"User Tip – Connect the Dots (Gotta Catch ‘em All?)" by shaun

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:05:00 EST

Pokemon’s tagline, “Gotta Catch ‘em All” is a wonderful marketing play. Grade school children all over the world trade, collect and spend their allowances collecting as many of these trading cards as they can.

What I find interesting is, if you ask any of these kids, “Do you know the rules to the game?” Most will say, “No, I just like collecting the cards.” Others will say , “Sure” but in reality, any actual gameplay is usually a made-up exercise that is a basically a mutation of the old card game “War”.

So what does this have to do with group engagement and being a better Groupsite user?

By now, most of us are aware there truly is 6-degrees (or possibly less) degrees of separation between any two people in the entire world. That is if all you are doing is “connecting the dots”.

Take me for example, I (dot #1) have an acquaintance (dot #2) who does film work with Barry Levinson (dot #3) who directed “The Diner” which had Kevin Bacon (Dot #4) in it as one of the main actors. Look at that, I am only 3-degres from Kevin Bacon! Woo-hoo!

Here is what is missing in this connect-the-dots game: context, purpose and trust. The rules of group engagement and building meaningful social capital include reciprocity, trust, communication, proper context and shared purpose.

How well do each of these dots know each other? Why do these dots know each other? Do they trust and respect each other? Do they have a purpose to share, communicate and network? Who knows?

User Tip – Build trust when connecting dots.

Key Connections – this is how you can share the “dots” where you have a connection within a Groupsite.

Step 1: Select the “My Settings” tab then choose the “Network Info” subtab.

Step 2: Select the plus sign next to “Add a Key Connection”

Step 3: Complete the 3 fields for one of your “dots”.

We let you share: “Company Name” “Individuals’ Role” (Top Management (C-Level), Senior Management (VP Level), Middle Management, Company Influencer, Board Member or Other) and “Strength” of the relationship you have with this dot (Strong, Medium, Weak)

Take note that this does not expose the specific details of who your Key Connection is and how to reach them.

You can decide to share more detailed information once someone who is trying to connect their dots to yours communicates the context and purpose with you and establishes enough rapport and trust that earns the right to have the dots connected in a meaningful way. This is networking with a defined sense of mutual trust not a hyper-networked version of Pokemon’s “Gotta Catch ‘em All.

Additionally, you can help raise the level of trust between “dots” within our Group Engagement Network by sending ”Endorsements” (in professional groups) and “Kudos” (in social groups).

Here’s how:

Step 1: Find a member’s profile within one of your Groupsites who you want to endorse. Once on their profile page, select the “Endorse him/her” link.

Step 2: You will see the following window where you can share your comments on how you know this person and what they do well.

Step 3: Hit “Submit”.

This endorsement helps put your connection in context and will help others in the group understand why this is a trusted connection of yours.

All endorsements will appear as part of a member’s profile page.

Some networks are “bonding” helping existing members build deeper relationships of “thick trust”.

Other networks are “bridging” often expanding “thin trust” across a wider group.

As the premier Group Engagement Network, we believe the use of Key Connections as well as Endorsements can help you bond and bridge.

Too often, networking is seen as quantity over quality. We don’t feel they have to be mutually exclusive. Catch as many as you want. Just make sure you know how to play the game and make sure they want to play with you.

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"User Tip – Connect the Dots (Gotta Catch ‘em All?)" by shaun