Glad that you asked
I was glad to read the email yesterday from IABC headquarters, inviting me to participate in an online survey regarding Internet networking sites. It is a good move on IABC’s part, to inquire of its members whether we would find value in a site run by IABC.
The survey did not allow for comments. I sent an email inquiring about that, and the reply from Lee Anne Snedeker, senior vice president, Membership and Market Analysis, was:
[Our] focus was on gathering information that we could use quickly. Unfortunately, reading, compiling, and analyzing comments in a survey takes hours and hours, and we wanted to get a pulse of member thinking before then. We certainly will spend time gathering ideas from members as we move forward.
The desire to move quickly may be, in part, due to the intense comments that went back and forth regarding the future of associations including the IABC, in light of the emergence of popular sites like The Communicators’ Network, MyRagan, Facebook and LinkedIn. If you need to get up-to-speed on that discussion, I’ll suggest reading Shel Holtz’s blog post.
I hope that many IABC members complete the IABC survey. If comments had been allowed, I would have said that I don’t think that IABC should create a social networking site like those I mentioned above. The field is already crowded, and people will not be able to maintain an active presence on every social networking site that springs up. I think it is too late for IABC to get into that particular game.
IABC can still provide value to its members, and perhaps it can find a way to excel in offering some version of the functionality that we’ve seen in networking sites–some of which, like an online forum, blog, and podcasting, already are part of IABC’s mix.
June 10th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I agree with Tom–whom I met on MyRagan–that we don’t need any more social networking organizations for communicators right now.
I’m a long-time IABC member, but from the beginning what I’ve valued most is my local chapter (the only one in North Dakota). I understand that my dues help bring in IABC speakers from around the world to conferences and even to Bismarck, and I appreciate that. But I’ve recently become self-employed, and IABC conferences are not in my budget right now. Even my yearly membership–due this month–is going to sting.
If not social networking, what meaningful services could IABC provide?
ADVOCACY is great, but I’m not sure how IABC defines that word or how effectual it can be. (The across-the-board complaints at MyRagan are the same complaints I had 25 years ago and still have.)
ACCREDITATION? The people I know who are accredited are glad they made the effort for a number of personal reasons, but not many say it’s had much of an effect on jobs or promotions.
RESEARCH might be a natural place for IABC to spend money and energy meaningfully.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:31 am
Tom,
I agree with you unless IABC were to find something of value to offer through their networking site not available through Ragan’s or Melcrum’s sites. Perhaps interlink the site with IABC’s website functionality and individual chapters, allowing conference, meeting and workshop registration through the site. Perhaps instead of one international site, help the chapters create a series of localized sites dedicated to the local members. Any other ideas that could set an IABC site apart?
michaelclendenin
June 11th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Hi Tom,
For the record, I disagree that IABC should not adopt some sort of a social networking site. Sure, there are a lot of others, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not value in IABC having a dedicated one because IABC’s members are not necessarily all using all those other platforms. A great example is the Professional Women’s Network here in Europe which has a stellar such site. The members all go on about how great it is. And those who are also members of IABC would love for IABC to have one too, based on the comments I’ve gathered. I’ve started playing with MyRagan this week in order to have an informed opinion, but if IABC set up it’s own platform, I would migrate as I would much prefer to have a community home inside my association than inside a for-profit entity.
Kristen
June 11th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Jane and Michael, I think that you are both on to something.
Jane, I hope that IABC will make some real headway this year in terms of advocacy. My personal interest is in advocating through social responsibility (using our communications skills and experience to help others in the world to “Be Heard.”) I’ve been making some really good connections through the IABC Advocacy site, blogs like PR Conversations, and through online social networking sites including MyRagan and The Communicators’ Network. These online sites can help us to mobilize quickly.
Michael, I really like your thoughts about linking to the individual chapters in some way. I know that IABC/Chicago leadership works very hard, and offers good presentations and networking events. It would be great to help them coordinate with, support and benefit from, other chapters and the IABC mother ship in new ways.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:52 am
Tom and Michael,
There is no reason that our site—www.myragan.com–cannot cooperate with IABC and other professional communication organizations so that we all benefit.
Already IABC members have begun setting up profiles and organizing groups within MyRagan.com
I have seen no evidence that this hurts the association in anyway. Afterall whoever said that IABC should develop into a virtual association like MyRagan? I have always thought the opposite: that IABC is a real-time group whose very strength lies in its physical presence.
MyRagan.com, on the other hand, has no aspiration to become this kind of an organization.
Finally, the kind of free-wheeling conversation that we encourage among MyRagan.com members could not exist on IABC without moderation, and I have found that once you begin moderating comments, you have pulled out the very reason to be. Once you have done that, the site becomes lifeless, and IABC will have wasted a lot of money.
Mark Ragan
CEO
http://www.myragan.com
June 11th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Kristen, thanks for adding to the conversation and for offering your support for an IABC social networking site. By examining all angles of this through our discussion and the IABC survey, we will help IABC leadership make a decision that benefits IABC members and the profession.
Mark, I think that your comments here and elsewhere–echoed by Robin Crumby of Melcrum–continue to allay any concerns over whether IABC should feel “threatened” by sites such as MyRagan and The Communicators’ Network. I don’t know whether I misunderstand your comment about moderation. If you are saying that moderating comments like these makes a site lifeless, I would disagree. Did you mean that? (I know that comment moderation can slow the posting of comments, but I don’t believe that it makes a site lifeless.)
June 11th, 2007 at 10:48 am
The survey IABC sent out last week was intended to get an initial read on our members’ interest in social networking and the tools that many social networking sites offer. We wanted to take a quick look at members’ views so that we could share the results with the Board at its upcoming meeting.
We expect to do some follow up research that will ask for comments. But if any IABC members would like to comment now, please use this forum to tell us what you think.
Thanks for raising the issue, Tom.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Tom,
Right now http://www.myragan.com is unmoderated.
This means that anyone can express any opinion without fear of editorial interference. For example, we have already carried several controversial videos and debates in our Forum section that I doubt would never see the light of day on an IABC site.
The only exception we have to this is commercial exploitation. If we feel that a member is using MyRagan.com to post sales messages only, we will ask that member to refrain.
If IABC can promise the same free and unfettered discussion, then you are right and there is no difference.
Mark Ragan
http://www.myragan.com
P.S. Kristen, just so you know: MyRagan is not being used for selling or pitching any of our products. Nor will it be. This is strictly a community building project, as you can see. THere are no ads, no direct marketing, nothing. So to the visitor, MyRagan.com looks and appears bereft of any commercial purpose.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
An interesting discussion and a useful continuation of the debate started on Shel Holtz’s blog that challenged IABC to redefine its value proposition now that online networking is ‘free’.
