Comment by Omowale Casselle on April 12, 2010 at 1:07pm

Seems like a pretty savvy move on the part of your competitor. I would imagine that there are several other groups started and managed for the explict purpose of establishing thought leadership around specific areas of interest to key members of a community. It is tough to strike a balance between providing overall value and pushing specific company solutions. But, if they are effective their job of engaging prospective customers should be much easier. However, if they lose the trust of the community; then members will bolt and they have the potential to suffer a loss of credibility.

This question you posed has a lot of parallels to the post, Dr. John posted over on ere.net today "Interact or Your Talent Competitors Will"

Comment by Martin H.Snyder on April 12, 2010 at 1:18pm

But really, whats the savvy part ? Not using their name in the group title ?

Refusing membership to people who work for other vendors ?

We can think of lots of ways to be "savvy" too- but that's the point of the post......

Comment by Omowale Casselle on April 12, 2010 at 1:46pm

Not using their name is savvy yes. Refusing membership to competing vendors is also savvy. Targeting senior level executives/managers (i.e. decision makers) is savvy. Developing a mission statement, content, and marketing strategy that has resulted in almost 700 members joining in one month is savvy.

Basically, I don't think they are doing anything deceptive or unethical by creating a LinkedIn group focused on their target industry. Anyone of the professionals invited to join the group can click on the name of the group owner and see that a member of their team runs the group. If they have a problem with a vendor running this type of group, then they don't have to join. Or, if they find later that the group doesn't deliver on the value promised; they can leave the group.

Comment by Brian Meeks on April 12, 2010 at 2:02pm

I have to agree with Omowale Casselle. It reminds me of when I used to play softball. There was always one giant guy on the other team, that if you threw him the ball, he would hit a home run. He used to complain about being walked. He was loud, called it a 'cheap' way to play, and acted like we were cheating somehow. I was always offended. Apparently he thought that using a reasonable strategy to try to give us a chance of winning, was somehow 'bull'.


Yes vendors should be allowed to create groups just like everyone else.

Yes this is an ethical play.

I don't know if there are others.


I feel that they are doing a good job of marketing.

I enjoyed the post though, you are a good writer. Sorry I couldn't agree with your position.

Comment by Recruiting Animal on April 13, 2010 at 9:48am

They are wily, Beadle, and you did get slapped in the puss. But New York has two baseball teams. And I see from this article that you're ready to go rogue.

Comment by Martin H.Snyder on April 13, 2010 at 10:00am

Animal you are inimitable.

This is the same issue with hijacking threads- arms race and all that. If they do it, should we match step for step ?

At least the rest of America hate the Yankees.

Going Rogue indeed, You Betcha ! We already have Plan 9 established for this little skirmish. My puss won't ache for long ;-)

Comment by Sandra McCartt on April 13, 2010 at 11:10am

It's been my experience in both recruiting and politics that wasting time bad mouthing the competition not only wastes productive sales time it calls attention to the fact that someone is eating your sack lunch. The basic rule in politics is never but never name the competition, somebody may not have ever heard of them until you mentioned their name.

Instead of trying to match what you don't like how about coming up with something new and out executing so they start bitching about you and call attention to the fact that you are taking the meat off their sandwich. :)

Comment by Martin H.Snyder on April 13, 2010 at 11:42am

Hi Sandra,

Aside from the fact that I think this LinkedIn group thing is a sleazy play, on your direct point, I dont think I could answer it any more exactly than this link does, to the very letter:

http://www.businessinsider.com/burger-king-steals-mcdonalds-recipe-...

In any case, I would be surprised if we lost any business due to this group thing- it's more of a symbolic thing IMHO.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on April 13, 2010 at 1:10pm

LOL. Doubt you will lose anything either . However to your point with the King. Has the ATS business reached the fast food level? :)

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