LinkedIn Group for Web in HighEd

June 3rd, 2008

Last month, I decided to try something new to reach other higher education communicators — especially those that have the Web as their primary responsibility. I often feel somewhat “unique” at work. That is, there are no other comparable positions to mine at the University. There are a few that come close, but when it comes down to specifics, I am one.

This has been an issue from time-to-time for me because I have not (until now) made a real effort to reach out and connect with other professionals in positions such as mine outside of Notre Dame. This changed a few months ago when I connected with a peer at an Ivy League school. We had so much in common, and I benefited greatly from the discussion. We both left the conversation wanting to connect more and to include others.

Where to network?

In order to get this started, I required a website that could help me reach out and connect with others, to get the word out virally, and to encourage the self-creation of a national roster of Web communicators in higher education. I chose LinkedIn. I already used this website for connecting with other professionals in my social and professional networks. It has a group feature. So, I tried it.

I created a group in LinkedIn, sent a link to one (yes, only one) other person in May 2008, and waited. Slowly, word got out, and now (June 3, 2008) there are over 80 people in the group. It was the first time (for me) that I actually got to experience the viral, social nature of the Web. As a new member joined the group, their group membership became known to their contacts — and so on, and so on. I noticed that when someone from a new school or university signed up, the next day several from that same organization asked to join. The list is creating itself.

Hopefully, over time, perhaps this list will reach all college and university professionals who are committed to Web communication. We can network, interact, and maybe someday gather. It is inspiring to me to witness the Web (thanks to LinkedIn) connect me to others in our industry via social networking itself. Ironic and cool.

LinkedIn Group

If you are a Web marketing communications professional in higher education, consider joining the LinkedIn Group at: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/95860/33A70D5DA57D

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