Social Media is about making connections, but you need to know where to look to find prospects worth your while connecting with. If you're in engineering, here are some pointers.

1. B2B Social
Media and
Engineering
Communities

2. Think of the phrase ‘Social Media‘, and no doubt your mind will create images of Facebook,
Twitter and Google+. But what if you work within the design, engineering or scientific
communities, and are looking for an outlet to share your ideas and converse with
like-minded people, without getting caught up in the ‘Likes’, ‘#s’ and ‘+s’? Well, look no
further! Here is our list of the top Engineering Social Media Communities at your disposal!
linkedin.com
LinkedIn is currently the largest leading
social network for professionals – a
database, if you will, of people you know,
or have known in a professional capacity,
such as previous or current colleagues,
clients or suppliers. The site plays host to
numerous special interest groups, giving
users an outlet to start discussions, ask
questions, share valuable content and reach
out to other members for information. It is
also a platform to browse and follow
companies of interest, allowing users to
stay up-to-date with their recent activity.
If your organisation is not one of the
2.6 million with an active LinkedIn profile,
it’s missing a trick! By creating a company
profile and beginning to build valuable
connections, you’ll instantly increase brand
awareness, enabling prospects to easily find
the company with the outcome of turning
professional relationships into opportunities.
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xing.com
n nce you have built your personal
O
connections, you can grow your
‘Extended Network’ by gaining
Second and Third-degree connections
(i.e. contacts who are linked to the
people you know)
n
Request skill recommendations from
your connections, or perhaps endorse
them for a particular business skill or
professional quality
n
LinkedIn is an excellent platform to
increase company visibility, products
and goals – make sure your company
page is live and represents your
company in a positive light
n
Looking for new staff? 89% of
recruiters have filled a vacant position
at some point in time using LinkedIn
(source: www.masters-in-humanresources.org/recruiting/)
n you know of a colleague who could
Do
provide support to a client that they are
currently unconnected to? Why not
introduce them via LinkedIn?
Often referred to as the ‘European LinkedIn’,
Xing is the third-largest professional
networking site, enjoying most of its
popularity in Central Europe, particularly in
German-speaking countries. Much like
LinkedIn, Xing offers users with the ability
to connect with contacts, search for
companies and join groups. Additionally,
Xing features Events and Projects offerings.
The Events capability informs members of
local training opportunities, encourages
event participants to connect and enables
users to organise their own event which
Xing can manage through its professional
online event registration and ticketing
subsidiary, Amiando. The ‘Projects’ feature
allows companies to promote these and
search for freelancers to work on them.
Xing currently boasts 100,000 company
profiles, and with a large proportion of these
based in one of the largest corporate
hotspots in the world, users can reap the
benefits of joining this site.
n
Check out the ‘What’s new in your
network’ feed, which filters new posts
by topic, depending on which part of
Xing you’re looking at
n Xing recommendations provide
‘Next step’ suggestions in relation to
new job roles, for example. The most
relevant recommendations will appear
in your updates
n
Start a group: discuss the industry
issues that are important to you or
your company, or simply request
answers to a matter that you might
be struggling with
n
Looking for a new job? Use the ‘Job
search’ function to look for new
positions, or browse the ‘Job ads’
n its very basic level, Xing can be used as
At
an address book/diary – keep up-to-date
with events and appointments with the
‘Upcoming’ section
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3. engineeringexchange.com
engineering.com
element14.com
The Engineering Exchange is a social networking community
developed by engineers for engineers. The site hosts many
platforms for users to grow their network by connecting with
each other, posting comments, starting discussions and
developing their awareness of engineering related topics.
As well as having a profile page, members can join groups
that are of interest to them, such as Automation and Control,
Electronics and Industrial Air Filtration. Once registered,
members have full, ungated access to educational videos,
images and blogs, as well as notifications about upcoming
events they may wish to attend. Forums exist as an outlet
to pose questions or exchange content and ideas, as well as
a rather nifty tabbed ‘Resources’ section, enabling access to
a library of educational whitepapers and information about
new widgets.
Hailed as ‘The Engineer’s Ultimate Resource Tool‘,
engineering.com is an online library of engaging blog articles
and videos, which are neatly cross-referenced into handy
content-streams, as well as whitepapers and the Ask@ forum
where members can connect and share. The site is
innovative in its content, which includes a free calculator
library for conversions and equations, as well as original
engineering games and puzzles which will surely brighten
a dull day! Perhaps the most useful company resource are
the searchable directories through which users can source
products, services and companies, enabling customers to link
with vendors from across the globe.
Element14 is a huge online forum for engineers and
electronic enthusiasts, giving members a platform not only
to request and share knowledge, but also to stay up-to-date
with the latest engineering products and trends. This may be
through watching the regular webinars or videos rated by
other users, reading or posting blog articles or even by
gaining tips from industry experts. As well as the usual group
element – members can join groups of interest to connect
and collaborate, follow groups run by industry experts, or
create their own – the site hosts a handy ‘Road Test’ section,
giving users the chance to test and keep the latest products
on the market in exchange for their feedback and ratings.
n
Browse the ‘Feature Sections’ – streamed content from
the most influential analysts in Design Software,
Electronics, 3D Printing and Careers
n
