If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise… Yes we’re mindful that Halloween is creeping ever nearer, but that doesn’t mean it’s a scary treat!
Our homepage has enjoyed something of an epic refresh – we hope you like it!
This is the first thing you’ll see when you visit Procurious.com – to all of our members, you’ll be able to log in as usual. To those newcomers among you, it’s still super simple to register and get involved. Just follow the appropriate buttons.
Look beyond the pretty exterior and you’ll discover an interesting personality too.
We’ve helpfully broken down the site into its respective sections – a sort of interactive tour if you will…
The aim of the new homepage is to tell prospective members (and media) exactly what we’re about, as well as promoting the benefits that Procurious provides to the profession.
What are you still reading this for? Take the new homepage for a spin, head back to Procurious.com (you may have to sign out first) and tell us what you think.
We’ve created the perfect primer so it would be rude not to share it with your wider team and colleagues. If they’re not onboard yet, why not share Procurious.com with them too?
Procurious is hitting the road (well sky…) throughout the month of November, and we want to see your faces!
Donuts down under
Lend us your ears, open your minds, and get ready to download key learnings that can help give you a competitive advantage in the procurement marketplace.
Who’s going?
Procurious’ very own tech wunderkind Jack Slade – Product Manager, social media guru, and entrepreneur, is coming along for the trip. Also joining Jack is Lisa Malone – who not only serves as our fabulous European General Manager, but can talk to you about developing your personal brand and tackling procurement’s outdated image problem.
Procurious will also be meeting with The Faculty Roundtable members in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney to discuss how social media is impacting procurement and the benefits of online collaboration.
You can Tweet along with us during the session using the hashtag #webringthedonuts
Social Media and Procurement – Leadership & Networking Procurement Breakfast
Alternatively, why not do breakfast?
Come along to a networking breakfast to learn about opportunities for procurement to achieve its agenda using social media; networking with Roundtable members, FLiP Alumni and other procurement professionals.
We’ll be in Melbourne – Friday 14 November, 8am
Where: The Faculty, 502 Albert St
And also Sydney – Thursday 20 November, 8am
Where: Sydney CBD – TBC
To register to attend the Leadership & Networking Breakfast email Belinda Toohey [email protected]
Anything we’ve forgotten?
We expect each session to last between 45 – 60 minutes. That should allow us plenty of time to discuss:
Digital procurement and how everything is connected
Benefits of connecting and collaborating online for procurement; suppliers; to drive social value; personal branding and Employee of choice
What is Procurious? An Introduction and how to get the most out this network
Discussion: Smart social media behaviors
Q&A
Availability of sessions will be subject to change.
So mark a date in your diary, gather your team and get Procurious in for a session, remember #webringthedonuts!
How’s your calendar looking these days? Busy schedule? Yeah us too…
We’d love nothing more than to alleviate your calendar clashes, but we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we didn’t offer you a tempting timetable of the hottest events in procurement to swallow all of your free time…
Regular Procurious users will already be well-versed in the benefits of the Events hub, but for those who are yet to dabble here’s a primer:
How? Just pay a visit to our Events page to view all future listings. Clicking on an event will take you to a dedicated page where you can discover more about the day(s). Think essential info like the programme, speakers, fee, and other Procurious members who might be thinking of attending.
What’s more, all Events on Procurious are searchable – utilise the search box to narrow down your options and hone-in on your event of choice.
Your RSVP
State your intentions by RSVPing to an event. Thinking of putting in an appearance? Just select the ‘I am going’ or ‘maybe’ options. If you really don’t think you’ll make it, there’s no shame in declining the invite.
Your RSVP will also be viewable to the other members of Procurious via a post that appears in their Community feed.
All Event listings are archived too, so if you’re feeling nostalgic you can also view past events. This is a great place to catch-up with attendees – you can reminisce by leaving comments on the page.
Apps to the rescue!
