FESPA has launched an on-line network, which it claims is the industry’s first online networking community site for the wide format digital print professionals. The network provides users with features such as a digital events calendar, industry contacts and a number of communication mediums to facilitate peer interaction.
Since its inception last month, The Wide Network has more than 350 individuals signed-up as members, with FESPA saying the service is fast becoming a hub for the global digital print community.
Each member on the network has their own individual profile page. Members can personalise pages by providing relevant information, in terms of their professional interests, current job roles, pictures and videos, with a view to potentially securing interest from new business contacts within the industry.
Marcus Timson, FESPA corporate communications, says, “Online social networking has revolutionised the way we communicate with one another. With millions of people using networking sites on a regular basis, they are a valuable tool for sharing information, monitoring public opinion, and interacting with industry peers.”
He says, “Already people across the globe are helping one another to get the best value from their technologies and this is a core FESPA value. As an umbrella organisation for trade printing associations, FESPA’s key aim is to support our members and the wider printing community.”
FESPA continues Wide Network members can interact with each other in a variety of ways, such as email, instant messaging, blogs and discussion forums. Members are also able to create or join online groups relating to particular interests, such as the environment.
Network members can use the Wide Network’s blogging feature, displayed on the site’s main page facility, to share their thoughts and ideas with other digital professionals. Users can also subscribe to the Wide Network blog RSS feed, ensuring that they receive up-to-the-minute notifications when new blogs are added to the website.
The Wide Network website can be found at http://widenetwork.ning.com.
