WalesCymru.com

If you’re on Facebook you’ll have noticed some Twitter inspired design changes which have not gone down well the users. In fact as many as nine out of ten don’t like the changes; which suggests Facebook have either not considered their users views, or worse have not understood what benefit their users gain from the site. Yesterday I commented on Alan Davies’, “How can I help you?” and attempted to answer the question, “How should the technology provider and the business club work together”. Today I’ve responded to an email on feature changes planned at Xing - one of the two online business networks I’ve joined. It was then I noticed a theme developing, which appears to be, “What is the purpose of the online (business) network?”

Below are my thoughts on Xing changes, which are an attempt to answer this question:

Online Business Networks are …

• a business contacts management tool (Except most of my contacts are not on these networks. A web resource that provides single sign-on and access to all my business contacts would be very useful, regardless of which site they’re on)
• a business knowledge resource (If an exchange of knowledge is the main function of Groups; where’s the knowledge centre?)
• a collaboration tool (But it’s open - so where does the confidential work actually take place?)
• a business events planning / management resource (but most business events I attend are absent from these sites)
• a networking resource for local businesses (E.g. many Xing users have a strong European (German) connection, which is great if you’re a German business man/women. But what about everyone else? Should these sites develop a stronger Sector and Regional focus, perhaps by working with established local Business Clubs?)
• a networking platform (In which case, should they offer white label applications to local networking groups?)

The online network providers who get this right will become the platform of choice. At this stage this battle is far from won by any of the established players.

On January 3 2008 the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce closed after 141 years. According to news reports the problem dated from 2004 when the Chamber received between £1m and £2m in training payments “to which they were not entitled”. The debt, now due to the Welsh Assembly’s Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, could not it seems be deferred without contravening European law, thereby forcing the Chamber into liquidation.

As the Chamber’s account manager for over two and half years, while at Peter Gill & Associates, I had numerous discussions about web based membership services. It was disappointing none of my suggestions were taken up, but the reason why is now clear. Let’s hope the new look ’south Wales’ Chamber embraces the web to deliver real business networking services when it’s operational.

In the meantime, Welsh business should look at the some of exceptional online networking services that now exist and which deliver REAL value. These include:

XING founded in August 2003, is one of the best, and uses the latest social networking tools to connect tens of millions of members across 16 languages and all industries. If you follow the 6 degrees principle you’ll understand how XING works. XING’s annual premium membership is just £50 pa; although most users will try for free first. Unlike many of the other sites XING allows users to upload their Outlook address book - a tool which is very useful in building your online network.

LinkedIn is a professional relationships providing an online network of more than 17 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. A business account costs £10 per month, although the free account is good place to start.

ecademy is probably the UK best offering, but unlike the others is not based on the latest Web2.0 toolkit. Again the basic membership is free, but as this doesn’t allow users to initiate a contact is of limited use. To get any real value you need the £10 per month PowerNetworker.

Facebook - no don’t laugh. Facebook is a great social networking tool for 60+ million. If you haven’t checked laterly you’ll have missed that Corporate Networks and Business Groups are springing up daily. You’ll probably have also not realised that the events calendar is an excellent tool for all sorts of gatherings. But best of all it’s FREE to join.

These are just some of the sites that exist today to help Welsh business network. So don’t mourn the loss of Cardiff Chamber - it will be replaced. Instead see this as an opportunity to review what business networking is all about and join one of these sites.