When it comes to managing your time digitally, you’re better off ditching your phone’s default calendar and embracing one of the excellent third-party alternatives…
We couldn’t resist making a few recommendations:
For iOS: We’d scrimp for either Sunrise or Fantastical (now in its second iteration).
Android user? Good news! Sunrise is also available for Android devices – we’d also point you in the direction of both aCalendar and Today Calendar.
For the Windows Phone users among you, Chronos is certainly worth a look-in. In addition the default app has also just been updated with new features, so if you have a moment to spare – check it out.
Signing-up to Procurious to grow your professional network is all well and good, but what happens when you change your contact details, land a new role, or leave a company?
In all of the above cases you’ll be required to jettison your email address of old, and adopt a new digital moniker. Of course this means that any services, mailing lists, or websites previously accessed using these details will need to be updated with the new address. Websites are increasingly making it harder for users to change such hard-baked particulars – sure you can change your secondary email address, no problem! How about that main email, you know, the one that’s tied to your account? Well slow down there pardner, that’s going nowhere.
An email impasse
Well it seems we have arrived at something of an impasse… Happily this isn’t the case if you’re a Procurious user! You can now associate up to three different email addresses with your Procurious account
The Settings page is your new best friend, here you can add two additional email addresses, and even specify which one you want as your default. Just hit ‘Settings’ from the drop-down menu next to your name.
Enter a new email address in the box provided, and click ‘Add email address’ to confirm the change.
Keep tabs on your inbox, as you’ll need to open an email to confirm the new address.
Choose your primary email address
Your primary (or default) address is the one you’ll use to log into Procurious, and it’ll also be the place where you’ll receive any mail relating to your Procurious account.
If you have more than one email address on file you can specify the one you wish to use as your primary by clicking the ‘Make this address primary’ option.
Don’t worry, additional email addresses won’t be visible to other Procurious members.
When God created man he made everybody equal. He also saw to it that no two people looked the same (well apart from identical twins, but stay with us here).
Uploading a profile picture helps other Procurious users put a face to a name, and makes them more inclined to learn more about you. No face, no dice.
It’s easy to achieve too. If your profile is currently sans face, just click on that sad empty placeholder and select ‘Edit profile’ (alternatively click on your name to uncover the just-as-handy drop-down menu).
From here you are free to select a picture at your leisure, and upload it for the rest of the community to see. So choose your best winning smile and away you go!
Oh hey! You don’t have a face?! Me too!
A strong profile picture can open all sorts of doors for you, but make sure it’s not a misrepresentation – after-all, the carpet should match the drapes…
What not to do
That teasing slither of flesh might help you make new friends, but maybe not in the way you intended… Same goes for those ‘come hither’ bedroom eyes, practice your smouldering, steely gaze for sure, just make sure the only protection other Procurious users need is for their browser.
Hello Mr X, I’ve not been expecting you (because I don’t know what you look like).
Been hitting the gym? Yes you might have a beach body but this isn’t Tinder people, the only thing you should be showing off is your bulging contact book.
Love pets? Of course you do. But that doesn’t mean you should take on the likeness of Mr Bumblepuss. The same goes for pictures of your newborn – adorable as their cheeks may be, it’s just not appropriate OK?
And while abstract pictures and pop-culture icons are nice, you don’t want to be left waiting for Walter White to knock…
When people bang-on about training, your first thought usually turns to this…
As empowering and utterly brilliant that may be, we’re here today to talk about something that can do for you what Survivor did for Rocky in the ring.
Procurious has an ever-growing collection of fine training videos and learning materials for your consumption. What’s more, they’re bite-size, so you can graze as much as you like without ever having too much.
Our Learning page can be accessed from anywhere on the site – here you’ll be presented with a selection of videos (we call them ‘featured classes’) to browse.
You might have noticed that some videos are listed as free, while others carry a charge. If you’re not looking to spend there’s still a healthy selection to choose from, but some of the more specialised lessons will require you to dip into your pockets.
