On the other end of the email you just received is a person.
Not a computer.
We sometimes forget that.
The more we know about those people, the better we can connect with them, serve them, help them.
Well, the folks at Microsoft have done something pretty sweet in Outlook 2010 that helps. Take a look at the bottom part of this email window.
If you add the “Social Connectors” for Facebook and LinkedIn, whenever you get an email from someone (with whom you are connected), you can also quickly glance at their past updates. This may provide you with additional context or an opportunity to be highly relevant in your communications.
I know there are tools like Rapportive and Gist, but for me, Outlook is STILL the most powerful personal information management tool around. For someone who lives and dies by the network, Outlook is a no-brainer.
And these connectors? Man, they are sweet. It’s a competitive advantage to have all of this information come to me instead of my having to go look for it.
And I think it will be for you.
Disclosure: I’m a former MS employee and a shareholder.
