Social Business Networking and E-Commerce

Social Business Networking and E-Commerce

Introduction

Social networking websites have become most hyped phenomenon, be the site formed for the purpose of recreational social networking or for businesses or business professionals networking. In this particular assignment though, we will discuss about the social networking site that is formed for business professionals. We will discuss the elements and concepts pertaining to that social networking website that played a role in the materialization of their tightly held community and its immense popularity.

Discussion

The social networking business and its aspects that we have chosen to focus upon are of 'LinkedIn'. LinkedIn is rated as number one among the users of social networking sites for business professionals for its job finding potential as compared to its counterpart websites. It basically is widely known for the trail it has created for the HR Managers and recruiters; HR professionals of most of the known and less known firms present on LinkedIn, subconsciously screening potential job applicants whilst networking. It is the main online portal that assists the headhunters for the selection and recruitment of employees.

It is the main reason LinkedIn has such high following among its peer social networks. It provides its members with immense opportunity to create an impression on the managers of the firm they want to be part of, without waiting for their turn to be called for interview. It provides its members with the opportunity to connect with the people working in the firm they aspire to be part of, and through this platform they can learn about that firms' organizational culture and develop such skills accordingly that would arm them better when selected for interview.

Success Factors behind tightly held Community

World is now a global village. People most of the time work in teams; across disparate fields in disparate projects in cross-functional teams and disband once the project is completed. During the process, a professional relationship is developed which is cherished by employees. LinkedIn has provided various such employees a platform to be in touch. Throughout the career, people develop relationships with hundreds and thousands of professionals; professionals you will not be able to find on MySpace but you are most likely to find them on LinkedIn, and with those solid contacts people cannot just simply opt to lose connection with.

This is the main key behind the viability of how LinkedIn has positioned itself, as the impact upon ones' business network would be significantly positive if one could successfully be in touch with all the contacts they have developed in their previous businesses (Nelson, 2011). It is a known fact that people lose connection with around 90% of the people they worked with over the time. In some point in professional life when particular job vacancy is available, specific competency of the previous contact strikes but since the contact has been lost with them, it is to no avail.

Another aspect is the references that people require in the corporate world. When contact is lost with previous associates, a good ...