How will I know if a lesson is for me?
Never fear, each paid video provides a short second sampler (anywhere from 25-45seconds), so you can watch and decide if it’s really for you. If you like what you see – just click the ‘Add this class to cart’ button, and proceed through the checkout process.
You can opt to have your billing information saved for future purchases if you so choose – just tick the respective box before making your payment.
Changed your mind? You can remove the class from your shopping cart in two ways: Either click the ‘X Remove from cart’ prompt, or select the ‘Clear cart’ command from the Your Cart screen. You can access this at any time, just click the shopping trolley icon next to your mailbox and notifications.
Exploring the lessons tree
After selecting lesson, the next thing you’ll want to do is watch the thing. In the player view you’ll also see the Lessons tree – this can be used to navigate between the different sections of the video (if the lesson is split into parts).
A (tricky) lesson learnt
Each class also carries its own difficulty rating. These range from videos suitable for all levels, through to the more advanced/intermediate where prior knowledge of the topics covered is advised.
Armed with this knowledge, go forth and explore the Learning available on Procurious! Alternatively if you’d like to talk to us about adding your training materials to our collection, please get in touch here.
If you’re just visiting Procurious via your PC, laptop, or Mac, you’re missing out… Sorry about that.
Did you know that you can also find us on your tablet devices (including iPad), as well as your iPhone and smartphone? No? Well consider yourselves informed. Let us take you through the Procurious mobile experience – soon you’ll be networking on the go, and shackled no more!
Sometimes when you think of mobile, you immediately jump to conclusions: be it a lesser design, or the watered-down functionality – it’s OK, we think the same. That’s why Procurious on mobile is the same smooth experience as the ‘full-fat’ desktop version.
Procurious is perfectly suited for mobile viewing – this is achieved in-part to its responsive design. Fire-up Procurious.com on your smartphone and you’ll see that it’s scalable so it will render on your device perfectly (no matter what the screen-size).
Enjoy all of your favourite features: leave posts for the community, watch learning videos, view and RSVP to events listings, participate in discussions, catch-up on the latest articles in the blog, and take a look at the latest news headlines.
We want to be front of mind and to do that Procurious must be easily accessible to the user wherever they may be. Whether that’s killing time on the commute to and from the office, waiting bleary-eyed in the queue for the morning coffee, or safe in the comfort of your couch…
Let us know about your experience of Procurious on mobile in the comments below.
Can we tempt you with a sticky, sugar-coated treat?
What’s not to love? (Apologies to all those diabetes sufferers out there).
We hope you’re enjoying Procurious so far, and benefitting from the discussions, learning resources, news, comment, not to mention the members who make-up this insightful, friendly community.
There are already a number of ways to introduce new people to the network, [here are a few handy reminders] but if you’re looking for an introduction on a bigger scale then our #webringthedonuts campaign could be just the ticket…
We appreciate how hard it is to commit to something (yet alone a new social platform), and actively engage in a community you have little-to-no knowledge of, that’s why our campaign acts an introduction to the network (and if it escaped your mind… mmm donuts).
Yup we’re hitting the road… Procurious is travelling the length of the breadth of the UK to connect with procurement teams (and those of a curious disposition), to brief you on the benefits of jumping onto the site and engaging with your peers. We’ll also provide you with a primer on social media, so you won’t be diving head-first into the unknown!
A few caveats apply: your team/department must be a minimum of 15 people strong, and availability of sessions will be subject to change (as will flavours of donut. Sorry).
You should allow 45–60 min for us to present and answer your questions. A giant screen is always helpful too! But there’s no charge for our visit, so don’t worry about that.
So if you’re thinking of requesting a session, obviously we’d love to hear from you. Just drop our relationship managers a line, gather your troops, and we’ll #webringthedonuts. See you there!
