Posted on March 22nd, 2011Social networks are becoming more popular on a daily basis with new users joining every second. However, many of these networks are a means of collaborating business. Software devices like Microsoft SharePoint, Yammer and Confluence keep their users in a collaborative space. The original sites that pioneer these ideas are still very much alive. These include, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Facebook and LinkedIn have a strong presence with regards to enterprise collaboration. LinkedIn has an expansive reputation of connecting business professionals with one another. In graduate business schools across the country, faculty emphasizes the importance of using LinkedIn to improve networking. There are currently rumors of LinkedIn going public with the release of a social news service.
Started in 2002, LinkedIn has over 90 million members in 200 countries. It holds the title for the world’s largest professional network. The program allows users to build a profile highlighting their education and work experience while maintaining relationships with similar industry professionals. There are multiple account levels including:
- Basic – free
- Business – $24.95 per month
- Business Plus – $49.95 per month
- Executive – $99.95 per month
- Pro – $499.95 per month
The basic version is free of charge and offers the lowest functionality for users. The business version offers all functions of the free plan in addition to direct emailing, improved search, extended profiles and additional statistics. The business plus monthly plan permits additional direct messages and search results. The executive plan features enhanced messaging and search with full name visibility.
Finally, the most expensive and extensive plan is pro which provides users with full messaging services, premium search services (with more profiles) and the maximum number of introductory requests.
Facebook is the social networking site that started it all. Similar to LinkedIn, Facebook allows users to create a profile and interact with others. However, Facebook users tend to be younger with casual connections and content that is less business focused. However, Facebook is used as a business tool with regards to advertising and e-commerce.
Therefore, which social networking site is better for enterprise collaboration? Currently, LinkedIn seems to be the leader of business social networking. However, with the continually growing user base Facebook has the potential to be more of a business networking tool in the future. Individuals from all walks of life have a Facebook profile. Therefore, in the next five years Facebook could become number one.