As I have stated elsewhere, the purpose of The Communicators’ Network is not to add yet another choice of community for the time-poor professional communicator. But ‘to aggregate and share knowledge, know-how and expertise for internal and corporate communicators’. The site will do this by allowing communicators to link to their favorite resources wherever they are online, and allow others to review and rate them.
The site will build into a directory of books, blogs, websites, podcasts, videos, training resources, articles, case studies, events etc etc that are ranked according to popularity.
I have already invited IABC to partner in this initiative. The door is still open for the powers-that-be to do so. Melcrum has already partnered with dozens of smaller not-for-profit networking groups around the world in launching the site. IABC are notable by their absence. The assurance I gave was that members will not be sent commercial solicitations from Melcrum and that the site is ‘by communicators for communicators’ and not Melcrum-centric.
I completely understand Kristen’s reservation about IABC partnering with a for-profit organization, but would emphasize that the way the site will fund itself is through advertising, not through marketing paid products to the membership.
My further observation would be that IABC chapters always welcome the opportunity to provide additional value-adding services to their members. Chapters have even contacted us to ask whether they can set up a regional group for their members, rather than the other way round.
Isn’t the message from chapters and members loud and clear? IABC should seek to partner rather than compete with commercial organizations whenever possible and look to mesh in complimentary services to add value to membership.
Robin Crumby
http://www.communicatorsnetwork.com
June 11th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Robin,
Very well put…why should IABC spend the thousands of dollars to launch yet another social networking site for communicators already pressed for time? And Ragan has already pledged publicly to never promote products on http://www.myragan.com.
If you are one of the nearly 5,500 members of this social networking site, you have already seen a pristine community free of advertising of any kind. To the casual observer, MyRagan.com looks exactly like a site that might be produced by a nonprofit.
I am asked by skeptics, “well, if this is true, how will you make money off the site?” The answer is easy, “I don’t intend to make money off http://www.myragan.com. ”
MyRagan.com is the first of a three-phase strategy for news and social networking from Ragan Communication that will be completed in September. In fact, it is the smallest part of the overall fleet of global web-based products. In other words, we don’t NEED to make money on this site. We are content to be non-commercial in every way.
I disagree completely with the idea that MyRagan.com threatens associations. Does anyone really believe that a group as beloved as IABC, with chapters all over the world that rely on real human contact, could be hurt by an online community? Never.
On the other hand, IABC chapters could benefit greatly by creating groups on MyRagan. Why not let Ragan pay the cost for the platform and let IABC members use it to share videos, create events, Instant Message one another and contribute feature articles?
We already have an IABC group on the site, as well as one from the PRSA. Afterall, it’s free for anyone to use. There are over 50 groups on MyRagan, including such niches as Upward Communications, Fashion PR, Social Media, YoungPRPros, student communicators, and even a group devoted to using music for branding.
Then there’s the cost IABC would face in creating the worldwide network of correspondents feedng information and news into their site. We already have that network. MyRagan members are already seeing news stories and video dispatches and blog posts from communicators around the world.
In fact, one such dispatch from IABC’s European Leadership Forum is on our site today, written by Kevin Keohane and posted on our blog section of MyRagan.com
Why would the association want to duplicate the cost of creating a similar network and resources? Why not leverage the existing ones?
Mark Ragan
CEO
http://www.myragan.com
June 11th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
To Mark Ragen and Robin Crumby:
If your social networking sites are about building a community, not selling your products and services, why don’t you join together to create one site?
June 12th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Full disclosure: I am employed by a not-for-profit trade association, so I may not have objective opinions as I believe that model provides a particular added value. I would much prefer to have my virtual network on my association site. Because that is what associations are for. With no offense meant to either Mark or Robin, the primary objectives of your organizations are to make money, which is perfectly valid, but that means that the reasons you have set up your platforms is, at the heart of it, commercial, even if the site itself does not have a direct money-making vocation at the moment.
I would like to see IABC adopt such a platform fully integrated into the membership database, so that I can use it for chapter and regional leadership purposes as well as my personal networking. I don’t want to have to chase up all my members to get them to register for yet another online site when they are already in the IABC database. I want to dynamize IABC. I want to be able to use the new platform to register for events on the local, regional or international levels. With almost 15,000 members in something like 70 countries, IABC already has contributors all over the world. But at the moment, the Melcrum site is mostly drawing people based in the UK, Ragan people in the US and so on.
Yes, there is are a couple of posts on MyRagan from ELI, because we made a conscious decision to experiment with the platform and see whether IABC should adopt something like this. To me, the argument that the field is overcrowded is like saying that IABC should not have a web site because every other communications association and consultancy has one. If it fulfills a real need of its members, IABC absolutely should adopt it. An association needs to avoid rushing out and spending members’ money frivolously just because everyone else is doing something, but I think the sooner that IABC moves down this road, the faster members will find additional benefits, especially those who are isolated from chapters due to geographical or temporal constraints.
June 12th, 2007 at 4:05 am
Reg,
Fantastic question—and in a perfect world, http://www.myragan.com would join with Melcrum to knit together a global social networking community.
But here’s the problem–our two companies are literally worlds apart when it comes to tone, personality and content. I think Robin would agree that Steve Crescenzo’s edgy voice and content would not be a good fit. Can you imagine a group called Uncle Fester and His Peeps on Melcrum’s social networking site. I don’t think so.
Melcrum has chosen a networking site that matches its tone, and we have done the same with http://www.myragan.com. One advantage of having both of us out there is that you have such a clear choice in personality—MyRagan is about sharing and swapping best ideas, but it is also very much about having fun, chatting about your personal life, watching funny videos about our industry and hopefully laughing along with Steve Crescenzo and our staff at the inanities of corporate life.
Robin has announced that his network is all about business and discouraged what he referred to as “chit chat” in his launch blog post.
I think Melcrum’s decision to focus on business issues only is a smart one–it matches the mission of the company. It makes total sense to me within the context of the Melcrum brand. But it could never fly with Ragan customers. That does not make it wrong, it just makes it diffferent.
When Tom Keefe first joined the Melcrum site, he declared it preferable to MyRagan, which he described as having the look and feel of Las Vegas. OK, I’ll go with that. I think that was a pretty accurate description.
So that is why we couldn’t merge. And the readers of this blog wouldn’t want that. They have a clear choice with both of us out there.
