Why LinkedIn? You tell us…
Last week David Pogue, New York Times technology columnist and blogger, asked his readers a simple question: “LinkedIn…Why?” and had almost 100 answers from users on how they’re using LinkedIn today.
Before I reveal some of the answers, let me take a moment to describe my usage of LinkedIn, which started almost 2 years before I became the “official” evangelist for the service.
There are four ways, LinkedIn has added value to my professional life: (a) take control of my online identity – prior to my own blog, my LinkedIn profile was the first result on searches, (b) find a dream job, (c) maintain & foster relationships with colleagues (past, present & future), fellow bloggers, peers I meet at events & speaking engagements, etc… (d) provide value to my professional network by recommending peers, answering their questions (LinkedIn Answers), etc…
Well, I could go on, but what else do users use LinkedIn for? Here are eight simple answers culled from the comments section of David’s post:
Linda VandeVrede, Director of Public Relations at iMemories, says it helps her maintain relationships with peers and colleagues as she traverses the professional curve?
The top 2 benefits I’ve found from LinkedIn:
(1) staying in touch easily – I’m notified instantly whenever a friend in my network changes jobs, and I can search the LinkedIn directory to located co-workers I have lost touch with.
(2) making connections that would otherwise be impossible. I have been able to approach large name brand companies about business development because of mutual connections – calling or emailing “cold” from the outside would have been impossible. Being in a network in a sense
validates me.
Jeff Watkins, Web User Interface Engineer (Apple), believes LinkedIn fulfills the promise of bridging relationships:
I think the value of LinkedIn starts when you want to contact someone you don’t know well enough to just e-mail directly. Let’s say I want to contact you about an exciting opportunity to purchase a bridge. You don’t know me from Adam and you would be understandably skeptical of my offer. However, let’s say a buddy of yours emails you and says, “Hey, I know this guy who’d like to sell you a bridge. He’s a good guy, my friend has known him for years
and worked with him at two separate real estate investment companies. I know you’re into collectible bridges, I think you really should talk to this guy.”
Bruno Figueiredo, Head of User Experience and Owner at Ideias & Imagens, seems to agree with Jeff:
The real point of LinkedIn is bridging relationships. I want to get in touch with A but I don’t know him, so I contact B who knows A personally and he puts me through to him. That’s
the real value of LinkedIn.
Paul Franceus, Principal Consultant at RABA Technologies, LLC, just expanded his career opportunities. Brendon is right!
I get regular inquiries about jobs through LinkedIn. I don’t think it’s for you to contact the people you know directly. It’s for finding those people that are once or twice removed from you, or for them to find you. I got contacted by a recruiter from Google based on my LinkedIn profile and I start there in 3 weeks.
I also was a bit skeptical of LinkedIn at first. When I found out the ways to really use it, however, I discovered that it’s a great way to not only find and get introduced to people through your network for business opportunities, etc., but also a way for the people you DO know
to recommend your services which can be viewed by the public.Everytime I meet with a new client or come back from a networking function, I tell them about LinkedIn via email with a brief layman’s overview of what it can do, then follow with an invite to connect. I have received more recommendations this way and also been introduced to several new people who I wouldn’t have gotten the privilege of knowing, had I not been using this service.
I’ve already gotten several new leads for possible clients by using this service. The other thing that happens when you get recommendations, is that service you are recommended for is then listed (with your name/etc.), in the LinkedIn Service Provider Directory, which is where people also look, for contractors, professionals, services, etc.
Troy Darling, Marketing Manager, probably uses it for all the above reasons:
I’ve used Linked-In mainly as a passive way to record a network of business contacts that would only add clutter to my own contact list. In business, I tend to have strong relationships in the office that don’t often extend to my personal life. When those people leave or I move on, Linked-In is an effective tool to keep a connection.
I’ve used it to find people to fill positions in my company, to reconnect with former colleagues, to introduce members of different nodes to each other, and to give people a less-intrusive way to re-contact me after a long silence.
Scott Allen, About.com Entrepreneur guide & blogger, comments on the three key benefits he derives from using LinkedIn, which includes people search, simplifying data maintenance and keeping in touch with people he’s established a professional relationship with.
