Can't Get A Job, Get LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the new business networking source. Social networking sites are extremely popular but now fast rising in popularity is this relatively new concept of business networking. LinkedIn is a platform where people can expand their business contacts to build a greater network. It is a great resource to get jobs especially in this type of economy. You can post who you are and bits from your resume to build your personal brand, either to attract employers, more contacts or even clients. LinkedIn is a resource that helps you build not only your contacts but also your career.

However, LinkedIn should be an added resource in networking, not the only resource. It should not replace the true face to face networking and joining associations, going to conferences and meeting with colleagues after work. True networking is when people can meet you and see your personality and it should not be replaced by business networking online. As long as LinkedIn complements a persons real networking skills it can be a great asset in finding a new job or just expanding your network.

"How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn"
"How to Change the World: Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn"

Social Networking On The Go

Mobile Social Networking is a relatively novel concept. It can also be called an offshoot of regular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. The interesting thing here is will it catch on? As of right now mobile social networking is nowhere close to what the other regular social networking sites have accomplished in terms of content and also in terms of users.

The biggest new concept that has been introduced to us by the mobile social networks is the idea of tracking ones position with a inbuilt GPS system, so it can be conveyed to one's friend nearby. It is an innovative idea and can definitely help in emergency situations, so I see the importance of what this can become eventually. But the concerns lie in the privacy arena of things. A lot of people may not like these location based services, telling your friends where you are and even if one is alright with that idea another privacy issue lies in will the company providing the service store that data in it's archives to use for the company's own purposes. As always as technology advances, it can get more invasive into a person's lifestyle, but in the end is that a good or a bad thing?

"Students' new best friend: 'MoSoSo'"
"The Mobile Social: Not ready for Prime Time?"

Blogging For Business

Blogging is becoming an extremely useful tool for companies to market their product and services. Although I think that it will be much more useful for start up companies than the Fortune 500s. I understand why all the companies want to get into blogging because it is extremely popular right now and everybody is doing it. But prime reason to start a corporate blog is to make your brand identifiable to customers and sell it to them. Most likely a Fortune 500 company is widely recognized and has mastered the art of traditional marketing. Start ups on the other hand will need to build their brand and blogging is a cheap and effective way to grab the attention of their target market.

Even after a blog is started by a corporation they need to get the techniques of writing a blog right. Many marketing teams have gone wrong in writing blogs because they ascribe to the traditional ways of marketing and tend to cling to their brand to an extent where they cannot handle criticism from the consumers. To write successful blogs they need to get over these things and let the comments from the blogs guide their products.

On Corporate Blogging: Interview with Don Martelli of MS&L - Technorati Blogging
10 Harsh Truths About Corporate Blogging - Smashing Magazine