So back to the issue of IABC and its own social networking site. How would it look? How would it be different from MyRagan or Melcrum? Would it combine the best of both sites? Or would it take a third way all together? Or, as I argued in a another post above, would it be unnecessary?
Mark Ragan
CEO
http://www.myragan.com
June 12th, 2007 at 4:07 am
Hi Reg,
It’s a good question. Mark and I have already discussed how we can work together. Why? Because it makes sense for all concerned. Not just Melcrum and Ragan but for our customers: corporate communicators the world over.
Shouldn’t IABC take a similar approach and act in the best interest of members?
Robin.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Hi Kristen,
First a clarification. Melcrum is a global research and training organization with offices in three continents: North America, Europe and Australia. We connect more than 25,000 corporate communicators through our products and services in more than 100 countries. So we are really a global organization and not UK-centric.
Our customers are predominantly senior communicators, so launching a site that facilitated high-level discussion was appropriate for our audience. The Communicators’ Network’s primary purpose is to disseminate and share knowledge, know-how and expertise. So it’s very much a network for business, rather than a place to hang out.
Should IABC launch social networking functionality that is fully integrated with its other member services? Almost certainly. But to do this well and quickly is a major investment. And to differentiate this from what’s already out there: difficult, though not impossible.
Interested to see what IABC come up with.
Robin.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:54 am
This active dialogue about IABC’s role in social networking is great! I just wanted to chime in that we were not trying to squelch comments with the initial survey IABC sent out last week to gather some quick feedback, and that we are listening to your discussion.
Keep those comments coming!
June 12th, 2007 at 6:05 am
What a great discussion.
As a long-time admirer of IABC, I would agree with the folks who say IABC should not start a social media site. But, while all the reasons liste above may be true, I don’t think they get to the real reason.
Namely, because it takes a hell of a lot of time and effort and money to not only create these things, but to manage and run them properly. As an “insider” to the http://www.myragan.com site who witnessed its painful, drawn-out labor and birth, I can tell you that it wasn’t easy. I didn’t work directly on the site, but I had lots of friends who did.
It’s the sort of thing that an entrepreneur like Mark Ragan or Robin Crumby can pull off, because people like that tend to focus their energy and bend people to their will, and get them to somehow make it happen.
It would be a completely different thing inside an Association. It would be an even LONGER labor and a more painful birth . . . if, in fact, it ever got birthed at all.
I think it would slowly sap away from IABC, and take over its every waking thought. And I think IABC’s role is professional development, face to face training and conferences, global networking, and yes, advocacy for the profession.
Let IABC members join groups on myragan.com and the Melcrum site. And let them continue to come here to the Cafe and the Commons to talk about issues.
Between the Cafe, the Commons, my blog, the several dozens of other blogs I read, and myragan.com, I haven’t even had a chance to check out the Melcrum site yet.
And I know they produce good stuff, so it’s been on my list for a while. But it’s just too much!
Steve Crescenzo
June 12th, 2007 at 6:05 am
The Internet is a place of infinite space and their is room for lots and lots of communities made up of people who share certain interests. Personally, I see no reason for one community to try to become a megalopolis unless those who run the community are trying to establish some sort of control over its membership. I fing it puzzling that Mark Ragan claims his MyRagan is community-owned and that its members should not “fear editorial control,” when he so recently and blatantly exercised exactly that when he deleted the comments of Chris Heuer, the co-founder of Social Media Club.
June 12th, 2007 at 6:45 am
Shel,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. The Internet does provide infinite space. But the human being does not have inifinite time, and the association does not have unlimited resources–and I think that’s the issue.
When we launched http://www.myragan.com, it came after many months of painstaking investment of time and money. It was well worth it. Ask the 5,500 members who have joined. But it requires an ever increasing investment. The money and time does not stop when the site goes live.
We have an all-day meeting on Friday with programmers and content providers about five new upgrades we’re planning for the site. The only question I pose is, “does IABC want to get into that kind of investment of capital and resources when two other sites already exist?”
But I agree with your assessment that it can be done. Yes, of course.
Mark Ragan
CEO
http://www.myragan.com
June 12th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I have participated in LinkedIn, FaceBook and myragan.com and have to admit that I am enjoying this type of Social Media. FaceBook allows me to connect with friends; myragan.com offers interesting discussion focused on communication.
I believe there is an opportunity for IABC, whether it is through myragan or through its own tool, in creating a face to our virtual and global membership community through a social media outlet.
There is also some great opportunities to support the chapter community by allowing connections through a centralized tools for the chapter and executive membership. There is also an opportunity to create true virtual best practice sharing among chapter boards and members that happens beyond the Chapter Leaders Institute and International Conference.
Ultimately IABC, as a not for profit, will need to make its own cost/benefit analysis….but I definitely think there would be interest and utilization of a social media site that would connect the 15,000 members we have worldwide.
June 12th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I am curious: does anyone know of any associations with a site similar to http://www.myragan.com?
And I don’t mean simply blogs and exchange boards but more of a MySpace type platform with photos, videos, free content, forums, etc.
If you do know of one, we’d like to do a story on it for our MyRagan members.
Thanks,
Mark Ragan
June 12th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Like Kristen Sukalac, I represent a non-profit making PR organisation (the UK-based Motor Industry Public Affairs Association http://www.mipaa.com).
I agree very much with Kristen’s viewpoint - and would support a social networking element of the CIPR in the UK (to which I belong), and I am investigating adding such activities within the MIPAA site.
As Shel says, there is room for lots and lots of communities made up of people who share certain interests - and it seems to me, that existing organisations should not be put off adding in social media just because others already offer this.
I have “joined” both the MyRagan and Melcrum networks - but I have no connection to either and can’t say they’ve enthused me enough to spend valuable time there. When I have an affiliation with an existing professional body, I believe it is reasonable to look to it to offer me networking online as well as through meetings/training etc, with fellow members.
I also know clearly what the agenda is of my professional body, whereas I am suspicious of commercial organisations supposedly setting up a network which they claim is without expectation of return. That doesn’t ring true with the arguments about the time and cost required in managing these networks.
It may just be a British thing, but I am also uncomfortable at what appears to be Mark Ragan’s hard sell approach here. In my view, those with a vested interest should avoid trying to dominate a conversation with what appear to be prejudiced arguments.
June 12th, 2007 at 11:37 am
Heather,
I didn’t say that we don’t expect a return. I said we didn’t expect a return on MyRagan. com
If you read my comments above, I mentioned that MyRagan is part of a three-part strategy in which the social networking site is a small part. I have also pledged to never sell or advertise our products on the site. Our economic model is tied to other projects coming down the road–not MyRagan.
