billso.com

On 31 March 2008, I mentioned that I’d joined Dan Leuck’s social networking site TechHui. Dan sent me his invitation through LinkedIn, a global professional network that I’ve mentioned in several articles in billso.com:

• 14 March 2008: Social media in action
• 10 August 2007: Forty-somethings flock to Facebook
• 2 July 2007: CXOs face malware email attacks
• 20 June 2007: Facebook vs MySpace

My LinkedIn network has grown quite a bit in the last few months as more users join that service, and I enjoy meeting new people through the site. LinkedIn focuses on working professionals, as well as sole proprietors and entrepreneurs. The user interface is cleaner than Facebook or MySpace, as LinkedIn does not support applications or media players yet.

My LinkedIn profile is available through the button on the right side of my website at billso.com.

I have also set up an HPU MSIS Alumni group in LinkedIn. Graduates of HPU”s Master of Science in Information Systems program who are also LinkedIn users can use this link to join the group. Group members can display an HPU MSIS alumni badge in their LinkedIn profile. Many universities have established similar groups on LinkedIn to promote alumni events and enhance their branding.

Last week, Dan Leuck invited me to join TechHui, a website that he developed. According to Dan, “TechHui is a new social network for Hawaii’s tech community. It provides groups and forums covering subjects ranging from software development and social networks to biofuel and entrepreneurship.”

TechHui has more than 200 members, and the site features discussion forums on project management, blogging, and computer software. Dan has a special interest in Java software development, so there are forums for those topics, too.

The site also lets users post videos, images web links and other objects. The interface supports several customization options for privacy, themes, and other features that have become key success factors on social networking sites.