Make Your Mark - Connect

I signed up to Facebook last autumn when they opened it up to all users, not just students with an ac.uk email address. I never really got into using it much though. Then in the last week, I've suddenly had a flurry of messages from people I know adding me as a friend to their facebook page. It's funny how that happens. Now I can see how people get quite addicted as I've just spent a lost afternoon browsing, poking people and making new connections. It's massive - some people have 10,000s friends. So, is Facebook the best social networking site out there?

Spotted this the other day. A very clever 'mashup' of Google Maps and entrepreneurs. Get yourself plotted!

"Entrepreneurial map" on Frappr Maps.

3 things to read:

1. Forbes.com - Getting Connected
   Slightly Americanised article about social networks, which ones to join, and which ones are fun.
   
   
2. Fort Collins Weekly - Bixpo
   Lovely little article about a local networking event in the wonderfully named 'Loveland'
3. The Hindu News Update Service - Social Networking for Cricketers
   ...and finally, social networking for Cricketers.

Some great stuff to ponder, I think it really shows the how diverse 'networking' and getting connected can be. Perhaps us British need to stop worrying about talking to people, and be a bit more Yankee.

Has anyone had any experiences of meeting people in strange locations? I once met a prospective date(s) on a plane from Glasgow City's Burns Supper, and another on a train from Stansted...

Chris G, our Policy Man here at Enterprise Insight, sent me a link to this blog post from the Times

Basically Andrew Stone went along to a travel trade event as a result of a new business he's starting up and had a networking epiphany.

His main point was that networking events need to be specific, and I agree completely. General events are fine for making general contacts, but if you've got a specific idea or focussed business, then you need a focussed event. Anyway, check out his post.