If you have kids, you know what MySpace.com is all about.  It’s the cyber-place where the teenagers go to flirt, be creative, gossip, and even be a little (or a lot) rebellious.  As parents, we often look to see what our kids have on their MySpace.com page and after we assure ourselves that our child hasn’t posted anything too embarrassing or inappropriate, we breathe easy again.  We tend to forget, however, what kind of crazy pre-cyber things we did when we were teenagers! 

 

     The technical name for MySpace.com, Facebook.com, and other similar sites is “social networking”.  Networking!  Now you know why I’m writing about MySpace.com.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to ask you to create a MySpace page, but I am going to encourage you to embrace emerging technology tools as you build your network of connections. 


     For me personally, I really like LinkedIn.com.  First, you can find people when they move, even people with whom you haven’t been in contact for several years.  For example, I searched on LinkedIn for the company “SMC Networks”, and to my pleasant surprise I found many of the people I worked with at SMC in the late 90’s.  With most of us having gone in different directions over the years, it was remarkable to me that I could connect with them with just a few clicks!  Second, and even more remarkable, you can be introduced to people you’ve never met through your LinkedIn contacts.  Type in the name of someone you’d like to meet and you’ll find out who you know that knows that person you want to meet.  A very powerful tool when used properly.  To connect with me on LinkedIn go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/kentudhope. 


     In addition to LinkedIn there is Plaxo, a service which will send an e-mail periodically asking people in your database (e.g., Outlook, Act!) to update their contact information:  a recent job change, a company change, a move, new address and the like.  Another very powerful tool is ConstantContact.com which helps with letters, announcements, etc.   A very simple way to stay in touch with your contacts is to utilize an online directory provided by various networking organizations – FEI has one for its members.


     If I can help you learn about these powerful networking tools, or if you need a quick tutoring session, please give me a call.  Maybe someday you’ll introduce a new networking idea to me!

 

Ken Tudhope

Project Pro Search

ktudhope@projectprosearch.com