On Wednesday, I blogged about Facebook. According to Steve Clayton, CTO of Microsoft UK Partner Group, who added a comment to the blog, 'everyone' is engaged in online networking 'up north'. It made me think.
I sent out 8 invites to NZ contacts to join. Only one responded. Step forward Lionel Crawley, Regional Manager BOP, NZTE. Congratulations Lionel!
I am also a member of LinkedIn. So are some of my contacts in Auckland. So maybe there is more traction on that network here. But once people sign up, do they actually leverage off their online network?
The same is true of blogs. A number of major companies globally, including Microsoft actively encourage employees to blog in company time. It is a great way to put a human face to a company. Does the same attitude exist in New Zealand at Fletcher Building, Fronterra, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare? I suspect not. Certainly, there is no suggestion on their corporate websites.
My own guess is that because New Zealand has a relatively small population, people in the business sector do not think there is a need to engage in online networking. They view it as an alternative to traditional face to face human interaction. What of the export sector however?
New Zealand's distance to market makes online networking a total must. In all its forms. Wouldn't it be great for customers in Europe, suppliers in Asia and partners in the Americas to be able to get a daily point of view from their strategic business partner in NZ and then have the opportunity to interact with it. Suddenly online networking takes on a new meaning. One which benefits not only business relationships, but also the bottom line. In Export Year 2007, it's time, corporate New Zealand, to start blogging and start cranking up those online networks. Long-term, your business may depend on it.
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