Donut make plans for 2015
But the Procurious roadshow won’t end in the UK… We want to come out and see as many of you as possible (in such cases donuts may be substituted for a local delicacy). So don’t feel left out, get in touch and we’ll adjust our sat-nav accordingly…
Here on Procurious we’re making it even easier for you to connect…
If you’re of the opinion that social networks (and the content shared on them) is just a load of noise – and your colleague bullied you into becoming a member here, let us calm some of those fears.
I Can Haz Cheezburger and Kim Kardashian represent a beautiful contrast of the riches the Internet brings…
Believe it or not, it’s not all selfies on Facebook, cat videos on YouTube and a plethora of Kardashians on Twitter. OK those things all exist, but peer a little closer and you’ll see it for what it really is. Justin Beiber, Oprah and Grumpy Cat aren’t the only ones using social media – your peers, thought leaders, potential new contacts, and your competitors are all out there – they’re just waiting for you to reach out and connect.
Online networks (like Procurious) are the communication hubs of the future. Our lives are increasingly becoming more digital, we live and breathe the online space. Procurious, LinkedIn, and Twitter all make it stupidly easy to communicate with people you wouldn’t normally reach – think of it as the world’s biggest Filofax!
Say you want to message the CPO of Glaxo Smith Klein, you don’t have her email on file but you CAN search Procurious. This isn’t the Dark Ages, instead take the initiative and reach out to her – make the connection.
Size does matter
Take a look at your network – you can check this at any time by clicking on your profile picture and scrolling down to the ‘My Network’ area.
How many people are in your network? 100+ you’re doing very well indeed…
There are a number of extremely ways to increase your standing: If you haven’t already, pay a visit to the ‘Build Your Network’ page (you’ll find it behind the green button, and it’s in the same place no matter which page you’re on).
Here you can see who you’re already connected to, how you connected (via Procurious itself, or LinkedIn), and a handy selection of search filters that makes finding new friends a piece of cake.
Don’t forget you can also invite existing connections from LinkedIn to join you on your Procurious pilgrimage. Click the blue invite button to select up to a maximum of 10 contacts per day.
Email is another option (if your address book is bulging), or there’s the personal invite link that’s free to be pasted anywhere you like. Think Twitter, Facebook, and your Google+ page.
While browsing Procurious you may have also noticed the ‘Get Connected’ area. This is our way of recommending other interesting members to you, just click the ‘Add To Network’ button to send a request to connect.
With all of these tips, your network will be booming in no time!
Choosing your social network(s) of choice is not a decision you should make lightly… Once you begin to invest some time, build your profile, and expand your influence, you might as well have it tattooed down your arm.
Game of Thrones fans might liken it to pledging their allegiance to a house of their choosing (without the inevitable bloody wedding…)
Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses – and we’re certainly not here to pit one against another, instead we’ll share some of our learnings
Twitter is arguably the most powerful online network of all (and the one that boasts the largest worldwide reach). News stories are broken on it, feuds are played out in front of the eyes of the public, and then there’s Nyan Cat.
Twitter also provides (almost instant) access to some of the biggest companies, celebs, businesspeople – such is its influence Germany’s World Cup win drew 280m interactions across the network (more than 2013 Super Bowl) with a peak of 618,725 Tweets a minute.
Google+ has always been the butt of many jokes, but as this rather brilliant Forbes article points out – its usefulness should not be overlooked by Internet personalities and businesses alike.
Google pretty much owns the Internet so it should come as no surprise to learn that its own G+ pages rank very well among the rest of the clutter. Procurious’ very own G+ page has only been active a couple of weeks, and already it’s amassed a few thousand views. Testament to the power of ‘el Goog.
Facebook is probably one of the more friendly and approachable networks. More so than others, Facebook users are also likely to become heavily invested in Instagram and Pinterest too.
Professionally-speaking Facebook has proved a particularly successful breeding ground for lifestyle brands and musical artists. In-fact Shakira just became the world’s most-liked Facebook celebrity – with over 100 million likes to her name.
