Kiwi Scrum

October 2009, Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

Kiwi Scrum has 1305 members. But the growth rate is slowing. LinkedIn and Kiwi Scrum are excellent recommendations to make to your workmates. Unlike some other groups Kiwi Scrum is hard to get into.

The October LinkedIn hint:

When you open your LinkedIn Home Page you are offered on the top right of the page a list of three people you might know. The list is regenerated each time you load the page. To open the Ryze page of each of the people listed, right click, and then choose new tab or new window, opening a separate page for each of them.

I keep encouraging you to connect to people with a tiny number of connections. Sadly those are also the people who "don't know" you. First of all, think about your own practise? I never, "don't know" people. I very occasionally merely archive the invitation.

I NEVER use the standard LinkedIn invitation. I always try to personalise it. Some people add something like "Please archive this invitation if you don't need it now." (You might also need to know there is a 3000 invitation personal limit to invitations. I'm on that limit, and so are several others in the Open Networkers Group. Please LINK to us.)

Subgroups in Kiwi Scrum. I have decided NOT to create sub-groups for NZ cities. If you want to create a linkedIn group for your city or town, or industry, you should do that. I have created sub-groups for geographical regions. Africa, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Middle East, North America, South America, South East Asia, and United Kingdom. We can have up to 20 sub-groups. Suggestions appreciated.

The Useful Common:

About 8 weeks ago I started a Social Networking Newbies Network on Ryze, one of the original online social networks. I chose Ryze, not because it's flash and trendy, but because is quiet. controllable and well disciplined. A good place for newbies. There are hundreds of people there with seven years solid networking experience. There is expertise.

I wrote last week about using RSS feeds, and here is a help file about RSS on Ryze. I asked at a networking meeting in Christchurch what help people need with LinkedIn? How do I fill in my LinkedIn Profile? There are lots of ways but this is a good start. (Notice: more stuff to share around the office.)

I'm reading about 96 feeds on my FeedDemon RSS Reader. Almost half of those are NZ Blogs, most of which are seldom updated. (That applies to my two blogs too.) Here is a blog I recommend, Earl Mardle; In a Networked World, There Really Is No-one In Charge. Earl Mardle is an independent consultant who has been described by one client as a “Global Thinker” with a strong focus on the ethical issues raised by Globalisation. He's currently Chairman of the 2020 Communications Trust. Sadly, he's not a member of Kiwi Scrum.

Looking for someone with an intelligent word to say, try Alan Moore and the SMLXL Blog New products and services, new ways to communicate, new ways to create consumer communities and new ways to win their advocacy.

Engage with other people and Groups:

Ever played a strange game called Rugby? Devorah Brumberger first played Rugby at the age of 25. Dev tells me that, "Women's rugby is one of the fastest growing sports, and is huge right here in Brooklyn, New York." She's so taken by the sport she started here own business called "Lil' Ruggers". I'm impressed with Lil' Ruggers, and you will be too.

Invitations

This newsletter if full of information you should be sharing with other people. Of course you should also share the source, membership of Kiwi Scrum.

If you've got a boss or people in the office who are scared of online social networking, send them over to Ryze. Get them to join Social Netwoking Newbies. I promise to care for them.

Volunteers

I want to mention Debra E Clark before closing. Debra runs a Ning network, VBIZ NZ, with 288 members and groups in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. If you know people with a small, face to face type business, personal niche market businesses, LinkedIn often doesn't appeal. VBIZ NZ is ideal. If you know someone who needs training on MYOB, Debra is the goto person.

The Value of Engagement

What's the value of Twitter? I tried to find an application to send Twitter feeds to LinkedIn, but there doesn't seem to be one. What I did find was a huge resource about The Use of Twitter on LinkedIn Answers. Enjoy.

More interesting news next month,
John Stephen Veitch
The Network Ambassador