to establish groups for interested folks out there is through LinkedIn. I love to add my own heartfelt endorsement of what LinkedIn is doing for the business world.
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Doug Norton
Oct 17th, 2006, 2:47 am
Thanks for the post. I have always liked the idea of an online social network, but have never been a fan of the unprofessionalism associated with so many of them.
I look forward to learning more about LinkedIn.