[wecando.biz]

UK-based start-up has members doing business just weeks after joining

WeCanDo.BIZ Limited, the online business leads and referral network, produces evidence that small business are already seeing the benefits of taking an open approach to social networks.

Since its launch at the end of May 2008, over 1,400 business people have signed up for the service, which is operated from the website www.wecando.biz. The site now regularly attracts over 75,000 pageviews a month, with 80% of traffic from the United Kingdom.

But more impressive are the results business owners are seeing by adding their profiles to the social network:

"I am a business consultant who is passionate about helping small and medium sized businesses grow. I have been using WeCanDo.BIZ for less than two months and have already gained paying customers. WeCanDo.BIZ is the first online business network I have used in six years to bring real financial returns," says Edward Bodiam of SME Advice Ltd and a WeCanDo.BIZ member. "As well as this I have been able to help several other business owners with their most urgent business needs through the site. I can see all members are like minded business owners and employees serious about growing their businesses, but also willing to help others do the same."

Daniel Lyddon of Seraphim Pictures, also a WeCanDo.BIZ member, agrees: "If we get this third deal in then WeCanDo.BIZ will have scored us more work than all of the other social networks we're a member of put together."

WeCanDo.BIZ is the only social network with tools to help business owners promote their businesses first. Profiles contain details of what the member’s company does, as well as a summary of their most urgent business need. Introductions are made automatically through the website to members that can help each other. A Trusted Business Directory and search facility also help broker introductions. Unlike many other social networks, WeCanDo.BIZ gets business people networking with valuable new contacts, rather than just maintaining lists of old colleagues and existing associates.

In addition, an endorsement system helps members collect references from customers and rewards them with greater promotion on the site. Those same customer endorsements also work to win the confidence of new contacts made through WeCanDo.BIZ.

"All of our tools help real business get done – and fast," says Chris Butler, Chief Operating Office of WeCanDo.BIZ. "More business focused social networks are starting up every day, but hype alone won’t keep business professionals coming back to them. Time and money are a business person’s most precious commodities, so any online business networking site needs to quickly broker valuable connections above all else. The novelty of pokes, videos and catching up with old friends wears off when you need to focus where the money is."