Connecting Via the Web--Not Just for Teens Anymore

Networking is the key to success in most, if not all, career paths. The Web has given today's generation a head-above-the-rest advantage over previous employees--allowing social and work-related networking without the two-drink cocktail mandate. Sites like LinkedIn and Facebook allow employers and employees--even in the close-knit retail design industry--opportunity to see and be seen...without ever leaving the desk.

New, more industry-specific networking sites are also starting to arrive at our fingertips. UPworld.com is an online professional network for interior designers, real estate developers, urban planners, architects, engineers, real estate lawyers, contractors, financiers and other building professionals. The site's founders are both architects with quite a few retail projects under their belts. UPworld allows members to utilize the network to mentor younger professionals, share expertise, search for vendors and products, progress careers and develop relationships with peers, partners and clients.

Any other networking sites of note? Please share!

--Alison Embrey Medina

Comments

[Jessica]

Hi Diva,

A great new social networking site for independent retailers is www.giftandhomechannel.com. I am the Community Manager of the site and we offer great networking and community tools for our users, from blogs to message boards, and polls and videos.

Thanks for the great post, we agree social networking online is where its at!

[Ron Knoth]

Dear Diva, My favorite and most inspirational website is www.designspotter.com each item is so clever and so well designed that I say "why didn't I think of that?" The site take ordinary items and turns them on their ears. BONUS: Items are from all around the world and usually designed with sensitivity to the eco-system.

[Kevin Dugan]

Alison - I'll check out UPworld. Another site is Twitter. It's less formal than LinkedIn or Facebook and is more of a utility that combines properties of IM and blogging.

Twitter is set up in a basic format and more conversational and immediate than FB and LI. But it is a great networking tool once you get the hang of it.

My Twitter ID is @prblog