And finally, Rusty Weston, another blogger outlines three benefits of using social networking in general:
If you need (or simply want) to meet new contacts/experts, make new friends, establish a sense of community or want to establish a venue for others (not just your friends) to contact you, it’s hard to beat social-networking sites.
So, now that you saw a plethora of responses regarding how different users have been using LinkedIn, answer this: Why do YOU use LinkedIn? Leave a comment.
trackback
http://blog.linkedin.com/2007/09/07/why-linkedin-yo/trackback/
Eric Mariacher September 8th, 2007
As I write it on my blog post “Grow your network while you don’t need it” http://eric-mariacher.blogspot.com/2006/05/my-2-cents-about-online-business.html
Here are the 2 main advantages I see in using LinkedIn:
* “get recommendations from current and past colleagues posted on your profile”
That is one of the top feature that does not exists when simply posting your resume on the web.
* “make heavy use of the Q&A feature on LinkedIn”
Show your competencies and what you stand for by using one of the top “LinkedIn plus” feature. By browsing through your questions and answers people wanting to know you better will get a better feeling of who you are.
George Karahalios September 8th, 2007
I like it!
Mariano Errichiello September 8th, 2007
I started using LinkedIn few months ago and soon I got the utility. It’s an indipendent platform to share peoples’networks and take advantages by it. I keep on using it cause me, as VP External Relations, I need such kind of tools to expand my network and earn credibility. Right now I’m just taking care of my profile and sharing my network…as soon as possible I’m gonna start to use it to enlarge my “working” network.
Bruno Pessoa Serapiao September 8th, 2007
Linked in is a great tool to get to know people and network. I have been able to keep up with old colleagues and get business opportunities out of this.
James Kennedy September 8th, 2007
LinkedIn has already put me back in touch with valued former colleagues and business associates. I intend to keep mining possibilities for maintaining and gaining further value from those relationships.
Sanjay ahl September 8th, 2007
Using Linkein has become on of the top 5 Jobs i do when accesing the internet.I am an aspiring entrepreneur and find the site quite efective for my professional growth.I love in particuler,The answers section ,I get my doubts answered from experienced professionals all around the world in minutes after asking one.
Linkedin is a Good, Thought of ,service!!
Cheers
Anil Raina September 8th, 2007
I am still new to Linkedin – joined only around 9 days back.
Even in this short duration, I have been able to locate a lot of my old friends, classmates and colleagues, with whom I would have liked to stay in touch but could not do so.
I am sure that other benefits will also start flowing in, once I start making use of all the features being offered by LinkedIn connectivity.
Atif Hussain September 8th, 2007
The question whould be – why do you not use Linkedin? I use it to keep in touch with old friends and colleagues. I also regularly review online Job Adverts and sometime forward these to friends who might be interested.
All in all a great tool, providing limitless opportunities for networking, which in the real world would be impossible.
Ram Kumar September 8th, 2007
For me, it has been a great way to reconnect with ex-colleagues and friends with whom you have lost touch after school, college or due to changing jobs. It has been an excellent way to discover my contacts’ professional achievements and the rest of their lives, while sharing your own, so you can actually understand and relate to each other much better. I have just begun to discover what it opens up on the career front…
dhaval September 9th, 2007
When in doubt I enquire and on most occasions I get what I was looking for?
I have connected with old mates that I had thought I had lost touch with.
There is simply an urge to come here and find out what people are asking, i get engrossed in replies as conversational tone.
Sometimes I just apply :)
Lorenzo Zarranz September 9th, 2007
Having changed jobs and countries many times, LinkedIn has helped me rebuilt what it appeared to be a lost network.
Ajay Narain Kaul September 9th, 2007
Because dreams met real life in manner of connecting professionals together and helping each other reach/understanding business performance.
LinkedIn – Created a Value Chain for Professional without the expense of PR Agencies and value chain can not get recognised unless there is professional networking has been proved.
I thank LinkedIn for showing me this way!!
Himanshu Sheth September 9th, 2007
I would simply like to know how my friends, colleagues, employers, Bosses and whom I have managed are doing. Their success gives me immense happiness. I still have a way to keep in touch with them. I made my profile expecting that they too are taking happiness in seeing my progress. I will the world to do well. Linkedin has helped in the mission. What else can you say?
