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Martindale Connected membership growing : Are you using Connected?

Larry Bodine, despite being an early sceptic, blogs that LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell’s legal community, Martindale Connected, is continuing to grow.

Back on March 31, Martindale Connected launched with 3,000 members and a headwind of skepticism.  Despite this, the online social network has crested over 12,000 members in just 4 months. I joined myself, made a few connections and am experimenting by starting some discussions.

LexisNexis has its PR machine cranked up touting the successes of Connected. Maybe for reason, maybe Bodine’s caught up in it, I don’t know. I’d like to know what you as members of our legal profession see.

  • Have you heard of Connected? Do you know what it is?
  • Are you or members of your law firm registered as members of Connected?
  • If so, are you or your firm members regular users of Connected?
  • If you are not using Connected, is it in your plans?
  • If you’re an in-house counsel, are you using Connected? Do you have plans to?

When it comes to networking through the net, I’m of record that the open net where you control your presence and can engage your target audience as you want is the way to go. Others believe legal professionals need a closed community keeping members of the public out.

Not sure how the later makes sense, even in the case of engaging in-house counsel. Lawyers looking to enhance their reputation as thought leaders are going to spend their time where it generates the highest ROI.

A public interface through blogging, an effective use of LinkedIn, Twitter, and maybe even Facebook gets a lawyer out where they are seen by clients, prospective clients, referral sources, reporters, conference coordinators, bloggers, and publishers.

I’m not sure how a closed community matches that. And even if the closed community has some value, do lawyers have time to do both?

What do you think? Do you see the value in Martindale Connected?

  • http://blog.alligerkman.com Alli Gerkman

    The 12,000 members don’t move me as much as usage stats for those members might. Maybe I’m just promiscuous in my online affiliations, but I have countless networks I’ve “checked out” and that might count me as a member. Connected among them.
    For general networking, I agree with you about open networks being far more effective (and lasting) than closed networks. Presumably giants in the industry, like Facebook, also agree with you or we wouldn’t be seeing the ongoing march toward public (and away from private).
    That said, I think there could still be a place for the closed network, so long as it is small, focused and productive. This is sort of list-serv 2.0. It’s more of a workshop than a network.

  • Ohad Reshef

    Kevin,
    Good topic. It is my view that networks should have open and closed components. Just as in life – there are occasions where you want to speak in public, and times when you want to speak in private. While Facebook is moving towards being more open – they still keep all the conversations (as well as applications, events and more) gated. Sure, you could view public profiles on Linkedin, but to get the most value – searching, messaging, connecting – you have to sign up and to be signed in.
    Specifically – at Martindale-Hubbell we have the lawyer directory online with more than 1 million profiles available for all. Our user generated content is behind registration, as well as the full Martindale-Hubbell Connected Profiles. We may be surfacing the non-attorney profiles or some of the conversations if we could get it done without betraying our members’ trust. We would love to hear ideas from our users on what’s the best way to do so.
    Thanks,
    Ohad

  • Antonin I. Pribetic

    The value of a closed network is that you know who your target audience is. If you want to use open networks available to the general public, then use Facebook or set up your own blog. I use MH-Connected to gather and share views, opinions and news on practice-related topics and the various discussion groups are tailor-made for this purpose.

  • http://www.sofloridaestateplanning.com/ David Shulman

    Cross Posted at Linked in
    I have my doubts about Connected. I joined 5 months ago and didn’t do anything. I went back a few days ago b/c of the stories of it growing, and I still didn’t see anything worthwhile.
    The groups don’t seem very active. I’m not sure if they are doing anything other than gathering names of people who don’t come back.