Grind.com is a new social network aimed at connecting you with the types of people who will aid your success. The site begs the question, What’s YOUR grind? Network with a vibrant community of urban professionals who work hard, play hard, and are always on their hustle. Grind opens up this new community of movers and shakers to the public today.
Grind was founded by Eric Walden, a California data professional. The name was chosen because of the unique imagery that it conjures up, which goes along with the direction of the site.
“I like the image that comes to mind with the word grind,” said Walden. “Like gears grinding in an automobile to propel the vehicle forward, being on grind means to always be hustling, or otherwise engaged in money-making activities.”
For many users, Grind will be a much-needed addition to the social networking landscape. Privacy is being considered from the door, taking a subscription-based approach to sharing content. Only the people you authorize can view your Shouts.
“Grind.com keeps profiles and search options private enough that the only people who can find you are the ones actually looking for users in their neighborhood networks,” said Walden. “Even with a completely public profile, Grind users won’t be bothered with unsolicited comments or messages.”
Join the community via a standard sign up process, or sign in directly with Facebook, Twitter, Windows Live, and Ning. Share your grind via simple status updates known as “Shouts.” You can also attach your location, include images, links, and call out users directly via the @ symbol.
Not forgetting about the growing mobile market, Grind was created to support mobile platforms including Java, Blackberry, and the iPhone. Mobile features include:
- Browse through statuses and attachments
- Share photos taken with your phone’s camera (not supported on some phones)
- Search through members and statuses
- Link to Twitter
- Link to Facebook
- Find places of interest around you
While many social networking services are simply focused on connecting and communicating with people, Grind.com is focused on getting you in touch with the right people. It currently packs just the right set of features that make testing it out worth the effort, allowing you to forward updates to other networks and keeping the privacy question simple.
So, what’s your Grind?