Rajesh Mehta September 9th, 2007
It’s just an amazing platform..Linkedin stays true to it’s name.. keeping people,colleagues,business asociates, peers..LINKED~~
It is simple ,yet a very powerful tool of developing and maintaining professional relationships..and one can continue doig so ,as they move up their corporate ladder..It is also a potent tool for business networking and job hunts..
Just by logging onto a profile of a person ( complete profile) ,one gets a flavour of that person’s professional achievements and may be sometimes get a hint of their personality traits.
I use Linked in for All the reasons mentioned by other people and yes..it does gives me a feeling of being in tune with what’s happening around me in the professional world…Fantastic.
Jagadish September 9th, 2007
I was a passive user for nearly 2 years…thought this was only used by Headhunters. But now realised it is a fantastic way of re-establishing contacts or being firmly in contact. I am now getting linkedin with ex-colleagues in Japan where I worked nearly 10 years ago. This is a great way of being in touch with customers and business partners offline even though there may not be any current business.
Zafer BABUR September 9th, 2007
I keep track on my friends’ latest whereabouts and achievements by using Linkedin. I also use it for adding new friends into my network. In conclusion, when there is a need on any product or services I search within LinkedIN.
I would like to localize the product in Turkish so that non-English speakers can benefit from LinkedIN.
Regards,
Zafer BABÜR
Andy Parker Avangelist Design September 9th, 2007
I have signed up because I received an email from GoMedia telling me about. As a company that I see as one of my peers I like to investigate any commercial areas which they recommend or discuss from myself.
I don’t think this will benefit me a great deal as I am in the UK and like most net based networking systems they always seem to be predominantly US related.
Nuno Leandro September 9th, 2007
I think this network could be very helpefull in the future, its easy to hire anyone that could be a friend of a friend.
Zeeshan Rab September 9th, 2007
NETWORKING, To keep my self posted professional about other’s careers, and to keep them informed about my self. To re-find old contacts and establish new ones. Its the FACEBOOK alternative for professional interaction.
Kamil Rejent September 9th, 2007
I use LinkedIn to:
-Be up-to-dated with all the changes going on in my friends’/colleagues professional lifes
-Have an on-line cv, everyone can see
-Maybe someday find job/business opportunity
-Hopefully collect recommendations
-Track my own progress
Ohad Gliksman September 9th, 2007
I use Linkedin mainly to stay in touch with my contacts and to discover new (they mighty be also old) connections.
In the past 2 month, Linkedin has generated several leads for my company. It seems like this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
suhas September 9th, 2007
I have been connecting with peers, friends, colleagues
( community of people ), through the service. I experience an add value : a. Learn of the Well Being of the community b. The questions and answers add a dimension to my own set of knowledge beliefs and it challenges me. c. It logically prompts me to invite others to join the community. d. My own identity seems to get a ‘make over ‘ with the new discoveries of an unfolding knwoledge. e. Finally, i see beyond the realm of business – as in being a virtual world of people, who desire to share their own accomplishments and joys of their fruits with the world !
I see this as a platform of its own form of recognition – much beyond the mechanical one !
Subasree Venkatesan September 9th, 2007
I use linkedin:
1. To stay in touch with my ex-superiors, colleagues and friends
2. I got a business opportunity through LinkedIn
3. Get endorsement and use that as a reference for my team’s competence
Albert Akpoza September 9th, 2007
I joined linkedin to expand opportunities available to me as well as increase the chances of offering my services to small to medium-sized businesses and play a part in local and international developement of businesses regardless of how small or trivial it may seem, because every such opportunity will be skill learning or enhancement.linkedin could assist me achieve this.
Bruno Verlinden September 9th, 2007
I really like using linkedIn and wouldn’t want to miss it :
I found old friends that I lost during my expat years.
I’ve made new friends based on mutual interests and fit.
I keep in touch with professionals and exchange information, give and receive help and have nice discussions.
When prospecting or looking for information it reguarily look at linkedIn.
I just follow what happens and it’s inspiring.
Great stuff – thanks
Rick Rossignol September 9th, 2007
Linkedin is a great way to connect with people. Its also a great way for both job seekers and employers to tap into the talent market. Its also shows you that you are only one or two contacts away from meetinganyone you want to meet.
