Seems like we’re all pretty entrenched with LinkedIn at the moment. But I look forward to connecting with you via Smarta.

Seems like we’re all pretty entrenched with LinkedIn at the moment. But I look forward to connecting with you via Smarta.

I’m keen to check out SMARTA but agree with you that LinkedIn is already very much ahead of the game. Having said that, it’s only recently started to make its comeback as I like many people I know had started to neglect the platform in favour of services like Facebook and Twitter.

However LinkedIn has started behaving a bit more like a *social* network by adding profile pics, groups, applications and by opening up its API to enable mashups and integration with third party applications like Digsby.

Services like these are fairly Darwinian in their nature – as the more you put in the more you get out. Only power users end up with a seat at the top table. By power user – that’s not necessarily volume of contacts, but about how you integrate a service into your business routine.

There is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to punch above their weight using these networks. The advanced features allow you to gain wide visibility and to extend your recruitment and marketing capabilities.

However, as with everything in business it all boils down to the human interactions which sit behind your communications. This doesn’t have to be in *real space* and can flourish in a purely virtual space. With this in mind, any business network needs to be *social* in it’s ideology. Something which LinkedIn has learnt.

I’m keen to check out SMARTA but agree with you that LinkedIn is already very much ahead of the game. Having said that, it’s only recently started to make its comeback as I like many people I know had started to neglect the platform in favour of services like Facebook and Twitter.

However LinkedIn has started behaving a bit more like a *social* network by adding profile pics, groups, applications and by opening up its API to enable mashups and integration with third party applications like Digsby.

Services like these are fairly Darwinian in their nature – as the more you put in the more you get out. Only power users end up with a seat at the top table. By power user – that’s not necessarily volume of contacts, but about how you integrate a service into your business routine.

There is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to punch above their weight using these networks. The advanced features allow you to gain wide visibility and to extend your recruitment and marketing capabilities.

However, as with everything in business it all boils down to the human interactions which sit behind your communications. This doesn’t have to be in *real space* and can flourish in a purely virtual space. With this in mind, any business network needs to be *social* in it’s ideology. Something which LinkedIn has learnt.