Why I will likely delete my Ecademy account
After signing up for Ecademy almost 2 years ago, I am likely going to ask to have my account deleted.
I recently met some great Ecademy people and so decided to give the whole thing another serious look.
Going back in, I found that I had been given a "Power Networker" trial period. You can see that last link for the full list of features that are enabled by this (access to Regus meeting centers alone looks good, although there aren't many in Canada). The usual price is $15US per month or $150US annually.
All well and good, and as Roland says, "Ecademy is the friendliest social network". I sent messages back and forth, found some more clubs (which are pretty much topic-specific forums or communities of interest) and all was good.
I did struggle with the Ecademy interface. It never was clear to me how you "connect" with someone. This takes place, apparently, by exchanging messages -- you can't connect without sending a message, and by sending a message you automatically connect.
Except, once the trial period expired, I could no longer connect with people. OK, fine, I really was just testing it in any case. But here's the tricky part: if someone sends me a message, I can't respond. Yes, that's right -- since I'm over my limit with connections (10 if you are not a "Power Networker"), and since "connecting" is done by replying to a message (or sending? this still isn't clear), and since I'm not allowed to connect to any more people, I can no longer respond to messages people send me.
So, here's what I need from Ecademy in order for me to not delete my account: Give me the option to send an "auto-reply" message if I'm not able to respond; I can then choose to include my email address, a link to my website, or some alternate means of contacting me if people are interested.
I should also put in a generic rant about how I will not allow anyone, much less an online social network, to limit the communications that I have with fellow human beings. I understand the need for Ecademy to build a business model (except I think that social networking doesn't have a business model), but the current situation really is no good.
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Pointers
Hi Boris, feel free to 'attack' if you want to, no problem with that. However I could see what you were trying to do and appreciate the opportunity to comment.
I have issues with the UI and bits and pieces of the technology. I can sumpathise with this as the platform does take time to learn. That was I believe what originally motivated the month trial, personally I think the trial should be longer.
As the platform is complicated there are a number of things you can do to learn it. One of these is the animated tutorial. Also take a look at Mike Southon's articles on using the site.
However one of the easiest ways to ask a question on Ecademy is simply to Blog it, the community will respond and someone will explain what you don't understand or point you to a place you can find your answer.
How to delete a contact, when you go to send them a message one of the menu items along the top of the message window is delete contact. From memory you should be able to get to this screen as you are only told you cant send a message at a later stage. But let me blog the question and I will come back to you for sure.
I know it's possible as I sometimes receive messages saying, "I'm deleting you to keep within my limit"
Guest Messages and Private Messages are different beasts. The Guest Book is public, Private Messages are not. Additionally, if you use private messages to connect with other people, the history of your 'conversation' is kept. This can be helpful when your network gets bigger and you can't quite remember what you said to someone. So I would say, private messaging is one of the added value tool s you get with Ecademy. On it's own nothing special, but its all part of the package.
When I tried linking to your previous blog referencing the article 'No Business in Social Networking.' the link failed. So let me take the point you made. Ecademy is about Connecting Business People, it's not aimed at generating 'social interaction.' Social interaction can happen as a result of members building relationships with others, but it is not the driver.
I agree the features you talk about are trivial to implement, but sadly somebody has to pay for them. Ecademy members choose to part of a trusted community, which they are prepared to pay for. Ecademy has had to ban 1%, around 300 of it's members for MLM, Network Marketing, abuse, spam and many other things. You will find these people on the Tribe group mentioned elsewhere. Ecademy is not perfect and the community itself is working to improve on these.
I posted up a link to this Discussion here on Ecademy, you may want to look at some of the responses. I am one member of the community, it's always good to get another view.
Stewart Marshall
Corporate Financial Strategist
http://www.stewart-marshall.com
Simple Solution
When someone sends you a message from Ecademy and you can't respond via the messaging in Ecademy, just reply directly to their email! It still comes from their real email address.
No it doesn't
It comes from "webmaster@ecademy.com". It lists the name of the person, but not their email address. This would definitely be an acceptable solution, though.
This is the way it works in LinkedIn, but not in Ecademy.
Ecademy, a few pointers ...
I would like to keep my reply focused on specific problems you detailed:
'Connecting with people on Ecademy'
There are a number of ways you can connect. Yes, exchanging private messages via the site will connect you. You also have the option of asking someone you know to introduce you via the site, sending them a direct email (if they put their email on their profile). Most importantly perhaps for you is that you can leave them a message in their Guest Book, which enables you to communicate with them. (You can also still post articles, blogs and to clubs)
'When you are over your limit'
Everyone who sends you a message when you are 'over your limit' is informed by the site that you are not a Power Networker and may not be able to reply. You can of course leave a message on your profile with the contact details you want to provide. You can of course leave a message in their Guest Book.
Ecademy is not simply email, it is a trusted community of business professionals which is closely managed to maintain the integrity of the members.
'The Business Model'
Ecademy has been built with no Venture Funding, no debt and no marketing/advertising. Yet it is, unlike many of the alternatives cash positive. The major source of income is subscriber fees. This pays for the 4 (four) people who get paid in the Ecademy Organisation and for the bandwidth.
Ecademy provides you with the ability to find and connect with the people on Ecademy all the time. It also gives you a 30 day free trial to try all the functionality and then choose. I reckon that's fair.
If I can help further, just let me know
Best Regards
Stewart Marshall
Corporate Financial Strategist
http://www.stewart-marshall.com
http://www.ecademy.com/account.php?id=20095
Thanks
Stewart, thanks for taking the time to respond. This is not meant to be an attack on Ecademy, but this is me analyzing my experience. I think Ecademy has a great concept and has had good success in connecting people offline. I have issues with the UI and bits and pieces of the technology.
Connecting with people in Ecademy: to me, it's just not clear enough, especially when I can "use up" my 10 connections without knowing it. Also, how do I un-connect with people? So many questions around this most basic of functions makes me think that either it should be much clearer, or the arbitrary limit on connections should be removed.
Everyone who sends you a message when you are 'over your limit' is informed by the site that you are not a Power Networker and may not be able to reply.: That's good to know -- I didn't know that. I also didn't know that you could leave guest book messages even if I'm "over my limit" (which begs the question -- why not just allow me to send messages directly?)
The Business Model: perhaps you didn't read the previous article I linked to -- I don't believe social networking has a business model. The basics -- a directory of profiles organized by location, interests, etc., and the ability to connect with the people that those profiles represent --
shouldwill be free. This is not a philosophical stance -- these are trivial features to implement. As I stated, I will happily pay for advanced features, but I will not let a network control how many "connections" I can make.I completely agree with you a
I completely agree with you about networking being free this is the stance that OX1.BIZ takes. We could implament a payment module but we decided it was not ethical but also not conducive to ‘good will’. You may like to take a look at OX1 here: http://ox1.biz/forum/portal.php although it is essentially a UK Business Forum all are welcome.
Without disregarding what Stewart Marshall said Ecademy does have it’s problems. I won’t list these problems here as thet are too numerious but you may like to read a few blogs on my tribe site here: http://ecademywatch.tribe.net
Patrick Brown
OX1.BIZ
Administrator