Get started with Ecademy

What is Ecademy?

Ecademy was founded in 1998 and is one of the longest-standing online networking sites, with millions of users worldwide. A strongly business-focused site, it provides an online networking environment with a view to generating ‘real world’ business connections.

The site itself emphasises that it is a support network, in which members are there to help each other. This sense of a supportive community is made very apparent in the ease with which members can connect with each other.

Connections can come with a cost, however — Ecademy operates a three-tiered subscription-based membership model. The higher your subscription level, the more exposure your profile receives and the more you can take advantage of the features on the site.

Ecademy is best used by businesses to:

• generate business connections
• influence others and establish expertise through blogging
• create sales leads (B2B businesses)
• seek and offer support and advice to other people in business.

User-generated content is at the heart of the Ecademy community and the best discussions and conversations are found on the users’ blogs. As one of the oldest online networking sites, etiquette is well-established and reinforced by the core base of users who have been present from the start.

The level of commitment required to use Ecademy effectively is less than the constant priming required by Twitter and Facebook. As a more traditional network, it operates at a more casual pace which may suit the time-pressed and those who cannot keep up with the constant stream of activity on other networks.

Setting up your account 

Step 1: Go to www.ecademy.com.

Step 2: Fill out the ‘Join now’ form on the homepage and click ‘Join now’.

Step 3: Choose your level of subscription. Entry level is free and allows users to create a basic profile and to respond to incoming messages and blog posts only. Inter-connectivity with Twitter is also standard. You cannot post a blog and only have permission to respond to incoming messages.

The second level of membership — known as Powernetworker — requires a monthly payment, currently costing from less than £5 per month. For this, you can expect ten times as many visits to your profile from members and the ability to initiate contacts with outgoing messages. Powernetworkers can also post blogs and advertise in the Marketplace. The biggest benefit, however, is exposure of your profile to search engines. If you choose to be a Powernetworker, be sure to pepper your profile with key words that will enable people using search engines to find you.

Blackstar is the top tier of subscription and presently costs from less than £40 per month. A Blackstar receives what Ecademy terms ‘accelerated development’ - among other things, this includes access to mentoring groups, one-on-one meetings with professionals and access to social media tools promising revenue growth.

Step 4: Create your profile. Like most social network platforms, it is the quality of your profile that will make the difference between getting a great deal out of the site or missing opportunities. The depth of detail you can incorporate in your Ecademy profile is dependent on your level of subscription - the more you pay, the more you can include for other members to read.

If you have a blog, a website or a Twitter account, link to it. When writing your personal details, think carefully about the balance between personal and professional information. Ecademy is a business site, so it is best to emphasise your professional achievements and aspirations. Keep details to the point and explain what you hope to gain from being involved in the network, as well as what you can offer.

Using Ecademy in your business

1. Before you start

Bear in mind that Ecademy is a business networking site and not a social networking site:

• The focus on business networking, as opposed to personal, is clear throughout every aspect of the community.
• Expect blog posts to be on business topics and business practice, with the occasional lighter moment.
• Ecademy is the place to be as a member of a business and not a place to have a presence as a brand.

2. Work out what you can bring to the community

As one of the oldest networks, Ecademy has a well-established community and many core users who have stayed from the outset:

• The community is built around groups based on mutual interest. What expertise can you can bring to a group to help its members?
• Do you have pre-existing written or video content that you can share with members? Useful, insightful business information is welcomed.
• Are you able to share real-world connections and opportunities with other Ecademy members? This could include information on and entry to conferences and seminars, for example, or access to a network of other business experts or potential customers.
• Having recently undergone a makeover, Ecademy now has more online features such as Twitter inter-connectivity and video content tutorials making it a versatile resource and business hub.

3. Make connections

To make the most of Ecademy, you will need to make useful connections with people who share similar goals and interests:

• Search profiles and use key words to identify people who are potentially good contacts for you.
• Read blogs to find out who thinks what, and whether what people are are saying chimes with your goals and interests.
• Join groups to make relevant, deep connections. There are more than 5,000 groups on Ecademy - some more active than others - and they cover a wide variety of business sectors, topics and regions.
• Search for groups by keyword or region and keep track of the groups you are a member of by clicking the appropriate tab within the main groups page.
• Engage with other group members by asking and answering questions related to the group topic. Share your own expertise and content where appropriate.

5. Build your presence and profile

With so many members, it can be hard to find relevant people to connect with. Help them find you by developing your presence and profile on the site, and by giving them good reason to make you a contact:

• Share as much information as possible, as well as your motivations for being involved in the community. Ecademy is one of the better networks for forming professional relationships, and users appreciate an openly businesslike manner.
• Use relevant keywords in your profile to emphasise what you have to offer and make you more discoverable on search engines.
• Writing your own blog will also help to establish you as a ‘go-to’ member of the community - especially if you offer genuinely useful insight and advice. In order to blog, you will need to be a Powernetworker or a Blackstar – ie, a paid member. 
• List events you are attending or think might be of interest to the community. Link up your Ecademy account with your Twitter account to automate a feed of activity from Ecademy to Twitter. This will demonstrate to your Twitter following that you are active on the site and could increase your connections on both platforms. 

 6. Keep up to date

• At a minimum, update your status to keep your network aware that you are active via the ‘NetNews’ feed - a stream of updates to your network.

If you only do one thing…

Update your status once a day to establish a daily presence in your network.