Below is an interview of an executive and entrepreneur who started a niche social networking site.
1. What is Your Background?
Donna Prescott is co-founder and CEO of BevConnect.com, the first business social network for beer, wine and spirits industry professionals. Members may find a job, consulting or business opportunities for free. Donna’s background combining experience in the adult beverage industry and marketing for Fortune 500 companies make her uniquely qualified to lead BevConnect.com.
Donna was trained in the adult beverage industry at London, UK based Wine and Spirit Education Trust® (WSET). Upon graduation she became CEO of D'Vin Wine, a marketing and educational consultancy. Her experience at D'Vin Wine helping students find jobs and consulting in the adult beverage industry led to the realization of an industry focused social network, where HR professionals and recruiters could read profiles and directly contact job seekers, would greatly enhance the hiring process.
Prior to entering the industry, Donna served in senior marketing positions at several Fortune 500 companies, including Sun Microsystems, Kodak and Xerox. She is often invited to judge wine competitions, and has visited many of the leading beer, wine and spirits companies on every continent.
2. What is BevConnect?
BevConnect.com is a privately held social network for beverage professionals in the beer wine and spirits industry. Members may recruit talent, find a job or uncover business opportunities, based on Profiles.
3. Why did you create BevConnect.com?
There was no central place online for beverage professionals to network. BevConnect.com offers the advantages of social networking sites:
- talent recruiters may find candidates for job opportunities through online job postings
- job seekers can make direct contact with talent recruiters, or post their resumes
- business opportunities such as: consulting and venture capital funding are exchanged
- companies may also market themselves on BevConnect.com.
4) What is unique about BevConnect.com compared to other social networking sites?
Again, we are the only social network focused on adult (and other) beverage professionals. We provide a robust platform of capabilities and support sophisticated marketing. Members may blog, post a video, audio, wiki or poll other members.
5) Give me some examples of how people build relationships using BevConnect.com.
Some examples of how people build relationships:
- Companies branding themselves with industry professionals. A specific example might be the launch of a new drink. Retail and restaurant professionals who sell these products are the perfect audience for this type of branding
- Consultants establishing relationships with new and existing clients
- Individuals promoting themselves and their business opportunities on a professional level
- Individuals’ promoting themselves for personal goals. For example, someone moving to a new region might be interested in networking with a fellow member already in that targeted region.
Related article: 10 Niche Social Networking Sites for Professionals
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