But I guess that’s all I can say. It’s left to you to judge by our actions, right?
June 12th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I just love this guy Mr. Raygun - unable to address any substantive issues, but really good at staying on point and spinning his way out of the important questions - and ever the accomplished salesman. The real question is why MyRaygun is now being positioned as a virtual association? If it is an association, then wouldn’t the members want to get together in person? Oh wait - of course they will - at Raygun conferences, where Raygun can charge $2,000 for the pleasure of doing so… MyRaygun is a community, so why should IABC, PRSA, Social Media Club, Society for New Communications Research or any other organization of communicators even exist? Simple - different values, interests, cultures and perspectives. Different experiences. Different principles of leadership.
It seems to me that someone has finally been reading what I have been writing about over the past two years about the need for group to group collaboration - but rather than coming at the problem with the INTENTION of cooperation for mutual benefit which has been at the heart of our work (as evidenced by our relationship with SNCR), they are instead coming at it with the worst of old world command and control principles dressed up to look like social media thinking. You can adopt the words, but if you don’t understand the philosophy at the heart of it all, the community created will be no better than a Hollywood sound stage.
If it is so difficult to create a social network that no one else should bother doing it, why didn’t Raygun use the groups feature on Facebook, or just use Ning? Clearly someone is going after an opportunity and trying to be the brand in charge of it all and benefiting/profiting from the efforts of the people and their existing association. This is not about community, it is clearly about Raygun and it does not feel genuine in the least. As Heather so aptly puts it, these statements simply don’t “ring true”. If there is no profit in it, but a never ending increasing cost, why would any for profit business engage in such activities? For the community of course? For the community that becomes an audience that can be marketed to - no, hopefully not in an overt viagra email sort of way - but in the subtle way that opt in email newsletters provide, or that branding provides - with branded content and media as marketing ala SMO.
There is nothing wrong with this per se, unless you continue to try to pretend that it is not the end goal of your activities - which is of course the fundamental problem with the perception of the entire industry at the moment - that spin mesiters and marketers find increasingly sophisticated ways to separate consumers from their money, without concern for them (or with perhaps a feigned concern for them which is even more dangerous).
I suggest IABC should spend the money on a custom network deployment using open source tools or white label social network software (which I would be glad to help with), use the SNAPP service that Raygun selected (you can get up and running for about $200 per month http://me.com/snappchart.php but I don’t think it really fits the real needs of communicators ) or just start something on http://www.ning.com/ - in the meantime, Facebook is doing some great stuff these days and many highly valuable groups are being formed there. The tools are the easy part these days - the hard part is still the human factor, not the technology - this is part of the reason I suggest being very careful about who you choose to trust as a partner to all of my clients.
On a separate, but funny note, I particularly love the people who receive income from Raygun who advise IABC against competing with Raygun… I give you credit for disclosing your clear bias in the matter, but it still has a funny ‘ring’ to it.
Mr. Raygun - you say we should all get along and work together (to benefit your brand/surname of course), but your actions speak louder than your words. When you can’t even admit when and where you make a mistake, how can anyone confidently trust you? How can anyone be sure you won’t change your mind in the future and simply ignore all your prior written statements and expressed intentions?
The self interest and hypcocrisy in this comment thread are indeed stunning…
June 12th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I’m just getting my feet wet on Facebook, and - despite my resistant attitude - I am currently checking in there more often than I do here. In fact, my own chapter here in Vancouver - IABC/BC - is now a group within Facebook, and is seeing decent activity already.
Chapters are seeing declining attendance at face-to-face PD events, so virtual communities are another way to connect for those of us in “transition” in some way or another.
To build on Mark’s argument for myragan and TCN staying separate because of cultural and vernacular differences, I would argue the same for IABC. I’m in favour of a particular place where I feel that difference in virtual conversation. I don’t know enough about the various existing tools (such as Facebook, MySpace, etc.) to know whether the IABC dialect can map on to existing networks, but I’m open to it.
As long as it’s a place where people hug. That’s a thing we do.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Joining the conversation a little late, but the comments so far are very interesting and, I believe, helpful to all involved. Disclosure: I’m an IABC member (sometimes a critic, feeling I’ve earned that right by virtue of many years volunteering at every level for the association), an occasional Ragan collaborator and mostly just passionate about the profession.
I don’t believe any of the new social media sites are threats to IABC, but I do believe IABC needs to fully and honestly examine its niche and “value proposition” to members. This was true before MyRagan came along and it’s even more true now. Personally, I believe IABC’s energy and resources should focus on supporting local chapters, especially in light of the discussion here. It seems one of IABC’s competitive strengths will be in offering face-to-face opportunities (networking, learning, etc.) for its members, and the chapters are the most viable vehicle through which to do that.
I don’t agree with the criticism of Mark Ragan regarding the “profit motive.” He has, in my view, been quite forthcoming about his company’s ambitions. Of course it’s a for-profit business. Of course MyRagan might enhance the Ragan brand and perhaps lead people to buy Ragan products and services. So what? If you look around the MyRagan site, it is clear there is no hard-selling going on there (at least, not by Ragan). I have no reason to doubt Mark’s statement that MyRagan is not a revenue generator for Ragan Communications. And if any MyRagan member feels otherwise and doesn’t like, they’re free to rescind membership (which didn’t cost them a cent).
I agree there is plenty of room for all players in the new social media arena as well as in the professional-association arena. And I believe Mark hit the nail on the head when he delineated between MyRagan and The Communicators Network — two different animals.
June 12th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Hi Heather,
I’ve been talking to a couple of people at CIPR about how we can work together.
Surely it’s a little early to write off the CommsNetwork after just two weeks? Give us a chance to show what we’re made of! You will find a neutral non-commercial space home to lots of different online and offline network groups, sharing what works.
You are right to question the real motives of “non-commercial spaces” operated by for-profit organizations. Even if it’s a lost cause, let me try and convince you of our motives.
The CommsNetwork will be funded by advertising. Period. The site is separate from Melcrum’s commercial websites and deliberately so. The discussion forums are led by expert practioners and thought leaders, not Melcrum. The resources that will be listed and reviewed by members are not just Melcrum’s, but anyone’s. The hundreds of free-to-access white papers, case studies, news stories and articles will be submitted, reviewed and linked to by members, not Melcrum.
But why? I hear you ask again. Why would Melcrum link to content that is generated by IABC or any other third-party? Because this is a site built on user-generated-content. We provide the publishing tools for communicators to use as they please, within reason of course. Trying to exercise editorial control over user-generated content is artificial and pointless.
