Come On In, The Water's Fine!

In a previous post, I mentioned using Groups on CompleteMarkets and how powerful of a tool they can be for education and collaboration.  In that post I also talked about the value of creating your own private groups, to use as a web-based communication/collaboration channel for your company. 

CompleteMarkets hosts a number of active open groups oriented around Wholesale Insurance, P&C Insurance, E&O Insurance, Marketing, and a whole host of other topics.  On these pages, you will find ongoing discussions by your peers on a myriad of subjects.  Members also post items such as links, events, notes, and other content of interest.  The group pages are currently comprised of a Discussion Panel, a Photo Panel, and a Message Wall. 

In fact, in some groups the Message Wall has become quite a useful feature.  A friend of mine (Who happens to be a Social Media expert...) claims, for instance, that Facebook Groups are quickly replacing Craigslist as a place to post “classified” type ads on the web.  Looking for new blood for your company?  Need a new location for your offices?  Got “junk?”  As your company grows, and casts off the products/software it has outgrown, you could feasibly get some of your investment back by selling off these items to growing companies. 

Groups are great places to do market research, as well.  You will find them to be full of friendly knowledgeable users, like yourself, ready to impart wisdom, collaborate, and help however they can.  They are also a great way to get in front of people who work in different business segments than you – like say if you’re a Property & Casualty agent, and one of your clients is inquiring about Life & Health insurance, for instance.  You could simply go to the L&H arena and ask if anyone could offer advice or coverages in your clients’ state.