This is a guest post by Ario Tamat. Ario worked in the digital music industry in Indonesia from 2003 to 2010, and currently works in the movie and TV industry in Vietnam. Keep up with him on Twitter at @barijoe or his blog on http://barijoe.wordpress.com
So in the last few months, Path has gained ground as one of the most talked-about social network apps, especially since the Path 2.0 upgrade which integrated location check-in, photo feed, song check-in, and even an ‘asleep/awake’ feature, which you can share to ‘only’ up to 150 friends. This brings some interesting possibilities of using Path for business.
1. Personal-Professional Network
Like many people today, their online and social network lives virtually intertwine personal and professional interests. Twitter and Facebook are basically mass-media channels now, and somehow should be treated as such. But Path can become the social network of your closest business associates and confidantes, of which you can share more about you or your business, even sharing confidential issues with your trusted circle, or asking for feedback on certain issues or ideas.
2. Industry Contacts
If you’ve worked for years in a certain industry, you’ll be bound to know personally almost all of your key competitors, and even becoming friends to an extent. And many times, an industry-wide back channel to discuss issues that might impact a whole industry would become much more beneficial for the industry in general. Let’s say there’s a new tax law that would have significant impact on your industry – discussions on Path would help find the best solution and leverage the industry’s lobbying group. Another example would be, top executives sometimes like to update each other on what they are doing, although they are competitors – just so they can plan better, and or even just to share information. This can be done effectively on Path.
3. Industry Gossip
Any industry is not without gossip – from the funny to the serious. Using Path with a select group of industry people can be a place to trade rumors, gossip or even clarify things, and serve as an unofficial ‘exclusive industry news’ channel.
4. E-commerce
Virtually any social network known to man has been penetrated by e-commerce, by some kid trying to sell t-shirts to stores setting up virtual storefronts on chat forums. Path could become that exclusive store with select members, where only the most exclusive stuff is sold to. Example: a gadget store has a rare, new product to offer; they would offer that product to their exclusive early-adopter club on Path before offering anywhere else.
5. Exclusive Content
Let’s say I was an artist or musician – I could offer my most recent work to my Path friends first, either for feedback or as a reward for the most hardcore fans. I could even charge a yearly membership for people who want to get this exclusive content, and approval on Path would depend on payment. The content could range from web art, web comics, music, videos, photography, news… anything.
The inherent intimacy and exclusivity of Path is something rare in the digital world – an enforced scarcity of connections, of which people or companies can take advantage of. When everything becomes digital, limited access to something with perceived value becomes a premium.
Note that you may need to set up a separate Path account (with a separate email address) from your personal one if you want to do this, and make sure you sign in to the proper Path account between your personal and professional circles. Similar functions can also be achieved by utilizing Google+’s Circles. Of course, for many, Path is simply way sexier.