Register to Road Test the latest development kits and
other new products for free
n
Engineering Exchange is an easily navigatable site –
familiarise yourself with their offerings by clicking the quick
links to videos, latest activity, events, forums and blog posts
n your company an engineering services firm or contract
Is
manufacturer? Become part of the engineering product
and service directory, gaining increased visibility and
buyer awareness
n reate your own page to showcase your skills, connect
C
with other members, and start discussions
n
Browse the group’s library, and those that interest
you or are relevant to your industry
n heck out the plethora of resources!
C
n
Exchange expertise and advice by getting involved
in a forum discussion
Share
n
Watch the educational webinars and download the free
whitepapers to keep you abreast of the latest trends in
your industry
n
Check out the ‘Engineer’s Picks’ for the most innovative
engineering products on the market
n you’re new to the industry or brushing up on your
If
existing knowledge, you might find the ‘Education’ tab
and the ‘Textbooks’ section helpful – especially for
complicated formulas!
n
View the ‘Resources’ tab to access a wealth of material,
such as webinars and the ‘Ask Industry Experts’ section
n
Check out ‘The Knode’ – a search engine and technical
library for embedded system designs
n
Navigate around the site to see what groups or
discussions you could join and add content to
n nterested in a particular type of technology?
I
Browse the ‘Technologies’ tab to participate in
the latest discussions, read blog posts and find
product solutions for your chosen area
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4. designspark.com
Designspark is a technology hub for
electronic design engineers, hosting a
plethora of unique downloadable resources,
such as free professional ‘Design Spark
PCB’ software, which enables users to
create schematic designs in 3D. Members
of this community can gain full access to
the free 2D and 3D CAD model library,
tutorial and product demonstration videos,
as well as the usual blog articles
and forums.
n f you’re a design engineer, you may be
I
interested in the free downloadable
tools and apps offered by Designspark.
Offerings include ModelSource and RS
Digital Catalogue
digikey.com/techxchange
n lick on the products offered within the
C
‘Design Centres’ tab, whereby you can
read an overview of popular themes and
technologies
n DesignShare’ is an area of the website
‘
for hosting open-source project sharing,
collaboration and concept discussions.
Feel inspired to add your own project,
or download those that may be of some
interest to you
n ModelSource’ is an online database
‘
of free engineering models that hosts
Schematic and PCB component libraries
and 2D and 3D CAD models. Choose to
download or contribute to the database
at your convenience
n ould you like to see your own articles
W
published in the Designspark blog?
Request to become a contributor and
this could become a reality!
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A huge user-to-user forum, TechXchange is
a platform for design engineers to discuss
new technologies and innovations in the
industry, as well as pose questions and
share designs with each other. Members
can browse through four sectors of
communities for the information they
require, which can also be cross-referenced
by type, such as videos, discussions and
documents. There’s also a multitude of
groups to explore, all of which are open to
view as a non-member, which is beneficial if
you’re looking for a quick answer to an
existing query. Choose to create an account
if you want to share content, reply to a
question or join a group to reap the benefits
of being a member.
n oin one of the TechXchange
J
Communities to speak technology,
products and designs with design
engineers and hobbyists
n Browse the videos and resource
documents related to your chosen
community and technology area
n lick the ‘Newest Products’ tab to
C
read reviews and features of the
latest industry offerings
n ooking for a particular product?
L
Search the ‘Product Index’ for a
wealth of products, each listed at
competitive prices
n heck out the ‘Resources’ tab for
C
the latest educational materials from
the industry
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5. cr4.globalspec.com
GlobalSpec is ‘The Engineer’s Place for News
and Discussion’ – a multitude of forums
and blog articles organised by discipline,
such as electrical engineering, mechanical
engineering and manufacturing. Similarly
to TechXchange, GlobalSpec is open to all
users, unless wishing to post content or ask
a question. There’s also various user groups
to join, some of which are open to all and
some that require permission to join;
members can also register for interactive
online trade shows for the purpose of
networking and to meet manufacturers,
product demonstrations, and to gain
knowledge of new industry offerings.
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labroots.com
n ithin the ‘CR4 Sections’ area, click
W
the hyperlink of the particular sector
or industry you are interested in to
participate in related forums and read
blog articles around the subject
n ubscribe to the CR4 RSS feeds
S
to receive the latest news from the
community, anywhere, anytime
n oin a ‘User Group’ to talk industry
J
related topics with like-minded individuals
n lick ‘Got Something to Say’ to ask
C
other members a question, or start
a discussion
n isit the CR4 Store to buy branded
V
merchandise from your favourite
engineering social media platform!
Labroots is a networking site for
professionals working within all strands
of the scientific industry, from linguistics
to engineering. Open only to members,
Labroots encourages global collaboration
amongst users, who can choose to
showcase their expertise through content
creation, by posting (and watching)
webinars and videos, and by joining and
following groups of interest. Companies
have the facility to create their own pages,
keeping followers abreast of progress
and feeds; individuals can follow in real-time
and have the opportunity to enter into
monthly scientific contests to win money
and prizes.
n egister for free to access all of the
R
site’s offerings
n ollow the companies and institutions
F
that inspire you
n eview the latest videos and infographics
R
from your industry
n heck out which ‘Events’ are available
C
to attend in your area
n articipate in a live webinar, or browse
P
through the archive
5

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