A new business networking service hopes to set itself apart by de-emphasizing the friends-bringing-in-friends strategy of many social networks and, instead, matching up people according to their professional affiliations and interests.
InternetWeek reports on new entrant Common Network, which launched in February, and its plans to grow by partnering with larger organizations as a private-label application for connecting members and business contacts. The company is also encouraging direct access to its site and is trying to use channel partners to reach enterprise employees.
Craig Calle, CEO of Common Network, believes social-networking sites have an “almost spam-like method of inclusion,” InternetWeek says. The idea of friends inviting friends works initially, but people eventually start receiving unwelcome invitations from people they don’t know or don’t know well.
To avoid these problems, Common Network is advocating one-to-one networking as a discreet way of establishing trust, and has applied for a patent on its business method.
InternetWeek’s report also comments on new services recently introduced by rival social networks Ryze and Linked In. Like these networks, Common Network will need to depend on the long-term involvement and cooperation of its users to be successful.
InternetWeek | Businesspeople Get Control In New Online Network
Neville: You were kind to mention us in your blog and on webpronews. We do offer a very different form of online networking experience compared to the social networking sites (SNSs) for business. The key points of differentiation with SNSs include our trust mechanism (shared affiliation with people, places and things, not chains of relationships and open profile pages); method of inclusion (self-directed, not by viral contact); and chain length (direct connect, not multi-nodal). We also incorporate novel features such a multi-directional reputation system and performance tracking tools such as our Favor Bank and Contact Dashboard.
Thanks again for your interest.
Neville: You were kind to mention us in your blog and on webpronews. We do offer a very different form of online networking experience compared to the social networking sites (SNSs) for business. The key points of differentiation with SNSs include our trust mechanism (shared affiliations with people, places and things, not chains of relationships and open profile pages); method of inclusion (self-directed, not by viral contact); and chain length (direct connect, not multi-nodal). We also incorporate novel features such a multi-directional reputation system and performance tracking tools such as our Favor Bank and Contact Dashboard.
Thanks again for your interest.
Hi Craig, thanks for your comment. The full InternetWeek story does include a more detailed look at your offering.
Good luck with the Common Network!