Ecademy networking site

[dreuby]

http://www.ecademy.com is a networking site similar to Ryze. It's divided into geographical areas, so you can do local networking if you want to.

Free membership - first month you get full benefits, after that you can pay (£10pm/£110pa+VAT), or drop to reduced free membership. That's $15pm, I think.

I'm trying it, and I like it, I can't afford to go full rate at the moment, but I'm planning to work it into my budget - it has clubs that meet offline, local groups, much more like a chamber-of-commerce or business breakfast type thing, and you're likely to be able to network with local businesses as well as global.

[Debbi]

Wondering if you've gotten any jobs from this service?

Thanks!

Debbi

[dreuby]

No - but I've got my first local networking meeting on Monday evening. I hope to build up contacts locally, to get work eventually. A new group has just been set up for my town, and Monday is our first meeting. I think Ecademy will be a long-term rather than a quick-results type of promotion - bit like Chamber of Commerce.

[dreuby]

Forgot to come back and post about the meeting!

It was very useful - we met at 6.30 to register, and each put a pile of business cards on the table. We had two talks, one from the Ecademy regional moderator on how the website works, and one from our club moderator on networking etiquette, body language, etc. We got a chance to try out our elevator speeches.

Then we had time to socialise, and chat - about 25 of us, all in a wide range of businesses. It was well worth going to, I had some general queries from other business owners.

The US Ecademy "branch" has just launched, and members can join any club regardless of their location or the location of the club.

All the club moderators and organisers are volunteers, so it's the sort of thing that you get back what you put in.

I'm definitely going to upgrade my membership after the summer.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to check it out. Do you get anything for referrals?

Thanks for all of your wonderful information!!!

D

[Debbi]

That was me, by the way, new computer didn't login me in

:oops:

[dreuby]

I don't think you get anything from referrals apart from a new network member - but here's my link if you want to use it!
http://www.ecademy.com/?xref=43987

If you look at the left-hand side, you'll see a box with "Networking Regions" - you can use this to choose your area, then find a club near to you. Only paying members can start clubs, but that's the only restriction on starting a club for your local area if you want to.

[dreuby]

I've posted about some other networking sites here:
http://www.freelancemom.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=209
including a new one for women-owned businesses.