Ecademy - Does it work?

[gd4]

Hi,

we are a graphic design business offering design, web and print services. Is anyone else a member of Ecademy? Would it work for us? Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Rachael]

You get out of ecademy what you put in...if you network hard, join in clubs etc there is no reason why you can't get business from there.

 

[gd4]

Which membership service would you recommend? Would the Green Star be enough initially to see how we get on and if it can work for us, or would we need the Power Networker service?

 

[Richard]

Is anyone else a member of Ecademy? Would it work for us? Any advice?

Ecademy is a networking tool with four levels of membership. The free membership provides two weeks of access to all facilities and services. After that, you're expected to upgrade to one of the other levels that will incur a fee.

I attended a networking event in Bristol last night where Thomas Power addressed about 50 members. During the run-up to a meeting members are expected to give notice of their intention to attend and you're able to review the profiles of those attending in advance.

If you decide not to become a paying member after the two weeks, you'll find access severely limited although paying members will still be able to see your full profile.

For example, conduct a google search for 'peter scargill' and you'll discover that his profile is very limited unless you're an ecademy member.

To understand the principles on which the business is founded, you really need to read 'A friend in every city' published by http://www.ecademy-press.com/

Hope that helps

Richard

 

[gd4]

Thanks for all the info...will go and read that now! :smile:

 

[Shay]

You get out what you put in. There are plenty of characters there for sure but once you see past them and utilise the clubs etc there is no reason why it cant be a marketing tool. Why not go straight to the power networker level and in those two months you will get full range as opposed to green star range and by that time you will see if it is something you can work with and if not just cancel it.

You may not get business out of straight away but building your brand applies online as well as offline.

 

[Richard]

You get out what you put in. There are plenty of characters there for sure but once you see past them and utilise the clubs etc there is no reason why it cant be a marketing tool.

There is a commission to be had by the person you choose as your referrer.

Once you're ready to sign-up make sure that you are able to make a commitment of time during the first two weeks of free membership.

Do a Google search for 'thomas power' and read his ecademy profile. Start planning what your profile is going to look like.

Do a Google search for 'ecademy profile' to see how other members have presented themselves.

Think about what your 50 key words will be. Find out about ecademy networking meetings that are going on around where you live and get invited to one. Use Google to find local members.

The company is run by astute business people so do as much research as possible, in advance.

Good luck

Richard

 

[dan_moore]

Just to second what others have said - ecademy can work for you, just so long as you're prepared to put the time in to explore and find out how best to utilise all that is there. Specifically you are sure to find some clubs of interest to you.

In terms of the commercial element of it all and advertising for business directly, this is done through the Marketplace function on the right side of the homepage.

Cheers

Dan

 

if ur interested in generating business from it then i would stear clear, its all gumf and cheesy " I how are you if I can help in anyway" everyone is looking for business and no one is getting any, and some of the blogs make u wonder how their still in business.

 

[Eagle]

...everyone is looking for business and no one is getting any...

35+ clients from Ecademy would seem to suggest otherwise.

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I used to be a PowerNetworker on Ecademy but went through lean times and cancelled my membership.

I recently rejoined as a Green Star member but am already experiencing problems because my network was more than 20 people and I was a member of more than three clubs. I will have to upgrade to be able to reply to messages in my inbox, as replying to messages adds people to your network.

 

Like the others say you get out what you put it. Like anything, if you are going to do it it's worth doing well!

I used the 'trial' and I found it took up allot of time and that it all a bit 'on top' in terms of networking...

But it may work for you....

Anyway, good luck!

Hannah
hannahmarshall.com

 

[Richard]

Just to second what others have said - ecademy can work for you, just so long as you're prepared to put the time in to explore and find out how best to utilise all that is there. Specifically you are sure to find some clubs of interest to you.

Make sure you sign up to the Ecademy Associate Program (EAP). For both Greenstars and PowerNetworkers the referral fee is 40%. i.e. £10 and £48 respectively.

This is a one time reward from the new member's first year subscription for making the introduction.

In fact, the 'PowerNetworker' could have the R in a circle after it because it was registered as a trademark on 29-Oct-03. See: http://webdb4.patent.gov.uk/tm/number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=2347220

All the best

Richard

 

[Shay]

There is a commission to be had by the person you choose as your referrer.

Once you're ready to sign-up make sure that you are able to make a commitment of time during the first two weeks of free membership.

Do a Google search for 'thomas power' and read his ecademy profile. Start planning what your profile is going to look like.

