“You do not get 500 million friends without making a few enemies.”

In 2003, a few Harvard undergraduate computer geeks sat down and began working on a project. What came out of this project was the world’s fastest growing and, perhaps, the most popular social networking site ever created.

This story is the framework for the new movie Social Network, which highlights the life of Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg. After six years, Zuckerberg has become the world’s youngest billionaire and Facebook the world’s most popular media network. In our fast pace moving society, time is money and money is time; and time itself, invaluable. So, a networking site that gives you the power to communicate with over 500 million users at any time is the world’s most powerful marketing and communication tool. In recent years, this “power” has been channeled by millions of businesses in order to promote their business and reach more potential clients. This gives additional lower-cost advertising that can reach more people. It’s a “no brainer”.

In corporate communication, just as in Facebook, networking is key. The more associates/clients, or in the case of Facebook, friends a company has, the more their product, identity, and reputation is supported and exposed. Understanding and executing this idea is key for successful corporate networking. Let’s use Facebook as an example.

Jane goes to a party and her friend Kate introduces her to her friend Sarah. The next day, Sarah friend requests Jane on Facebook and Jane accepts. Jane notices the hot guy from her English class, Joe, is friends with Sarah. So Jane friend requests Joe. Joe and Jane begin Facebook chatting. Now Joe and Jane are friends.

Yes, it’s just that easy … Well not really, but this is why networking is important in corporate communication. Replace Jane with the vice president of Pepsi, for example. He goes to a function or benefit with other corporate “royalty” and is introduced to the head PR representative for Nike. One thing leads to another, and suddenly you have Lebron James on your TV with a basketball in one hand, a Pepsi in the other, and two Nike shoes on his feet. This is social networking at its finest. Networking is seen all around us every day. Whether it’s for social or corporate reasons, it’s an effective tool for successful communication.

Does the movie discussed in the article sound interesting to you?  Check out the movie trailer here.

Breanna Alexander
Lauren Dehart
Lauren Smith
Kelly Wiley