Why and how did Smaller Indiana grow so quickly??

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Permalink Reply by Pat Coyle on October 15, 2009 at 3:31pm

I'd really like to know the answers to these questions too!

;-)

I've got some theories...but I'll hold them until others offer their thoughts.

Also, I'd like to know how long SI can hope to last / keep growing in light of Facebook's power and Twitter's emergence.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Campbell on October 15, 2009 at 9:25pm

Need. The need to network, the need for "local" or "close to home" networks, and the lack thereof. Honestly, outside of the Indy area it is more difficult to find a constant networking source. If you are not as well versed in the social networking arena, or have the time to put into it, it's even more difficult to find opportunites to network. I like the SI setup... it's available to me for FREE, on MY TIME, and it's a great resource to find people close to home in various verticals that are well versed in their areas of expertise. I come back because I find that there are many interesting discussions, many opportunites to network and it's all in one spot, and easily accessible. I wish I had more time to devote to the site, there is so much to see and so many interesting people I'd love to network with more often!! :)

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Permalink Reply by Johnnie Firari on October 16, 2009 at 1:25pm

A few of my thoughts,

1. So many people in Indy looking to network via networking groups and online.
2. More people becoming aware of Social Media (Smaller Indiana is on a social platform, utilizing twitter and Facebook is a plus)
3. Content coming from local people

I think Smaller Indiana will continue to grow primarily, because the platform allows for people to do more focused around their local area.

There are over 784,000 people in Indianapolis which is what appears to be the most active of the users. How big will it grow is the question?

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Permalink Reply by Will Hardison on October 16, 2009 at 10:43pm

Anyone else? 7,000 people here and 2 people have thoughts on this topic? Come on, join in.

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Permalink Reply by Tod Esquivel on October 16, 2009 at 11:09pm

The people like Pat and his team are amazing on knowing what the trends are and serving the people of Indiana!

To many of us are trying to go global with our biz and not just knocking it out of park locally and Smaller Indiana offers this!

This site doesn't bring garbage, but rich content and challenges, moves us to a way of Indiana!

True/solid relationships are happening out of this site!

The name Smaller Indiana says it all; think local, serve local, work local and live local!

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Permalink Reply by Deanna Sipe on October 17, 2009 at 8:03am

Disclaimer: I can't suppose the behavior for anyone else, therefore these answers are limited to my experience and what I have done to contribute to the results on SI.

1. I am here to find like minded people with whom to connect.
2. I found out about SI through someone I met networking.
3. I come back to continue to keep my pole in the water, so to speak, in case the next best fish (friend) comes along. :)
4. For me, early in the year Smaller Indiana was captivating and I told everyone about it, and asked them to join and become SI friends. SI was a resource that I could use to build a group around what I was doing and visit other groups for what they were doing. (Kinda like Stone Soup, we all bring what ever vegetables we have to the pot and share, then we all eat gourmet soup instead of boring one vegetable soup) I visited several times a day when the front page moved and peoples thoughts rotated through. It was like a new relationship and I couldn't get enough. I wanted to keep up on what people had to say, respond to them, share my thoughts, and get their response. It seemed like there was more activity for more people. I felt like it was a forum where everyone had a second in the spotlight. Now that the front page is so static it's much less captivating, not enough spotlight seconds for enough people but just a few. I visit once a week or so depending on what I am doing. Maybe I have ADHD or something, but there aren't highlights from enough different people often enough to keep me interested. Additionally, I used to read most of what rotated through the front page. Now I look to the side bar to see what's new from the peeps and quickly move on.

When everyone could post to the front page I could filter for myself what I wanted to read or respond to, yet everything was highlighted for a moment for me to choose from. Now everything is filtered for me on the front page. But this is Pat's sandbox so the rest of us play by his rules and with his permission. If we don't like the rules of the sandbox we can go build our own sandbox right? lol. :)

(My commentary regarding Stone Soup)
I am not interested in subscribing to 30 different people's blogs, (broccoli soup, potato soup, onion soup, etc.) but I was interested in having tons of super cool people in one place where I could read their blogs and keep up with them. I love the idea of all the sweet vegetables thrown in the pot with the other vegetables that add flavor but might not be my favorite. One centralized location for all local writers to be found about every topic and find their audience. A place for people of like mind find each other.

Deanna
millionaremindindy.com/blog

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Permalink Reply by ashan jay on October 17, 2009 at 9:26am

I am here to network like all the others that have answered your questions.

I was in the process of moving to Indy from Purdue, and was searching online for communities that help network in indy. Because I found joining a community or a club is the way for making new friends and making connections. So i followed the same principal and came across this website.

And the reason I been coming back, is to check once in a while to see if theres any conversations of my interest are going around, and if so to participate and let my thoughts be heard. Meeting people on a social media site like this; great! but I would also like to meet them the old way, face to face - which encapsulate my other reason for coming back - to search for networking/fun events going around, that are hosted by SI.

I wish there would be more events like 7000 member celebration, which allows SI members to network face to face. I am not an expert on social connections, but there is a bigger and a stronger connection with a person you meet face to face and talk than talking through SI. And when you ask a question here for eg. do you know anyone looking for designer? only few people reply, but if you ask the same question while you are talking to someone face to face... just as a way to keep the conversation going they would try to relate an opportunity that is out there.

So in a nutshell, i am glad to have discovered SI, and enjoyed attending their events and hope to see more events that will cause true human interaction!

---
AshanJay Designs & Voxiant Solutions (Coming soon)

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Permalink Reply by Robby Slaughter on October 18, 2009 at 1:30pm

I think Smaller Indiana is well-suited to the mindset of Hoosiers. It's social networking about something we all have in common: the state of Indiana.

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Permalink Reply by Michael R. on October 20, 2009 at 9:19am

Well, because of the lackluster economy, everyone is too poor to have other hobbies so we all just congregate here and cause as much mischief and mayhem as possible. My name is Tom Foolery and I approve this message.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Doyle on October 22, 2009 at 6:48pm

aside from the general tom foolery...i came on-board to network, keep abreast of job opportunities and meet some new pople...i don't remember how i first heard of smaller indiana, but i was reminded this week when i visitied Top50IndianaBlogs.com...i clicked the link from there and finished filling in my profile...so here i am

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