Rick
Giuseppe Bonaccorso September 9th, 2007
I believe that social networking and technology are really the keystone needed in order to understand the natural evolution of our society and its culture permeation. LinkedIn is a great tool to achieve such a goal… I use it as primary way to find out new people and share my “technology-focused” ideas.
Ajay Jain September 9th, 2007
I am a journalist and technology analyst and use LinkedIn to research material for my writings.
I am now writing a book on how to get LinkedIn to work for you. Should be out in 6-8 weeks. What better place to interview people than LinkedIn itself?
Cheers
Ajay Jain
Journalist / Blogger
Mobile: +91.99100 44476
Email: ajay@ajayjain.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ajayjain9
My Blogs
http://www.ajayjain.com: On things that matter to all of us
http://www.TechGazing.com: Profit from technology at work
http://www.GreenDioxide.com: Simple ideas for a healthy planet
Chris Schoonheydt September 9th, 2007
LinkedIn is a real accelerator to build and maintain my professional network.
It gives me the opportunity to get or stay in touch with classmates, business relations and friends no matter what their current position is. As soon as they connect to LinkedIn I can see them as former classmates, colleagues, business relations…
Thanks to my network, it’s also easier to get in touch with new business relations.
João Gomes September 9th, 2007
LinkedIn gives you a means of maintaining contact with professionals you’ve met a long time ago and whose phone number you may have lost when your cell phone broke. Also, it shows you how close you may be to that certain someone that could be the entry point to your dream company!
You can not only find people, but also allow yourself and your skills to be found by someone who is looking for professionals like you. And because you can post a nicely detailed profile along with recomendations, your qualities will be marketed across a network that connects the most distinguished companies and their skilled experts.
And by the way, a recent study demonstrated that 60% of management job offers in Brazil are a direct result of good networking! Ever wondered if it’s the same where you work?
Lars Johansson September 9th, 2007
I use LinkedIn for the same reason that I use Google: relevance.
I don’t get annoying pokes or the pointless “someone has thrown food at you” messages you get on FaceBook.
Everyone I know who matters has a LinkedIn profile. Sure, some people only use Xing — but they’re fewer than those who use LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is professional and to the point. It’s the only social network I’ve tried that only gives energy, it doesn’t steal any.
Murat Bakar September 9th, 2007
LinkedIn is a perfect tool to find ex collegues and keep contact with them. I even started to have contacts with some people, I have studied together with but never had any conversation during my studyies.
It also helps to find out people working in a specific sector or position. A perfect idea!
Elvis Roata September 9th, 2007
The site name tell all: “linkedin”…so I “linked in” a big family. I’m feeling connected with many people, with many personalities and many knowledge.
Also, Linkedin reconnected me with old colleagues.
Neomar Rangel September 9th, 2007
Linkedin is a very useful tool, for example i used it to get in touch againg with classmate and for keep professional link with my coworkers.
Best Regards,
Neomar Rangel
Gordana September 9th, 2007
I believe and hope sincerely that Linkedln will change my life and give opportunity to improve my carrier and life as well. It’s easy to operate with, and I hope to find htrough this link a job of my life.
Ranjan Sharma September 9th, 2007
At first, I was dubious of LinkedIn’s utility, until I started getting my old colleagues and new contacts in touch!
I used LinkedIn to keep track of my contacts. I also use LinkedIn as a tool for introspection/retrospection – to check my bearings every 6 months or so – and I try to make necessary corrections based on it.
Vivek Porwal September 9th, 2007
An excellent tool to get connected with all who matter in profession other than those whom you meet frequently….keep your contacts diary up-to-date…
Sreedhar September 9th, 2007
There are so many reasons to use LinkedIn: few of them i can make note here 1.LinkedIn has added value to my professional life. 2.to make best use of of professional contacts and resources 3. to control my online identity and contacts 4. To grow my professional contacts to grow in career and personality 5.To have best and foster relationship one and all in my field of work. 6.LinkedIn profile was the first result on searches,to find a dream job, to maintain & foster relationships with colleagues (past, present & future), fellow bloggers, peers I meet at events & speaking engagements, etc…
Still so many things are there to share about LinkedIn…..
Achal Kaushal September 9th, 2007
I use Linkedin b’cos it is a good platform to use
-for keeping in touch with friends, colleagues, Business partners….
