Social networking : The Accidental Network

Sunday, February 01, 2009 Social networking : The Accidental Network I clicked “Send” and in the moment of clicking, realized I had done the opposite of what I had intended. I had invited the omitted names instead of the selected ones...

After selecting from a long email list those people I wanted to join my LinkedIn network, my click sent the invitations to the wrong list. I had just invited to join my network personal contacts who aren't part of my business community, people with whom I've exchanged business emails but don't really know, and people of whom I'm in awe and didn't feel in a position to invite. I'd also sent the invitation to phantoms such as the Bed Bath Store shipping notification email. Cringing, I watched as reply emails started to flow in. They included puzzled messages from people already in my network and a surprising number of acceptances from the awe-inspirers as well as the short acquaintances. My accidental network flatters me by wanting the connection I had hesitated to suggest. I will embrace the phenomenon and try to make it worth our collective while. My impression is that social business networks are going to grow and mature quite a bit in the next year or so, as people scramble to find opportunities. Will the one with the most Internet visibility win the job, or will they just achieve visibility? Baby Boomers are compelled to follow the direction of youth. Those not following quickly enough will be chided. Isn't that what we're doing when, as happens on a regular basis at trade events, a youth-identified speaker tops the audience by demonstrating his or her familiarity with youth pop culture? The message is clear: Those who don't know and study these neo-icons will be left behind. We used to sigh that our elders were out of it, now we shrink with horror that we ourselves might be. But, in fact, as humor writer Dave Barry points out concerning our generation's desire to feel always with-it: “The light leaving from It will not reach us for several years.” (I nearly deleted this paragraph out of concern that it will make me seem old.) So when it comes to social networks, we've simply got to be on board. And once on board, we've got to apply peer pressure to get others on board. The networks have been conveniently set up to facilitate this – to make you bring in all your acquaintances, whether deliberately, or by accident. See also: Marketing and Customer Service: What are You Really Selling, and to Whom? The Attractions Industry Press wants to be your Marketing Partner
Posted By Judith Rubin -- At 2:00 PM \| Comments (2) \| Trackbacks (0)
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Categories Attractions Business Tags facebook, linkedin, marketing, networking
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Comments :

Thanks Judy for explaining the mystifying second invitation! Now can you figure out if we should all abandon LinkedIn and move to Facebook? The Facbookers in my sphere think LinkedIn is 'old news' but I like it for keeping track of business contacts. Then there's the Plaxo perplexity. If we have LinkedIn do we need Plaxo? And how about CardScan update...maybe we could all adopt one platform for sharing and networking? Pat

Comment By Pat MacKay At 2/19/2009 12:31 AM

Judith, I can not tell you what a relief it is to hear someone else has made the same mistake!

Comment By Sandie Wheeler At 2/24/2009 2:17 PM