SOCIAL NETWORKING GOES LOCAL

Whilst "My Genius" is great on many levels it is still mainly a Social Network which sometimes crosses the line into Business Networking and therefore Business Opportunities. For networking opportunities that deliver more business than social interaction have a look at:
Business Warriors at www.businesswarriors.co.za
Inner Circle at www.innercircleforum.com
Small Business Hub at www.small-business-hub.co.za
S A Business Hub at www.sabusinesshub.co.za
Women In Finance at www.womeninfinance.co.za
Women Inc at www.womeninc.co.za

Good luck and good networking!

Social networking goes local
Carly Ritz

22 November 2006 at 10h42

Online social networks are buzzing at the moment as people around the world are realising the benefits of connecting with other people online.

In the hope of promoting a high level of social and business interaction CoNectar Networks, owned by John Raath and Doug Timberlake, have created http://www.mygenius.co.za/.

MyGenius is a social networking site with local roots that allows users to promote themselves, build relationships and possibly collaborate with others.


The focus of MyGenius is to give individuals a space to showcase their skills, brand themselves and share their ideas. Owner John Raath says “the ethos of My Genius is a supportive, caring, don't-be-shy-about-what-you-can-do, grow-your-world community.”

Corne Mac Kenzie, who uses MyGenius, says that she “loves the site and it has put her in touch with people with whom she may not have necessarily made contact” and because MyGenius is local, Mac Kenzie has been able to meet some of these people.

One such person is a woman who runs her own HIV/Aids organisation who Mac Kenzie says “made her aware of much larger issues at play in the country”. Another person who is benefiting from the site is user Jack Rahme who is in the process of doing business with people that he has met online.

Although only 3-months old, MyGenius already has a large membership. The site has an internal messaging system, an email notification system as well as clubs and blogs.

The clubs enable members to connect, either publicly or privately around any issue or opportunity while the blogs encourage people to publish their thoughts, raise issues and share ideas. Raath says about these features “We want people to connect as powerfully as possible and as easily as possible.

MyGenius has also integrated the popular instant messaging programme MSN and Skype, the voice over IP protocol, to promote connecting and communicating even more.

The ethos of the site is based on providing authentic information. Members are accountable for what they say and the site has the right to remove anyone anytime if the ethos is not upheld.

My Genius will be launched internationally early in 2007.