-for getting references to get across to people one wants to meet. This proves quite tedious otherwise.
-for sharing information about yourself with the desired set of people / connections
-for mainaining and growing ones professional network &
-growing expertise
Marco Menato September 9th, 2007
I have followed Linked-In for many years and watched my usage increase over time. What began as a ‘career networking’ adjunct (seldom used), has become a support-tool for many key areas of professional life: fund-raising, career-improvement, job-hunting, talent-scouting, etc.
Vidar Top September 10th, 2007
LinkedIn has a wonderful way of bringing people with a networking mind set to the surface. These are people with an altruistic mind set. I find daily benefits by interacting with such people, and LinkedIn has become thee tool to do so.
In the past I maintained all my contacts locally, i.e. on the computer and synchronizing with my cell phone. With an active network of about 2000 people, maintaining and staying in touch with my contacts became an unnecessary tiresome lifestyle. As I’m slowly moving my contacts to LinkedIn, one by one, I get a sense of control and information updates unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in the past. LinkedIn simply allows me to focus on the right people at the right time with the right message. As such, it has become my personal CRM system and it makes all the difference to me.
Grant Holton September 10th, 2007
Linked in is more than a professional social networking tool and with the latest Facebook link-up I see more of the real social networking working for people.
Linked-In is about people offering their own social program and network for others to mingle (interact) on a professional basis.
Michael Toft September 10th, 2007
I have been a part of the LinkedIn community for 2 years now. The last 6-12 month I have started using it more regulary and I have found it to be a perfect tool to keep connected and getting back in touch with contacts from the past and up to today. I use it for both business relations and private relations and as a “search engine” before meetings ect. to see if I am connected in any way to the person I am about to meet.
Best regards
Michael Toft
Youssef Ezzikhe September 10th, 2007
Because business is becoming more global, success requires connections and exchange of knowledge. LinkedIn is an effective professional tool to get the first contact within your industry, your regional area or your expertise (marketing, IT…),using your connection contacts and also the complete LinkedIn network.
It is also a tool to follow career moves of your connections and could be used as a tool to contact people to fill in talent opportunities within your company.
Ashish Rai September 10th, 2007
Over the last couple of years that I have been using Linkedin, I have seen its utility transform from a contact manager to an essential management tool for me. Some of the ways that I use Linkedin
- Locating experts in various areas that I need from time to time especially on difficult to find technology areas
- Business Development, locating and getting in touch with the key personnel and potential prospect organizations, do this almost on a daily basis
- Looking for talent in a specific area that I am looking to hire
- Keeping up with career changes, role changes of people in the network, this would be a huge task without help from a tool like linkedin
- Intend to use Linkedin for a career change when I am planning for one, however its utility here needs to be tested. What I see here is that I am already getting located easily by head hunters who are looking for similar profiles
- Reading opinions on Linkedin Answers is fast becoming a major part of my day.. spend a fair amount of time browsing through a wide variety of areas
Przemek Wysota September 10th, 2007
Why Linked In? I don’t know – one of my friends recommended me LI. Then I found that many of collegues from former companies are in. Especially from global ones, which I lost the contact with, when left the co. So I started from there. Then I realised about endorsments: Wait a minute, they are ideal for me – you must know, that as every person in the business I have got soma advantages and disadvantages, about the first you can read in my profile, as for disadvantage – Still has not got University degree – which is quite unusual in area I am working in. So references, endrosments are the key, when looking for a job.
Another point is about on-line profile, network of contacts worldwide etc. – useful (from time to time) to look up for new opportunities, sharing achievements and area of expertise.
So Why? Because it is a God damned good idea to be here…
And how? See it on my profile… :-D
BTW – for some time now, I print LI profile (full) and attach it to my CV, when addressing to recruiters – helps a lot. If I send it via e-mail, I attach link, and PDF printout.
Gaurang Desai September 10th, 2007
Find…Connect…Keep in touch. Simple and yet effective mode of staying in touch.
I could locate so many of my old colleagues and classmates from School & University. It has been wonderful to see so many people active online and interact with those who have moved on to distant geographies.
I have not exploited full potential of LinkedIn for professional reasons but I plan to. I am online for most of my working day and instantly reachable.
