Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular email clients in the world with 40% of people in a recent survey by Campaign Monitor using it to read their emails. In July 2010 Microsoft launched an updated version of their Outlook Social Connector to enable their users to bring a social professional context to their inbox by integrating updates from Viadeo and other networks.
Integrating Viadeo into Outlook means that users get a richer experience by combining their email communication history with their contacts’ professional updates. They can quickly and easily keep track of conversations, network updates and meeting appointments from a dedicated People Pane at the bottom of each email.
All of a user’s Viadeo connections are imported into a dedicated Outlook contacts folder so that users can easily look-up their contact details. Users can also extend their networks from their inbox with the ability to send contact requests with one click.
For more information visit the Viadeo Outlook page.
Technology Providers and the Viadeo Graph API
Email clients
Allow users to enjoy the benefits of socially enhanced emails to keep updated with their contacts’ activity, profile and updates. Enable them to grow their network from their inbox with the ability to add new contacts with one click. Integrate with Viadeo Search so any item can be searched through millions of professional profiles, forum post and answers to industry questions.
Address book tools
Synchronise address book with Viadeo contact list and enable users to add new contacts to their professional network with one click. Users can have new professional contacts suggested to them based on industry, shared professional experiences and interests increasing their networking as well as their contact list. Address book can be enhanced with up-to-date contact details and profile pictures taken from their professional profiles.
Collaborative workspace tools
Integrate the Viadeo social graph to enable users to invite their professional contacts to a shared workspace and easily send messages between project participants. Allow users to link their workspace to a Viadeo group and enable them to see their group newsfeed from within the software. Display Viadeo activity feed filtered by workspace collaborators or project keywords so that participants can keep track of network updates and relevant news.
CRM software
Enable users to search Viadeo for contacts at companies they are interested in and send connection requests from within the software. Users can also see at a glance if they already have contacts associated with particular accounts.
Social aggregators
Enable users to keep track of the activity and news updates from their professional network and update their Viadeo status at the same time as their other networks.
Instant messaging tools
Increase users’ IM contact lists by synchronising professional contacts who have listed their IM identifiers on Viadeo and enable them to call professional contacts who have made their phone number available. Allow users to update their status from within the software as well as see keep track of their network activity from their desktop.
Discussion forums and blog sites
Integrate with Viadeo groups so that users can post updates from either platform. Enable users to recommend posts or content to their professional contacts increasing return traffic and overall engagement.