SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES: BLAH, BLAH, BLAH?
BusinessWeek Debate
BusinessWeek asked two journalists about their position on the following issue (click here): “Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and other networking Web sites that young people find so appealing are weak substitutes for making and cementing real business relationships in person. Pro or con?”
According to Jenna Goudreau, a BusinessWeek reporter, social-networking sites prove more of a distraction than a tool. Goudreau: “The inundation of friend requests and insignificant news feeds on sites like Facebook eat up valuable time that could be spent solidifying contacts in person.”
However, according to Erica Pelzek, a BusinessWeek.com intern, the social networking sites offer a casual way of keeping in contact, without the letter-style formality of e-mail or forced cheeriness of a phone call during business hours. Pelzek: “Facebook’s group-making options allow young and seasoned professionals alike to gather virtually, exchanging ideas, business tips, and industry news. (…) LinkedIn’s clean-lined, corporate-looking site offers opportunities to make new business contacts. Bright-eyed young professionals can search for people using industry keywords such as ‘investment banking’ or ‘newspaper.’”
I joined in the debate. My response on BusinessWeek: “It is all about the right mix: a combination of various networking sites (Xing, LinkedIn, Ecademy), your own (company) Web site (and that of your prospect), your blog and, if you want to do business, a couple of calls and e-mail exchanges. That’s how I get (to know) my clients. Face-to-face networking is not always possible for people like me: As a lawyer, I have clients around the globe, 99% of whom I have never met in person. People who oppose social-networking sites do not understand the real changes that have taken place in the last 10 years.” Period.
Karel Frielink
Curacao-based Attorney (lawyer) / Partner