GD
Pinaki Bhattacharya September 10th, 2007
In this Flat world.. if u gotta win.. u got to be at the right place at the right time…
To be at the right place at the right time.. what do u need?
Right information…
Who can give you right info… Your network…(b’coz in today’s world information is so vast, it is practically impossible to be a lone solider)
More you network.. you actually increase your probability of being at that right place at right time..
That’s why i use LinkedIn … as a tool to network with people!
Olav Claassen September 10th, 2007
I started using LinkedIn to map my extensive network and especially to re-connect to long lost friends and business partners.
In this proces I saw the added value in connecting networks with people in the same business but not necesarrily people whom I already worked with.
So far it turned out to be a great time investment since I was able to establish many contacts and some interesting business deals.
And all this without installing software and receiving tons of spam, and last but not least its totally free and I decide to accept or forward invitations into my personal network.
Hugo Francisco September 10th, 2007
Linkedin is a great way to connect with people. Its also a great way for both job seekers and employers to tap into the talent market. Its also shows you that you are only one or two contacts away from meetinganyone you want to meet.
Very useful!!!
Dries Bessels September 10th, 2007
Hello,
I use LinkedIn to stay in contact with former friends and collegues. It enables me to find many of them who otherwise probably would have been lost forever.
Apart from that I hope it might help me find another career opportunity.
Ruud Elmendorp September 10th, 2007
Dear Link,
I could be very extensive here, but I believe social networking is a good tool to reach new people with an equal focus.
The noble art in this life is to find the rights words with the right angle, and then the unbelievable can become possible.
Thanks!
Ruud Elmendorp
http://www.videoreporter.nl
Richard Forrester September 10th, 2007
Living in South East Europe/the Balkans, I am inundated with numerous offers of various levels of reliability.
I try to vet them as much as possible – and LinkedIn offers a way to do that, by allowing me to place offers to everyone on the network, via the questions forum. I find this especially useful, as many of these offers come in industrial sectors in which I am not experienced.
I would however, like to emphasize the usefulness of LinkedIn as an introductory and relationship management tool.
I’ve met people, that I otherwise might not have ever met. Living out in the ‘wild, wild East’ and not being able to attend as many industry functions a I would like to, the value of LinkedIn becomes quickly and vitally clear.
It’s also useful for picking up old relationships – which trades on everyone’s love for nostalgia.
I also like the information exchange value by being able to peruse the questions forum. There are, at times, some very strange questions there, but as a leader once told me, ‘the only dumb question is the one unasked.’
I also enjoy the community aspect of the service, which is a distinct value in it’s own right. You watch, you read, you learn, and you contribute. Sounds like education?
Richard Forrester
Mark Helsen September 10th, 2007
I am still new to Linkedin – joined only a several days back. I have been able to keep up with old colleagues and get business opportunities out of this.
Kodge Bheemashankar September 10th, 2007
Its a good centralised tool to communicate with the professionals and to develop the skills. and also usefull to make new friends and to know new trends and technologies.
Daniel September 10th, 2007
Great way of bridging relationships, taking real advantage of your network and quickly allowing you to reach the right people for your professional needs
Ashutosh Tiwary September 10th, 2007
To be very frank, I came to LinkedIn looking for qualitative job offers. I got invitation for this from one of the better bosses I have worked for. But once I started using it, I found it absolutely fantastic. Job search is the last thing I am using LinkedIn for now. I find out my buddies. I try to find out people, who can provide me business deals. Its a great way to find out your professional standing in the market vis a vis your friends and peers.
how i use it? I log in through my laptop, through my Nokia E61i.
my advice to people, going by my own personal experience, it’s never too late to join this fantastic community which is very qualitative and your interaction happens with brainy guys who will always have some tips to improve your professional life.
Henrik Dessau September 10th, 2007
Some reasons in no particular order:
1. mobile management of my professional network
2. control my web presence
3. invite to new job offerings
4. research on vendors/associates/future employers/employees
5. post/contribute with business related issues
6. internationalize
7. get inspiration to future positions/career moves
8. generate ideas to further develop the community
Jenni September 10th, 2007
LinkedIn is a way to show people that you remember them and value them as professionals.
It is also a good way of keeping track of contact details.
