I posted this on LinkedIn and thought I would share it with you all here... Ive started a "test" site on the ning platform which I think might take off. Please feel free to take a look. Follow the link!

LinkedIn have "connections" and Facebook have "users". Both successful networking tools focused to either the business community or "freetime/specialist interest groups.

We know Linkedin, launched in 2003, has over 23 million connectors(?) and Facebook had 129+ million unique visitors in May 2008 so there are a lot of people open to using the internet as a means to share personal information and/or interests.

Do you think that there is a place for social networking in the professions. What I mean by that is someting like an Executive Careers Network where its not all about job hunting but more about building long term relationships with like minded people in your industry, market sector or skill.... globally!

LinkedIn wants to limit you to who you know, or who you can persude to introduce you to.... agreed its not what you know but who you know on many occassions!

In this day and age I believe in openness. I just get a sense that it should be the members, not the corporation who determine the contact between users/members in a social network. We are all adult enough to say NO if we are approached by someone in the network and people will largely follow rules. The fools are the ones that don't take notice as we have the technology to quickly expose them....

So, end of rant!

Is there a desire for a greater ability of self management in a social network for professionals. Do you just want to make your own decisions when it comes to making friends on a business network!