Will Facebook Group help Smaller Indiana grow?

[Pat Coyle]

In an experimental effort to help Smaller Indiana grow, Matt Theobald, has launched an SI group inside Facebook . Matt says inside Facebook there are 210,000 people from Indianapolis alone, not counting the rest of the state, and most of these folks are not members of Smaller Indiana.

So it would seem that SI could grow - and grow quickly - if Smoosiers with Facebook accounts would invite their friends to the SI group inside FB. Once they join that group, they're just one click away from SI.

We are excited at the possibilities, but slightly concerned too. So we need your advice. What do you think of this idea? Will it work? Will it help or hurt SI in the long run? Please share your thoughts here.

[Ben McCann]

Well ... There you have it... For the sake of Danielle... It was worth it if she was the only one. :o)

[Chris Baggott]

Is there a way to create networks within facebook. an additional hierichery? For example rather than a school setting up their own Ning network, could they set up a branded network within SI and then have their own groups out of that?

[Matt Theobald]

No. It doesn't scale that way. You can build related groups and friend other groups. You can create profiles of networks as individuals as well. They don't police/moderate that so well I think For example the art show in town Oranj is a person not a group, they may be a group as well. I don't know, but they could be both.

[Ben McCann]

I think that Facebook has its personal and business applications, and Smaller Indiana is more about developing and sharing information and collaboration for Business and Issues that affect business. Linked in has some nice tracking tools, I like Plaxo for keeping connections synchronized automatically through Outlook for me and my connections, I am still getting used to its new format. I love the NING platform, I have been with SI since close to the beginning and have watched it evolve. I have used it to help other Social Networks get started for Specific purposes, but I link them all together...

FOR INSTANCE: I created CATALIST JOBS using the ning platform www.catalistjobs.com this is for LOCAL people and employers that I know to connect. On that site, I link them to SI, LinkedIN, Rainmakers, and other sites where people can connect and get the information they want.... It is all about driving and measuring TRAFFIC and behavior. I think what makes SI so AWESOME is the Diverse and UNIQUE quality of the people on this site... It really makes me realize that there is so much talent out there.... LOCALY.

I love the fact that Both FACEBOOK and SI have GROUPS where people can connect and converse about specific issues and topics. Ultimately I think that FACEBOOK will drive traffic to SI... I for one will try to promote it via my facebook account. However... I mainly have beeen uploading pics and vids personally for facebook and connecting to old HS & College friends etc... I spent way too much time playing Battle of the Bands... NOTE TO SI>>> don't add gaming apps or stupid , Poke you , hug you, snowball you, tickle me crapp... I just cant stand the incessant uselessness for that time consuming crap.

[Andrew Ball]

I thought SI was for people in Indiana or people connected to Indiana. Facebook is much broader. If I wanted to join Facebook (see my previous Ludite comment), it would be to connect with people I know/knew outside of Indiana. But then I have LinkedIn for that.

To me it's the focus of the networks. Connecting with people in Indiana or connecting (although some say trolling) with people around the world.

[Cheryl Ingram]

...For one data point, I recently learned about Smaller Indiana through Facebook, and think that this Smaller Indiana appears to be a good, local networking site. This site is a site seems to be for people serious about engaging with the community. As such, it would attract those with such an interest. I do not believe that making more people aware of the site is likely to damage SI. It is exactly *because* SI and Facebook serve two different purposes that a subgroup of individuals using Facebook would want to join SI. I am certain that there is a subgroup of facebook users from Indiana -- a very large, substantial one-- who would enhance the SI community.