Packaging Business Development Manager
B&R Industrial Automation
Packagers have been arguing the pros and cons of social media for the past couple of years. Since April 2009, I’ve managed a LinkedIn group called Packaging Machinery that reached 1500 members in March.
What have our members gotten out of this group? While I can’t comment on private collaborations, I can share the kinds of posts and networking activity that I’ve experienced.
Built for business
First, why LinkedIn? Because it is geared to business and it works flawlessly. LinkedIn makes it easy to generate meaningful dialogue and share useful article links. There are enough related groups – including Packaging World, PMMI, Green Packaging, Packaging Professionals and PACK EXPO -- and networking tools to build a community. The management functionalities are there to qualify new members, to delete inappropriate posts and drop the offending posters from the group.
Better than Facebook or Google for its purpose
I can honestly say I’ve met people I wouldn’t know otherwise who I really needed to find. It’s not unlike the revolution the web has spawned in terms of researching companies. Well, it’s a lot harder to research professional contacts through Google, isn’t it? Likewise, Facebook works better for friends and family, not professional networking.
What’s the buzz?
So, what are we talking about on the LinkedIn Packaging Machinery group? We have some interesting pundits bringing factoids and market research to the group. I for one am meeting packaging machine builders who want to do business with us. We are finding packagers with needs and pointing them toward machinery builders with the right capabilities. It doesn’t get much simpler than this.
Why not join today?
It is rewarding to see more professionals and executives all the time, around the world, joining the LinkedIn Packaging Machinery group. Members ask and answer technical questions, find business partners and career opportunities, make plans to meet at industry events, and, yes, connect buyers with sellers.
What could be a better resource for you? Join us now on LinkedIn Packaging Group.