Does this mean that IABC café will be voted top blog by CommsNetwork members? Perhaps. Will Melcrum try and rig the vote so the Melcrum Blog comes top? I’ll speak to our developers and let you know!
We’ll see. But let’s not write off something bold and different just yet. You never know it might just prove quite popular with IABC members.
Would this initative tread on IABC toes? Absolutely not. So why not support us?
And please can we stop bashing the same commercial organizations who have contributed thousands of dollars a year to IABC coffers via sponsoring chapter meetings and exhibiting at events. IABC can’t take our money and then point the finger for being for-profit, as if it’s the ultimate evil.
Robin.
June 12th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
This will be my last post on the subject, unless someone asks me to chime in. I think I have made my point, which is very similar to Robin Crumby’s excellent post above. We should get out of the way now.
Let me summarize:
– MyRagan will continue with its pledge to prohibit advertising and fees. We chose not to go with advertisers because we did not want to compromise editorial. As soon as advertising enters the picture with sites like these, readers begin wondering whether this or that piece of content is a hidden pitch. So there will no advertisers on MyRagan.com. Period. But don’t believe me: go look at the site.
– MyRagan welcomes IABC members to start groups, as did UK chapter member Barabara Gibson. Over 50 members have joined so far, and a lively discussion has already started. We welcome one and all.
– If IABC decides in the end to start its own site, I will happily give them a thorough briefing on the mistakes we made so they can at least get to first base without breaking a leg. I am sure Robin would make the same offer. We would have appreciated the same assistance had it been offered to us.
– MyRagan can afford NOT to have advertising because we have two other major web sites coming by September that will address the issue of how we intend to make money.
– We keep a light editorial hand on MyRagan because we believe that all voices should be heard. Our only major concern is that the site not be used for commercial pitches by members (and surprisingly, that has rarely happened.)
– Yes, there is nothing stopping IABC from creating its own site, but the costs are very heavy in time and software.
Finally, I have to express my undying appreciation for Robin’s eloquent cry at the end of his post about the unfairness of attacks on Melcrum and Ragan for being for-profit.
Since 1968, Ragan Communications has been devoted to the business of employee communications and PR. Ragan speakers and columnists since 1968 are a who’s who of the communication business: Shel Holtz, Steve Crescenzo, Larry Ragan, Jerry Tarver, Marc Wright, Don Ranly, Phil Douglis, Wilma Mathews, Dave Murray, Gerard Braud, Charles Pizzo, Ginger Hardage, Michael Zimet, Fraser Seitel, and so many more.
For much of the last decade, Ragan was good enough for IABC to join in innumerable partnerships in which IABC members were given substantial discounts for training that no one ever disputed was not top quality.
How did our being for-profit hurt anyone?
June 12th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
[...] find some interesting views about MyRagan and the Communicators’ Network (UPDATE: and read this fascinating exchange if you are interested about the whole Business Comms Social Media playground - thanks to Robin for [...]
June 13th, 2007 at 2:15 am
Wow, turn your focus elsewhere for a few days and you miss a lot! I’ll chime in here with a few thoughts:
1) I’ve been playing with MyRagan for the past week or so, and I love the funtionality. Still a relative newbie to the social networking world, I’m excited by the possibilities of such a tool for IABC. Our existing tools haven’t provided that for me.
2) I set up the IABC group in MyRagan specifically to experiment, to see if members would have more interest in social networking if setting and functionality were more powerful.
3) I don’t have any affinity to Ragan, I’ve never attended one of their events or bought their publications or worked for them. I do appreciate their long-time support of IABC, and I applaud what they’ve accomplished with the MyRagan site.
4) I have mixed feelings on whether or not IABC should have its own site. Although we can easily use the other sites for many of the functions, there’s one thing they can’t do that I think would be an amazing feature if we could do it — turn our entire online database into a dynamic, searchable directory, allowing members to post profiles and photos, and link to other members already in their networks. From all my IABC involvement over the years, I’ve got hundreds of IABC friends, but I don’t have any way in our current system to link with them.
5) I love it that this topic has sparked so much passionate discussion. I hate it that some people have become abusive here. I hate the bullying culture that is so pervasive on some social networking circles — it’s what keeps so many people lurking instead of joining in. Personal note to Robin and Mark: don’t take it personally, you’ve both done a great job of communicating your points of view here.
6) While this debate rages on, and IABC examines where it will go with all this, you’re all welcome to come on over and experiment with us in the MyRagan IABC Members group. If nothing else, it can help us see the possibilities. And in the meantime, IABC is getting great exposure to non-members there.
Barb
June 13th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Mark and Robin - thanks for your thoughts. I haven’t given up on either of your social networks, but first impressions count and I didn’t immediately feel engaged after signing up. I think this is quite important with any network/community - online or offline. If you don’t instantly get a connection or reason to return, then you are less likely to ever do so. Witness the difference in numbers of those who have visited SecondLife once, set up a MySpace page, or begun blogging and those who maintain this initial interest, a few weeks or months later.
June 13th, 2007 at 4:22 am
Wow! This topic is generating some good debate. A couple of points from my perspective:
1) I clearly stated that the for-profit side of Melcrum and Ragan are valid. But they are different from what I am seeking in an online community. I don’t want to have to wonder that someone’s marketing department is studying my words or acts to pitch to me through another channel. I can accept that your platforms are non-commercial or advertising funded, but they’re not disinterested. Which is fine, but it’s not where I would prefer to have my online home.
When the association I work for has its annual conference, people exchange pictures of kids, grandkids, new houses, etc. The personal interactions are quite possibly more important than the formal programme. While there is networking at for-profit conferences, that same feeling of family is missing. They’re different. That’s ok, but I like the association culture. It’s a family. I want a family, not an enlightened or otherwise corporate patron. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t think IABC should never cooperate with Melcrum, Ragan or anyone else. But in this case, it would not be my preference.
2) Robin, I wasn’t trying to attack Melcrum, but I think we have an insider/outsider perception issue regarding where your base is. I’m a Melcrum subscriber and the voices I hear in your products and services are largely (not exclusively) “Anglo-Saxon” if you will (only someone else living in France can understand the treason I just committed by using that word in this context…). Which again is fine, because it clearly meets the needs of a corporate audience that subscribes.
Because IABC is member-driven, the diversity of the content it provides has been increasing exponentially in recent years. And that’s what I need, because the majority of my membership base is in developing countries, so hubs in the UK, US and Australia don’t meet my particular needs. But I’m just one person. Not all of us have an executive board composed of citizens from Belgium, China, India, Canada, Norway and Chile, but I do, so I really need to understand communications outside of the Anglo-Saxon world.
