In 2007 when I joined JobShuk there were some 1600 Members. According to the new format just released, Membership has dropped to just under 900. What has happened?
Of course, everybody can speculate what has gone awry. There is always a modicum of truth in every explanation, but all that really matters is how to re-energize this Social Business Network site for the benefit of all the Members.
Since retiring from active business about 10 years, my current interest in is to pass on some of the many things I have learnt over the last 40 years. You can take a peek at my Profile to see where I’ve been.
The conduct of doing business has changed dramatically in those 10 years. Although electronic technology has dominated modern business growth and development, one thing that hasn’t changed is the nature of doing business with people and the adoption of sound business practice. This should not be forgotten.
Taking into account the above factors, I believe there is scope in this column to conduct a Members’ Forum where questions can be fielded and answered by JobShuk Members as comments.
Of course, anonymity is understandable from a Member asking the question and as co-ordinator of this initiative, just e-mail the question to me on fa********@***il.com and I will post it under my name.
Members of JobShuk have much in common, even though many are in competition with other Members. As Small Business proprietors we can support one another in many other ways. Sharing a common goal of building a solid business based on ingenuity and integrity is good for us all and throwing open questions relating to conduct of business in Israel has a collective benefit.
So, I’d like to field the first question. Would the introduction of this Forum prove beneficial to Members?
Feel free to say no, either in the column or through private e-mail. I’d like to hear from you. Comments for and against can prove helpful.
Lloyd Masel. Marketing Consultant.
Are you implying using the JobShuk Activity lists as forums for questions – because that’s certainly one of the purposes 😉
We can have separate forums, organized into Topics and Subjects, but the free-flow form of the Activities is really the current trend, as people are absorbing their information that way online these days, with Facebook and Twitter (or with search engines).
Getting some activity on the Activity feed is the trick.
That’s what happened to the 1600 -> 900; besides many businesses closing up shop, a lot of people were one-and-done visitors. I think they were expecting something else, perhaps something unreasonable.
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Throughout my career in business I have witnessed numerous come-and-go systems and ideas. Facebook, Twitter et al are no different. In time, no doubt, they will be replaced by something different. And new brooms always sweep clean!
My problem with these abbreviated solutions to sometimes complicated questions is not just the accuracy and integrity of the responses, but the people who score home runs from new communication facilities are usually the owners. They are designed to make money, rather than to help others.
Forums as you suggest, where well-thought-out answers from other business men and women, either living in Israel, or supportive of Israeli business, have far greater reliability and accuracy.
I appreciate the point that people are not always willing to field questions. It may raise doubts about their professional qualifications. However, this can easily be overcome. The Moderators of the Forum can pose the questions in the Activity column and invite ‘opinions’ rather than answers.
Yes, several Forums could be created; legal, financial, health, technology etc. It would require a Moderator for each segment.
Finally, to encourage greater readership from existing Members and the need to build Membership is a separate exercise. It requires a Public Relations expert to throw his or her hat into the ring.
All of us should take careful note. It’s an old, old saying in the world of business. “To make a profit, you first need to take a loss.”
A small band of volunteers could easily create all the ingredients needed to make this proposed Forum both meaningful and success for all Members.
Lloyd
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