Melcrum launches new network for professional communicators

It could be said that MyRagan (Ragan Communications) stole first mover advantage with launching the first online social network for professional communicators worldwide. However, being first isn't always an advantage. Shifting the paradigm for a moment, think about being the first child in the family? I for one, remember making things a lot smoother for my sister as she entered her teenage years. Most of the teething issues as my parents and I entered the next stage of our relationship were resolved for 'Babes' (family nick-name for her) as she grew up. That said, my parents were pretty liberal in their own way, often without realising it.

One such example (back to networks again) was the kerfuffle (thanks Neville) stirred up between Chris Heuer and Mark Ragan over whether the Social Media club featuring on MyRagan constituted endorsement of a commercial offering or not. Get a summary of this here. My view in short: Six of one and half a dozen of the other. Both sides could have reached a compromise, but unfortunately appeared to become entrenched on their positions.

Anyhow, I'm absolutely sure this acted as a learning experience for Robin Crumby and the team at Melcrum. No doubt they took a lot from this and have maintained or revised their network policies accordingly.

AND onto the advert bit (NO DISCLOSURE REQUIRED):

Joining me on a panel of 'Channels and New Media' experts in the 'Communicators Network' will be a handful of 'faces' from the scene. These include Neville Hobson, Debbie Weil, Philippe Borremans, David Berger (send me a link if there's a specific one), and Lee Hopkins. Some of whom I've met face to face, others, not yet.

Why not get on over there and sign up? If you're reading this, don't hesitate to make a contact request! If I don't know you, hell;

'Strangers are only friends who don't know one another yet'.

Technorati tags: myragan, ragan, communicators+network, chris+heuer, mark+ragan, social+media+club, neville+hobson, debbie+weil, philippe+borremans, david+berger, lee+hopkins

Comments

[Dr Savi]

Hey Matt,
I always thought that there was a place for using social networking in business.
I signed up a few weeks back and had an interesting invitation to a cocktail evening at Canary Wharf.
I guess this raises the question of why further segmentation by speciality cannot be implemented. i.e: Communications is such a wide subject area.

Maybe these systems will over time become more sophisticated so that specialist elements can be registered for within the social domain? Now that is an opportunity!

Need to get you on the show.
Please email me.

[Matt O'Neill]

Hi Dr Savi,

I just sent an email about your request.

Look forward to it.

M

[Chris Heuer]

Someone just pointed me over here and while I have been trying to avoid this issue and not giving Raygun any more links, it really boils me to see how well his spin took root among learned professionals.

Where should we have compromised? In forgiving him for going back on his word though he sought no forgiveness, only a fight that ended up giving him more attention in a classic link baiting strategy? I did what he requested of me personally - then when we became the largest group on the network (after inviting me to speak at his conference in the breath beforehand) he told me he was renaming the group from Social Media Club to some other name (but the fact it was the Social Media Club group is why it was the largest group).

I just don't see where we could have compromised in that he simply deleted the group, all of its messages and my personal profile - the day before they launched a widespread promotional campaign... because I posted a critical message on the site. What sort of compromise should I have made? Do you think I should have continued to moderate a group for him, bringing him more traffic and more brand awareness, with the distinct possibility that at any moment he might disagree with what we have to say and just delete it all? Had he asked to remove the icon, that could have been done - but that is not what he wanted nor what he asked me to do.

On the other side of the coin, Melcrum completely understands how to cultivate community and how good groups would use the system properly, which is why we have a group on the Communicators Network now and there is of course, no problems at all. It helps a great deal of course that Robin et al are sane, engaging communications professionals who truly 'get it'.

[Ellee]

Matt, it was a pleasure to meet you yesterday, I will add you to my google reader.