3) Finally, I am not a member, so I am not sure if it has all the functions of MyRagan et al, but the European Professional Women’s Network exists LARGELY through online social networking. I’ve recommended that IABC look at what they’re doing because it’s powerful. They can be found at http://www.europeanpwn.net.
June 13th, 2007 at 6:14 am
I really love to see this sort of debate happen. But I must admit I was kind of over trying to read the entire thread and draw any conclusion. Love to measure how much time and energy is spent on the debate and if there is a good ROI for this kind of energy spent. What was the readership of this debate, what are the conclusions and who is taking on what actions? Just a thought!
My little contribution, is we should encourage communicators to join these types of networks, actively participate and make their own mind up about the value it adds. I have no doubt that the IABC will stand strong in the minds of members in providing best practice, expertise and face to face events that people will crave when they pop their head up from the keyboard chatter.
People will indeed make their minds up about the type of forum they feel comfortable with and the type of events they would attend to interact with other people. I have got profiles on both Melcrum and Ragan, as President of the Victoria Chapter in Australia I have a group under the Melcrum site and it has given my members a platform to talk to any board member or each-other and discuss the latest event or give feedback freely. It is something I have not had to fund at all.. I am advertising my local events and already tapping into speakers, and have picked up a member during a discussion who was not aware of the IABC. Most importantly I am now in touch with so many more IABC members just in general chat.
I will admit no offence Mark… My first MyRagan message was some bikini clad communicator in the states, telling me to read an article ‘it’s cool’ Just was not ringing my Professional Bells. But I know some of my members are hip and with it:)
I congratulate Robin and Mark on the launch of these sites and I support either IABC doing something similar or simply working closer with all these types of networks, that build a stronger Communications Community.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:01 am
If the other social sites allow us have our own groups, then perhaps there is no need for IABC to invest time and money developing a social site. (Wasn’t it site development that last got us into financial trouble?) I’d suggest IABC concdentrate on it’s core mission. We are all still members of IABC, whether at http://www.iabc.com, http://www.myragan.com, at a chapter meeting, or having drinks at a bar.
I’ll be testing that drinks at the bar theory at the IABC conference in New Orleans in 2 weeks. Hope to see you all there for an “in person” discussion of these topics. New Orleans is open to naked conversations 24/7. Robert Scoble has nothing new on us.
June 13th, 2007 at 8:27 am
I happen to be a fan of Cormac McCarthy and recently caught his appearance on Oprah. Oprah asked him why he had never granted a public interview in his 40+ year career…did he have something against media?
“No,” he quietly replied. “Not at all.” Then he smiled kindly and said, “I just work my side of the street and you work yours.”
The same thing can apply here if we’re kind enough to let it.There are so many personalities in communications, and I happen to look for a reprieve from my daily grind, and have found myragan.com to be just the ticket. I want to laugh, see the absurdity of taking life and work too seriously, and they are a great place to do that. Yet, I appreciate Melcrum and IABC just as much, when I’m in a different mood.
Is it possible to just work your side of the street and not worry what the neighbors are doing?
June 13th, 2007 at 8:38 am
Let me give you a kind of a different perspective on this issue.
I am a Polish member of IABC (there are only 2 more people from Poland here as I’ve checked). For me all kind of social media for communicators is invaluable. With these media I can really feel I am a part of a global network. Without them I have CW, newsletters, publications which is great. With them - there is something else.
Now, with MyRagan.com and CommsNetwork, people like me can have discussions much easier with colleagues that are far away. I wish I had more time to be active on both sites (actually I’m active on one and watching the other). There are some great discussions about subjects that I can’t imagine I would find a partner here in my country. It has broadened my view on what I do as a communication consultant.
From here, it is not important who’s behind the site or if they make profit that way or the other. If they give me the opportunity, I can only say: Thanks a lot. Being with IABC with all the resources available and being a part of MyRagan.com and CommsNetwork makes a perfect mix for me. Mark, Robin - you did a great job.
I think that IABC can simply use both networks - you can reach more people, also from other countries. I would be much worse if IABC was absent there.
June 13th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Just curious… Are there any business connections between the two organizations? Is there any overlap on the executive level? That may be relevent to this discusion I would think
June 13th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Great discussion as social networking begins to go “mainstream” for many communicators. I’m sure there are a few IABC e-pioneers who’ve been playing in the social networking arena for years (think Shel Holtz) who look at our discussion string and just chuckle.
Let’s step back for a second and take the discussion out of the social networking arena. Time has proven that there’s room for IABC and Melcrum and Ragan to be successful in the communication marketplace … collaborating at times and competing head-to-head at times … with workshops, conferences, publications and services. And they’re not alone on the planet … don’t forget that PRSA, CPRS, IPRA, NIRI and hundreds of national, state, provincial and local communication organizations have also built successful business models. Some are not-for-profit, some are for-profit. Face it, there are a lot of communication professionals who need the training, the networking, the services, the best practices and the friendships that these organizations are providing.
We seem to be concerned that no one has time to spend at the “competing” Ragan, Melcrum and potential IABC sites. Yet you probably haven’t had the time or the budget to attend all of the professional development seminars/conferences/workshops that are being offered either. That doesn’t mean that anyone - Ragan, Melcrum or IABC - needs to roll over and play dead and cede their spot in the marketplace to someone else.
As a former chairman of IABC, I’d selfishly love to see the association have its own vibrant place to play in cyberspace … and to see it take off with the wild growth that both Ragan and Melcrum have enjoyed (kudos to Mark and Robin for bringing these communities to life!). I also know that it will take resources - staff time, volunteer time and dues dollars - to make it happen for IABC. IABC did suffer a financial blow when it tried to launch an overly ambitious electronic presence a few years ago, so a cautious approach is logical. In general, associations are usually not as nimble as for-profit organizations. We’ll let the board and the staff determine if this is a great idea. It’s great to know that they’re listening, they’re asking the right questions, and they’re a part of this conversation (here and on Ragan).
Social networking does allow IABC to meet a goal with which it has been struggling for years - being truly international. In these new communities, physical location is not an issue. There is no “local” chapter, you don’t have to elect a chapter president or worry about whether to hold lunch meetings or dinner meetings on the second Thursday or the fourth Wednesday of every month. Would we have more time for social networking on a global scale if we spent less time building and running local and regional governance structures? (This is not an either-or question … it’s a matter of balance.)
In the short run, I encourage everyone in IABC (and in the profession) to explore what’s there. Hats off to Barb Gibson for launching the IABC group within Ragan. There are also IABC chapter gathering spots forming at Melcrum, too. These forums “belong” to all of us. They will thrive if we find value and contribute. If we don’t, they will disappear.
