Joe Mandese does not get social networking
I commented on Mr. Mandese’s blog post today where he clearly seems to miss the value proposition that Plaxo and other social networking tools represent.
As social networking is a pasion of mine I responded as such to him. Feel free to find your way to his site and add your own thoughts or share them here.
Mr. Mandese,
Excuse the formality of this note but I see we do not know each other nor are we connected in anyway shape or form as far as I can tell (or perhaps we are but you clearly have no way to know).
I think you are missing the point. Plaxo and and other social networking sites such as Linkedin are valuable in and of themselves and not just as tools to be desired by an old media giant to help it in developing an open community. While I will agree with your assumed premise that the old media should be developing a more direct relationship with its consumers, I would say you the old school should be looking to expand your thoughts on the value of online social networking.
You come off like one of those executives who held out against email in favor of more traditional written communication. This is hardly worthy of an Editor-in-Chief who should be more of a thought leader then a technological stick in the mud.
Face it, the millions of professionals on Linkedin and the plethora of people socializing on Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed, Tumblr and many other socially based web 2.0 sites can not all be wrong.
Networking is something you do for yourself and not for others. Today as Editor-in-Chief the world beats a path to your door but as my more notable brother (now that reference would mean more to you if you were part of a social network along with me but I assume given the unique nature of my last name you will get it none the less) there are friends and friendlies and the real difference is who you will be connected with when the chips are down and the job/title is not in play.
Simple put, when done correctly those in your online network are the people you are truly connected with. Perhaps you only really consider the few people you have connected with on Linkedin and Facebook as worthy of your connection but I somehow doubt it.
I would have respected you more if you had told those few advertising big shots that you were standing your ground and not playing into the system. It is as if you come off in a bad light for having pandered to what for them is a valuable tool.
To use your own words, the rules are changing and so are the times. I certainly hope you are wrong and that Mr. Roberts and Comcast see more in Plaxo then you do. Things are on the move and it is more important to ever to be connected both with one’s consumers if you are a media giant or with your network of valued connections if you are an executive in any business.
Now there are executives who to this day survive without email and without other technological tools and perhaps even flourish without them. However, they are the exception and to be sure one needs not look far or deep into their organizations before finding executives who do get these tools and do use them.
I will stand and defend your right to stay connected in the manner of your choosing, but I would argue that those who find a way to maximize their social connectivity using these new tools will win the day.
Joel Ordesky