Do a Google search for 'ecademy profile' to see how other members have presented themselves.

Think about what your 50 key words will be. Find out about ecademy networking meetings that are going on around where you live and get invited to one. Use Google to find local members.

The company is run by astute business people so do as much research as possible, in advance.

Good luck

Richard

You dont have to have a referer to join. Just login direct to the site that way no one else gets a commision.

As for the profiles, Thomas' is just an example but doesn't mean its the correct way. Why base a profile on what someone else's look like, it would be false from the start.

 

[gd4]

Thanks everyone for your replies and advice etc.

We will look into creating a profile and joining sometime next month when we may have a little more time to spare. The Power Networker looks like the best option for a couple of months.

Thanks again everyone for your responses and info :smile:

 

[brsdja]

I've just signed up (again). Going to give it a couple of months to see what comes back!

 

[Alan_Thomas]

Hi,

we are a graphic design business offering design, web and print services. Is anyone else a member of Ecademy? Would it work for us? Any advice?

Thanks!

I would agree with what people are saying here about ecademy.... you have to work it to get anything out of it.

If you are interested in such virtual networking sites, I can recommend an alternative or additional one to ecademy. It is currently completely free, has all the utility of ecademy, and seems to run smoother and faster than ecademy (on my computer anyway )

try wwwdotnetwork2connectdotcom

(cant post links, cos Im still under the 15 post minimum)

 

[gd4]

Alan - Thanks for the link. I have just joined up and will give that a go and see how I get on. Looks good so far :smile:

 

[Ozzy]

Hi Guys,
I am a PowerNetworker on Ecademy myself, and used to get a lot of business from it myself when I had time to work the system. Now I don't have the time, but keep the membership because I still get the odd order or contact from there from past blogs. Quite a few members I've met through there still refer me when a relevant blog comes up.

My profile is at;
http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=37175

Again, don't know whether my profile is the right way to do it or not, but it works for me. I like the personal approach to business rather than the corporate approach some people prefer.

I can recommend Ecademy to anyone who has the commitment to work the system. If you don't then I have to be honest and say it wont work for you.

 

[Richard]

I can recommend Ecademy to anyone who has the commitment to work the system. If you don't then I have to be honest and say it wont work for you.

Which begs the question, 'Why haven't you used Ecademy to promote tomorrow's UKBF networking event?'

 

[Pebble Communications]

So what do you have to do exactly, to effectively 'work the system' and get some work out of it? I've considered joining but I don't know whether it is worth the amount of time it takes up. Knowing I was doing the right things would help me.

 

[Richard]

So what do you have to do exactly, to effectively 'work the system' and get some work out of it? I've considered joining but I don't know whether it is worth the amount of time it takes up. Knowing I was doing the right things would help me.

Hi Fiona

If Ozzy had setup a club on Ecademy (takes about 1min) he could have listed tomorrow's UKBF Networking Lunch and any Ecademy members who wanted to attend could've declared their intention so that other members could see who was going. As it is we're still waiting for confirmation of attendees in spite of being promised this information one week before the event (unless I've missed an email from Ozzy).

I only actually decided to start paying as a PowerNetworker on 14-Jun-06 although my listed date of joining is actually 31-May-03.

It's difficult to explain how it might work for you because we're all different with different motivations and ideas.

HTH

Richard Parsons

 

[Ozzy]

Which begs the question, 'Why haven't you used Ecademy to promote tomorrow's UKBF networking event?'

Actually - I did :biggrin:.
It is promoted in the Northampton, and the MK clubs. The businesses startup club, and a couple others I cant remember. I also contacted all members with an MK, NN and LU postcode and informed them of the event. Subsequently, quite a few of the new members who have just joined UKBF came from Ecademy after reading about the networking event.
We have about 20 Ecademy members coming to tomorrows event

 

[Ozzy]

If Ozzy had setup a club on Ecademy (takes about 1min) he could have listed tomorrow's UKBF Networking Lunch and any Ecademy members who wanted to attend could've declared their intention so that other members could see who was going.

Personally I don't think Ecademy clubs work that well for the members unless the club owner works hard to keep it alive. If you browse the clubs you'll see a huge amount of them have had no activity for about a year.
Its enough work with this forum, I don't need an Ecademy club to keeo going!

As it is we're still waiting for confirmation of attendees in spite of being promised this information one week before the event (unless I've missed an email from Ozzy).

I was advised to send it out the day before, as what the Chambers do, to ensure you get any late bookers included in the list! Check your email by about lunchtime.


See you tomorrow!