We are looking into building a social network for our clients. The other day, I mapped out of clients in terms of their major activity area, such as marketing, content publisher, web developer and similar categories. What immediately became apparent is that a lot of our clients probably have products and services that our other clients can use. So I began thinking about how to build a network to foster these relationships.
I've always thought that a key thing rackAID could do is hook up our clients with other good clients, but we never really had critical mass to do that. We've been growing rapidly and our client list continues to grow while diversifying as well.
So along these lines, we are looking to launch a business network just for our clients. Sure it will start out small, but we may want to open it up such that your client's, within one degree of separation, are also included.
Right now I am looking at various social networks to help power this. For example, Ning has an application to help build a network.
Here's my basic idea. Take our long term client, MorePro. They used to do some web development work but really want to focus on search engine marketing. Now what if they could partner up with another one of our clients, such as Wally Wallace, a freelance developer who manages Bikeman and some other Ecom sites.
Now Bikeman, also leases a server from us, they could probably use the expertise of MorePro to help out their SERPs.
In this case, the end client, Bikeman, has gained a trusted network of solution providers. We can deliver the IT infrastructure, MorePro could help with SEM, and Wally can keep the site running smoothly. As a group, the three companies deliver a much better product to Bikeman than any of us could do on our own.
Would love to hear feedback from our clients if you would like to be included in this. Will keep you posted on how this pans out.
