How can social networking tech and attitudes help you?

You can get a job via your social network and you can lose a job because of it. But can social networking really drive benefits participation, better health and retirement understanding or any of the rest of the "to do" items benefit brokers and employers are struggling to accomplish.

We're trying to find some real world examples of how employers and advisers are using social networking tools, technology or just the mindset to do their job better. One thing we're learning is that the Facebook and Myspace route may be just a bit too fast and loose for sensible business-folk. Then again maybe not.

After all, Employee Benefit News and Employee Benefit Adviser both have Facebook pages.

Of course if you don't go the free route, you'll have to pay for it. Dotster is just one of the multitude of companies that'll help businesses do just that. The company's biz development guru (Ross Johnston, above left) says a custom business application of social networking tech doesn't have to cost a mint, but of course it can if you want to spend some cash. Listen in as he makes his case.

Also, we're putting on another "Friday Fray" discussion on this topic next week. Register and join us if you've got a question or an experience to share.