As a young professional in the marketing industry, I am full of questions. What’s the best site to host a blog? What’s the most reputable email marketing provider? How do I negotiate with outside vendors? The number of questions I have come across seems to be endless and it’s safe to say I’ve employed some interesting tactics along the way to get some answers. That’s why I was thrilled when I recently learned about a professional networking site, Focus.com that could help me put an end to my constant stream of questions. I think my colleagues will be thrilled too, especially when they no longer have to serve as the sounding board for my curiosity.
Focus is a network of thousands of business “Experts” in different industries discussing a variety of topics. The site is free to join, easy to use, and it is for anyone that needs help with their business decision-making. Consider this your new resource for business expertise, no matter what industry you’re in.
Focus Experts are individuals who demonstrate expertise in a particular industry or subject. Experts answer questions, contribute research and speak at events, though they must meet several criteria in order to receive the Expert title, ranging from a willingness to communicate and provide insights to having strong social networks in their area of specialty. Becoming a part of the Focus Expert Network can be a great way to bring both visibility and credibility to your business by sharing your insights and experience. Focus recruits Experts to build networks around specific topics, but you can also submit a profile to become an Expert. Go to www.focus.com/about/the-focus-expert-network/for more information on becoming an Expert.
Focus provides three ways for users to connect with Experts in their area of interest:
- Q&A: Submit a specific question and receive multiple targeted answers from verified experts. You can submit your own inquiry or you can choose to “follow” certain topics. Each topic has an archive where you can view relevant questions that have already been asked and answered.
- Research: The Focus Research offerings include briefs, mini analyses, key best practices, guides, survey reports and category summaries. The information to produce these insights is often sourced from Focus members and the Focus Expert Network. You can use the search bar to find research on your topic of interest.
- Events: Focus also provides events in the form of Roundtables, Webcasts and Summits that feature expert speakers and allow attendees to personally interact with Experts. The events offered through Focus are great for general education and staying aware of trends in your industry.
Using these three areas, Focus makes business expertise from around the world available to everyone and easy to consume. Here’s a few examples of what I’m currently enjoying on the site:
- A Q&A session that covers the question “What is the next big thing in Marketing Automation?”
- Audio recordings from the events of Focus.com’s B2B Marketing Week
- A mini report from the Focus Research section that compares Constant Contact Vs. MailChimp for email marketing
If you’re not familiar with the site or have yet to try it out, I’d urge you to sign up and take a look. It only takes a minute to get access. And it just might help you make your next business decision, or at least help you with some information when you’re in a pinch. Are you an avid user of Focus or an Expert on the site? Let us know about your experience with it!