If IABC decides to launch its own hosted community, I’ll be there, too. In the meantime, I’m enjoying the opportunity to connect (and reconnect) with communicators from around the world. Thanks, Mark. Thanks, Robin. You’ve helped us all.
Brad
Brad Whitworth, ABC, Fellow
June 14th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Shel,
Are you talking about between Ragan and Melcrum?
No, there are no business connections.
Robin and I have explored working together, but those discussions have come about only recently and have taken no specific course.
Brad, thanks for your wonderfully intelligent and balanced post on this topic.
If one were to go to the IABC group on MyRagan.com, one would wonder why we are having this discussion?
It’s a lovefest over there, with members and many non-members introducing themselves to one another and talking about how much they love the association. If I were IABC, I would view http://www.myragan.com as a great recruiting tool.
But so far, unless I am mistaken, there are no staff on the site taking advantage of that great conversation and potential.
Julie Freeman, consider this an open invitation to join MyRagan and the IABC group. If nothing else, you might learn more about whether IABC should start a network of its own. We would welcome your participation greatly. And I am sure Robin Crumby would say the same thing.
Mark Ragan
CEO
http://www.myragan.com
June 15th, 2007 at 12:19 am
Brad mentions the fact that there are IABC groups on both the MyRagan site and Melcrum. I’m not concerned so much about competition as desirous of a place where I can move seamlessly from an online chapter group to a region-level group to an international group (plus possibly committees and interest communities at the different levels). BUt that seamlessness is lost if some of my IABC groups exist on MyRagan and some on Melcrum. For me, that is a compelling reason for IABC having its own social site. I also second what Barb said about tapping into the existing IABC membership listing and bringing it to life.
Kristen
June 16th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
If IABC were my client and decided it was interested in launching a social media site, I’d recommend against it. Here’s why: I don’t think IABC can deliver.
I’m an IABC member. I was very excited when I found the IABC employee comms commons, but my excitement waned quickly. It’s hardly EVER updated. The lapses between postings are huge. Literally months have gone between postings. It’s not the example I’d expect a professional communications association to set, and if it were my client or project, I’d have started on a remediation plan at that point.
When the energy on employee comms commons seemed to drop off, I emailed Julie Freeman to offer blog ideas or even blog entries, if it would help keep the discussion going. We desperately NEED support and discussion in the internal comms community, which can feel like a poor second cousin compared to the more glamorous comms fields of PR, IR, AR, or marcom. Guess what? I got NO response. NOTHING.
My experience on myragan was very different. I sent Mark Ragan a question about a basic point of myragan functionality, and I got back a response within minutes. In the short time I’ve been on myragan, I’ve found lively discussion and content that’s more useful and relevant to my practice than what’s being offered by IABC.
I don’t mean to take a personal shot at Julie; I’m sure leading IABC is a big job, and she doesn’t have time to look into every whinge sent her way. I also know what the difference between a for-profit and not-for-profit budget means. And despite my general disappointment with IABC, I don’t intend to leave at this point. But looking at it as a responsible communicator, what other recommendation could I give? Best intentions aside, if IABC can’t keep a simple blog conversation going, there is no way it can do something on the scale of myragan or communicatorsnetwork.
I’m truly sorry if my assessment sounds harsh - I’m even hesitating on the “submit comment” button - but sometimes we give the best counsel when we tell it like it is.
June 17th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Good point, Kristen. IABC’s social networking site could really go far in connecting members to one another and to San Francisco simply by incorporating its database into the system.
MyRagan.com cannot do that, obviously.
If that is the goal, then a custom program is probably needed (as opposed to MyRagan’s so-called white label software where one size fits all).
June 17th, 2007 at 7:53 am
Wow! Great thread. This is what I’ve been missing from IABC. (Geezers will remember that we used to have talks like this all the time in IABC Hyperspace.)
If communicators want online social networking through IABC, let’s start by making MemberSpeak more interesting than it is today. Frankly, it’s a yawn most of the time. We could post real thoughts about the profession in there. There is no rule that says our posts have to be about finding a photographer in Punkydoodles Corners or how WebEx compares to RainDance.
I love IABC. Speaking from long experience as a member, observer, chapter and regional leader, I would say IABC and its leaders should get right what they/we already do before launching anything more.
IABC already has on its plate: rebrand, promote accreditation, expand into new geographic regions, heighten awareness of the profession and grow membership. (Issues Jane Greer mentioned.) It must do this with a small staff and overwhelmed volunteers. It has also recently (and happily) recovered from a severe financial crisis. And, for some, there’s an unhappy memory of a foray into a web-based program that was ahead of its time and beyond the capacity of the organization to support - or whatever the problem was.
Unless it can be done with minimal expense and no effort, why on Earth would IABC want to add a feature that mimics two commercial sites that already exist and that are so new we don’t know if they’re sustainable? Ragan and Melcrum are for-profit organizations run by smart business people who, presumably, know the risks and can afford the investment of both money and energy. The latter is important. As sponsors, Ragan and Melcrum employees and writers are very active in creating threads and responding actively in their communities. Can IABC staff and volunteers invest the same time and energy?
I would urge IABC leaders and members to take advantage of the fact that Ragan and Melcrum have gathered and are supporting communities of communicators. Partner with them. Be active in the forums. Share ideas. Start, as Barbara Gibson has, IABC groups.
In this day and age, we market through relationships and by modelling attractive behaviours. Ragan and Melcrum may be about making money, but we cannot forget that they are also about communication. I say they have provided IABC with a lovely platform to exploit to expand its membership base and enrich the perception of its brand value. And it doesn’t cost us a penny. How cool is that?
Cheers - Sue
Sue Johnston
Head Coach
It’s Understood Communication
Waterloo, Ontario
and on the web at http://www.itsunderstood.com
____
Real conversation - the most powerful tool you will ever use
June 17th, 2007 at 8:35 am
I’ve been a loyal supporter of IABC for upwards of 13 years, and I’ve been a frequent visitor to IABC.com for as long as it has existed. Nearly 10 years ago, I was hired for one of the best jobs of my life because I responded to a posting on the IABC job board. Online networking at its best! But that was 10 years ago.
While I think there are some useful tools at IABC.com, I echo the concerns voiced by other posters as to the time, money and sheer marketing effort required to make some of these tools take flight.
