LinkedIn Competition

Some of the more successful social networks to emerge are focused on a specific audience. For example, business networking sites have taken common tools found on community sites and created value by connecting professionals in new and useful ways.

LinkedIn is the big kid on the block and has become extremely popular. It gains value as more users join.

I have also found biznik to be useful. They bill themselves as "Business networking that doesn't suck." Their software allows professionals to arrange in-person events and promote them.

For those in the media industry, there is MediaBistro.com. They are "career and community for media professionals." They've done a good job of raising awareness of their services in Seattle by throwing networking parties in local bars.

Some organizations are taking the next logical step by creating their own social networks using enterprise social networking tools from companies like Connectbeam who talk of harnessing the collective mind of your company.

We'll have to wait and see if anyone can catch the front runner, LinkedIn. They have a huge community, but will some upstart with better tools swoop in to steal the show?