Where would a doctor go to interact with his peers and/or learn about the latest medical techniques? Should he attend a medical conference or seminar? Read trade journals or other published material? Or should he just hang out at the local “watering hole” or golf course?
While he might get lucky and bump into a genius surgeon out on the links or sitting at the local bar, his chances of getting relevant/useful information greatly improve when he surrounds himself with peers and experts related to his field of study.
So it is with Internet-based networks. There are “Social Networks,” and there are “Professional Networks.” If one wants to peruse useful information, and interact with other members of their chosen profession, a targeted “Professional Network” would be the logical choice. If one just wants to watch cat videos or share recipes and gossip, there are networks for that, too.
While one’s life can certainly be enriched by exposing oneself to variable sources of information, who has that kind of time, really? In the fast pace of today’s world, the last thing we need are more distractions. Align yourself with networks and websites where you can read blogs, newsletters, and other online content that actually matters to you. Interact with peers in your industry, and perhaps learn a better/different way of doing things, or at least be aware of how others in your industry might address an issue. Information you can use as a metric for your own performance, or as a point of contention when selling the differences of your own products/services.
The Internet is full of information to sift through. How much do you appreciate finding a website that serves up useful information and relevant content? They are out there, you just have to find them.
The point is: Pick the right channel, and stay tuned…