As we all know, “If you build it, they will come” does not apply to websites. It takes a constant stream of marketing, updating, upgrading and word-of-mouth to stay relevant and top-of-mind. Take, for example, “MemberSpeak” or the MyComm strategic planning tool. The ideas behind these resources were great, but the execution and ongoing marketing efforts fell short in making them truly valuable and effective tools for members. My perception of these “near-hits” has been that IABC has perhaps spread itself a bit thin and needs to step back and look at how it can be most relevant to its consumers.
To complicate the issue a bit, I’d like to point out that MySpace — once the groundbreaking leader in social networking sites — has lost both credibility and membership due to the large amounts of spam that made its way through to members, as well as the onslaught of newer sites like FaceBook, etc. In any market space, survival of the fittest inevitably occurs, so time will tell if there is truly room for MyRagan, The Communicators Network and any other professional communicators network that may crop up in the future. The question for IABC is: can we afford to invest the resources on something that is not our core competency and that may ultimately fade into oblivion?
June 17th, 2007 at 9:01 am
If I may chime in with some thoughts after reading the posts. First, there is a large collection of intelligence gathered here and an inspiring degree of cooperative civility. As a contracted government communications specialist I have (at least for the time being) traded hats - going from marcom to the government sector.
A few weeks ago I got an out of the blue invite to the myragan website from the head of a company whose niche is in the area of measurement of pr efforts. I clicked on the invite and was captivated - again by the intelligence, the amount of useful knowledge being freely shared, the humor, the interactivity of it, and its relative newness. Myragan provided me with a well-conceived platform, an opportunity to lead a group, a place to retreat to for collegial contacts, input or feedback from those with expertise in other areas, including a number of academic types who frequently wow me with their insights. And, there is mind candy there too, because sometimes the lighter fare - the escape - the humor is just what is needed at that moment in time.
So my comment is this:
With the posted commitments coming right from Mark Ragan - that the intent is for myragan to not become cluttered with ads, or designed to “go commercial” in the future - then what is the motivation for IABC or any other, in our field to consider an effort that would fragment what Ragan Communications is doing for our profession for free?
Besides who has the time to even consider building and maintaining an alternative platform to the one that Ragan Communications has invested in, and striving to make as useful to all as is possible?
June 17th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Good to see the conversation has returned to the original questions: ‘Should IABC launch its own social network for members?’ and if it did: ‘How would it be different?’.
I agree with Kirsten that having IABC groups set up on different platforms makes for a fragmented and dissatisfying overall experience for members. There is no substitute for IABC having its own, branded social networking site, integrated with other member services. No question. Camping out on other platforms is a good starting point and will allow you to choose features you like, but is unlikely to meet the association’s needs in the long term.
Providing IABC can choose an inexpensive platform, of which there are many, and bring together volunteer members with experience of setting up and running such networks, then the risk is relatively low.
Amy – I believe there is a difference between blogs and social networks. IABC relies on the contributions of its volunteers, rather than dedicated staff writers to maintain the conversation on its blogs. But social networks rely almost entirely on user-generated content. And the evidence suggests that IABC members are very active and supportive in this context, so you would have to say that chances of success are high.
I also agree with Brad that competition and choice in the marketplace are necessary and welcome. Social networks are likely to proliferate over the coming months and years from other associations and service providers to this industry. And each successive launch will look to differentiate and refine the offering and service further. Anyone remember Friendster?
It’s human nature to follow the crowd. And we’re a fickle bunch. As we’ve seen with this conversation about IABC’s value proposition started on Shel Holtz’s blog, it simply moved here and gathered pace. But that’s the nature of blogs, social networks and other social media, there’s free movement of ideas across borders, digital or geographical.
So I believe IABC would do well to create a natural home for these conversations and connections between members on its own site, but at the same time encourage and participate in conversations that occur elsewhere.
And please note my extreme restraint in writing a whole post without mentioning my own online community. I think there have been enough plugs all round for one discussion. It’s rather like a weird social network equivalent of Tourettes!
June 17th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
I’m fairly new to this debate, but my initial reaction is — when it comes to communication vehicles for communicators — the more the merrier. I don’t think we’re as prone to “information overload,” since these types of communities are for seekers first. I’ve always sort of lumped Ragan & IABC together, anyway. This might be a good way to point out the differences while broadening the network, & that’s a good thing.
June 19th, 2007 at 7:30 am
As an IABC Member, former Chapter Board member in the UK, and as an “industry activist”, allow me to chuck a few thoughts into the mix here. I’ll confess to not having read all 47 posts to date, but I think what I have to say is reasonably distinct:
1) The MyRagan vs Melcrum vs IABC debate reminds me of VHS vs. Betamax in the 1970s video recorder market. Despite Betamax’s technical superiority and compact case, VHS obliterated Betamax because it was an open platform with the lowest cost to use–and ultimately access to the highest number of customers.
In this case, MyRagan is clearly and rightly pursuing the most open approach, with Melcrum focusing more on ‘proprietary’ groups and content. As for IABC, to be honest, San Francisco is trying to get the license number of the truck that ran over it.
2) IABC headquarters would be well-served to stay the hell out of this area, as I have found a deep-seated antipathy to lateral communication to be at the core of how IABC organizes itself, and to be deeply hard-wired into the MemberSpace platform that has recently been exposed as woefully obsolete. I’ve attempted on a number of occasions to organize groups and networks that cross chapter lines over the last few years–and was rebuffed consistently over the years. These groups are now being organized in nanoseconds over MyRagan and to an extent on Melcrum’s network.
3) At a local, chapter, level, IABC still engenders a lot of goodwill, and IABC chapters are still in a good position to be seen as a local convenor of off-line conversations. To be sure, MyRagan offers the ability to offer local groups on its platform to organize off-line meetings as well, so this is an area where IABC chapters need to be agile.
4) For off-line engagement beyond the simple meeting, there is everything to play for–but the most underserved part of the communicators education/membership/training market is also becoming connected at an unprecedented rate–a group I would call “CWBs”–Communicators Without Budgets. While this is a group unlikely to attend hotel conventions, or spend $1000+ on supscriptions/webcasts/research reports, whomever is able to come up with a model that delivers price-conscious and value added materials and services could win big.
IABC is well positioned to do so–but it will need to rethink its whole outlook, and give up defending its pricing structure, impenetrable governance framework, and its sense of entitlement to act as the voice of this industry.
5) IABC can, however, recapture its ability to position itself as the voice of the industry by taking on the role of advocating the value (economic, cultural and civic) business communicators provide for their organizations, and by empowering business communicators to act as advocates within their communities on a variety of commercial and civic concerns. Again, IABC is positioned exceedingly well to make this happen–if it can make the cultural changes needed to do this effectively.