Using social networking for business intelligence.

Jan 6, 2012. CNN -- After locating all their employees' LinkedIn connections to two companies they were targeting as clients, they divided the contacts into three groups: Information providers, Influencers and Decision Makers. Working their way up the chain from information providers, they then asked their employees to gather as much information as they could about their target companies.

 Service that started as a way to stay in touch with friends and colleagues is increasingly becoming an influence tool. Either through direct peer targeting or through 3rd party advertising.

"Relationships between people are invisible," says Hansgaard. "By making them visible you can make them controllable. You can illuminate gaps in collaboration, you can build them and you can strengthen them."

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