Utilizing Online Network Services

Utilizing Online Social Networking Sites

Dindy Williams

BSHS/352

February 13, 2012

Joyce Henderson

Utilizing Online Social Networking Sites

The social network has become one of the most popular ways for individuals to search for jobs, connect with other professionals in their field, and seek information and innovations to improve their jobs and better serve their clients. Many businesses in a wide variety of industries use the social website for checking out the competition, establishing themselves in the world market, and search for future candidates for employment. One such social network is LinkedIn. The intent of this paper is to explore how three professional business groups in the human service field use LinkedIn and to discuss the possible benefits of using this social network for a small non-profit serving the need of developmentally disabled adults.

LinkedIn started in 2002 and was launched in 2003. Within the first month, LinkedIn had over 4500 members in the network (LinkedIn, 2012). According to LinkedIn (2012), “As of February 9, 2012, LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 150 million members in over 200 countries and territories” (LinkedIn Facts). “The company is publicly held and has a diversified business model with revenues coming from hiring solutions, marketing solutions and premium subscriptions” (Company Background). LinkedIn is a social network similar to the well-known Facebook or Twitter.

The first professional business group in the human services field found on LinkedIn is ADD or the Association for the Developmentally Disabled. ADD is based in the Columbus, Ohio area. They employ over 200 support professionals that provide 24 hour care in residential homes, job training and coaching so clients can work at jobs in the community, and teachers for school aged children. It does not state in their site whether or not ADD has monthly or yearly meetings to network with other...