By John McPartlin

Though social networking began with sites like MySpace and Friendster, this technology is no longer just for teens and twenty-somethings. A new breed of social-networking sites has emerged, offering tools for the business crowd. These sites offer CIOs online communities in which they can showcase their skills, learn best practices, get answers to tough issues, even get help managing organizational efficiency. "Many research studies show that CIOs rely on their peers when it comes to implementing new systems or investigating new technologies, so social-networking sites are a perfect fit for their information gathering needs," says Michael Paradiso, VP of global integrated media at CA. "Also, this new medium is a natural for technology gurus, given their early adopter status." Here, then, are some of the best of these new-wave, social-networking sites — and one older site that's retooling itself to serve CIOs and other business-technology executives.

Ryze
ryze.com
CIOs who don't mind mixing fun with their serious networking will find Ryze offers the right balance. Ryze has gained more than 450,000 members since 2001 when the site was founded by one of the people behind Friendster, the popular social networking site. Basic membership in Ryze is free, but users can upgrade to receive additional services. Like Ecademy, Ryze promotes offline meet-ups and events where members can network face-to-face. Communities range from the serious — including the Financial Success Network for Baby Boomers — to the sublime, including one for left-handers.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Private and public message boards
• Social networking
• "Real-world" get-togethers

ACTIVE DISCUSSION TOPICS:

"How long do you need to prepare for a speech?"
"Question about outsourcing projects."

Spoke
spoke.com
Spoke is the perfect site for the busy IT executive who simply wants to get the names of contacts and get out, for whom fancy messaging and interacting isn't required. Like LinkedIn, Spoke concentrates on connecting business professionals, and it boasts of offering access to an impressive 30 million people at 900,000 companies worldwide. CIOs can search Spoke using a person's name, company or title and then receive results that indicate whether any of their connections overlap with that person. If so, the CIO can request an introduction. There is less emphasis on community or discussion on Spoke and more emphasis on increasing members' contact databases. The service also offers database integration with Salesforce.com and the ability to import information into corporate CRM systems.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Generate contacts at client and customer companies
• Private messaging
• Reconnect with co-workers, partners, suppliers

Ecademy
ecademy.com
Any IT professional looking to use online networking sites as a springboard for real-life encounters and in-person career networking should take a look at Ecademy first. Founded in 1998, Ecademy currently features a comparatively few 150,000 members. While membership is heavily weighted toward U.K.-based executives, the company is now making a major push for the U.S. market. Basic membership is free, but because it features limited access, users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to a $14.95 monthly account. Members can join networking clubs organized by industry, hobby and lifestyle — such as "How to Improve Your Search Engine Rankings" and "Global Development Initiatives" — and a meeting place for fans of the online virtual environment, Second Life. Ecademy also promotes a real-life meeting component where club members are encouraged to socialize and get to know one another over drinks or lunch.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Get back in touch with co-workers, partners, suppliers
• Private and public message boards
• Networking clubs
• Private instant messages
• "Real-world" get-togethers
• Marketing promotions and discounts

ACTIVE DISCUSSION TOPICS:

"CIOs cite security as major Web services adoption block."
"Cleaning out your inbox."

LinkedIn
linkedin.com
LinkedIn has much to offer IT professionals in both its discussion boards and its networking and job sections. Visitors can search for contacts based on company, industry, educational institution or specialty; and the search function consistently yields results that are both relevant and useful. In addition, a special area lets visitors post career-related questions and get answers from experts; the quality of responses remains high. While basic membership is free, paying customers get extra perks, such as the chance to make more direct introductions to other members and find additional information about who may be browsing their profiles on a monthly basis. And with a reported 11 million users, LinkedIn offers CIOs one of the largest business-networking services and certainly the best-known.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Contacts at client and customer companies
• Expert advice from peers
• Private and public message boards
• Referrals and recommendations
• Reconnect with co-workers, partners, suppliers
• Private instant messages

ACTIVE DISCUSSION TOPICS:

"What is your experience of what it takes to build and sustain a high-performance team?"
"What are the best ongoing networking events in the Bay Area?"
"What sources or best practices would you recommend to frame the typical set of CIO KPIs [Key Performance Indicators]?"

XING
xing.com
IT executives based in Europe, or those working at global companies with European offices, will find XING offers the proper continental feel. Appropriately enough for a site run by a publicly held company based in Hamburg, Germany, XING has traditionally kept a predominately European focus with many of its membership offerings. For example, many of its forum topics tackle European concerns. But that could change soon, as XING seeks to expand its base into Asia and the Americas. The company says the site has 2.3 million members, supports more than 16 languages and offers access to its service via the Web, mobile phone or PDA. And with the possible exception of LinkedIn, XING offers the most relevant forums and job listings for technology and business executives, and with the least number of spam postings and get-rich-quick schemes cluttering up the conversations. A basic membership is free, but the company is testing a premium service that offers enhanced services and tie-in products from information providers and consultants.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Marketplace for offering and acquiring services
• Client and customer contacts
• Private and public message boards
• Referrals and recommendations
• Reconnect with co-workers, partners, suppliers

ACTIVE DISCUSSION TOPICS:

"Building a data warehouse: common design issues."
"Does Total Quality Management [TQM] work?"
"Information security vs. IT security."

Facebook
facebook.com
No longer just a site for teenagers, Facebook recently launched an initiative to recruit more corporate customers. CIOs and other executives comfortable in a traditional social-networking environment will now feel even more at home here. Facebook, founded in 2004, is already one of the most popular social-networking sites, with some 25 million users worldwide. Now members can also fill in their company's e-mail addresses; if a network of company employees exists, visitors can access private message boards, shared calendars, lists of company-related events, private classifieds and links to smaller department or regionally oriented groups within the company network. If no network exists, users can create one or lobby within their company to create an official company-endorsed network.

Even if an official company Facebook network is not desired, there are many other networking options available, including connecting to other IT professionals by region, alma mater or special interests. Membership is free.

SERVICES CIOS CAN USE:

• Message boards
• Classifieds
• "Real-world" social get-togethers
• Private instant messages
• Mobile phone alerts
• Photo gallery

ACTIVE DISCUSSION TOPICS:

"The IT field is highly competitive, and it's only getting worse."
"IT plays a 'key role' in securing Canada's critical infrastructure."

John McPartlin has written about technology, business and entertainment for publications including InformationWeek, NetGuide and CFO. He is also a former VP and editor in chief of TV Guide Online.