Sanjay Pasbola September 10th, 2007
I was sent an invitation for linkedin by someone I had just got to know way back in 2006. I was of course sceptical – although the social networking mania had not caught up by then. However, I did sign up for the membership – but was more reactive in my approach for quite some time. With more and more invitations for social networking pouring in through my email, I really doubted the effectiveness of this vehicle. Nine months into 2007 – and my perceptions about linkedin have totally changed.
The first thing I check in my emails these days is – who is new in my network / who has viewed my profile recently / who are the new joinee of the network / who are the people I know and have now joined. Logging into Linkedin (through my outlook) is as important as checking my email. Linkedin has also changed the way I go about my business development activities – making friends etc. I can summarise the effectiveneww of Linkedin as follows:
1. All people in Linkedin are authentic personalities / no fakes
2. All individuals are professionals and talk the same language / no BS
3. By way of recommendations / referrals / forwards – we can always be sure of what we are getting into
4. Visibility – for my friends, colleagues, potential partners, business professionals etc
Giulio Fidente September 10th, 2007
Using it mainly for two reasons:
1. it keeps you updated on the new business roles and figures
2. it really keeps you updated on the career changes and development of your friends and colleagues … which finally is useful for your career development
Carsten Thessen September 10th, 2007
Hi Friends !
I use linkedIn for several purposes..
I try to make my self, my product, and my company visible to the world !
And it works !!
I get new offers, new costumers and virtual friends !
And when i need to find new contacts, for some reason – its easy like h… to find them via existing contacts..
Thanks for thsi splendid tool, that makes it easy to participate in the “Relationship Age” !
Regards.. see you…
Invite me using: cjt@digitalhouse.dk
Carsten Thessen – Denmark
Luis Madureira September 10th, 2007
Linkedin is a very useful tool and I use to:
1) get in touch with people I lost contact with and do not know their email or phone
2) job opportunites
2.1) get to know job offers i would not know otherwise
2.2) check companies who want to hire me
2.4) check future team I woudl work with and their background
2.5) get endorsements to strengthen my aplication by reducing uncertainty on future employers
3) get new business opportunities for my consultancy company
4) connect with people who can help me solve any issue i can not solve otherwise
5) check on what my friend and newtork are doing
Hope this helps,
Luis Madureira
Boaz Levin September 10th, 2007
This service is the ultimate pre/post mingling research tool. One place that can actually elevate the time spent meeting people while providing a powerful view to contacts and human communication. This is the “Google” of people information.
Isa Goksu September 10th, 2007
The answer is very easy. There are millions of users in Linkedin. So if you’d like to connect with people, you have to use linkedin. And there are couples of benefits like easy accessing, finding people, finding new job opportunities, etc. I like it and suggest it.
Remigijus Gineitis September 10th, 2007
LikedIn is very good place to keep in touch with best old friends and colegues. Such features as questioning and personal networks statistics add lot of fun. By the way LikedIn is good place to find new friends too.
firoze September 10th, 2007
linkin has helped me in global exports of surfactants by finding out key buyers/supply chain managers in detergent industry
Robert Pelissier September 10th, 2007
THE tool to get connected with the business persons you are looking for but you don’t know yet.
Alexandre Rodrigues September 10th, 2007
I am a big fan of Linkedin – My congratulations !!
Linkedin, among tenths of functionalities, is an outstanding tool to search for new business opportunities !
Nowadays I’m using Linkedin to search a new job, specially searching for start-ups here in Brazil (Companies planing to start local distribution of their solutions – IT products and services in the Brazilian market / development of new strategic channels…).
PS: If I can be of ANY ASSISTANCE to you (specially here in BRAZIL) or If you know any Entrepreneur or IT Executive who wants to INVEST in our profitable Brazilian market (for ex. in: Opening a new office or local branch, launching new IT products and software based solutions, hiring Brazilian professionals for their IT projects, and this sort of interests…), DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME – Please just let me know! – I would appreciate your contact very much !!
Amit Mohanty September 10th, 2007
What strikes me most about Linkedin is the possibility of networking amongs individuals on a very professional level rather than the regular run-of-the-mill networks such as Wayn, Facebook, Orkut, etc which though help you to network with people but not for development of your career or understand how to solve a complex problem or to get in touch with a person who specialize in the area you want ot be in. LinkedIn has an amazing huge network of professionals and secure too. Privacy is still key to this website.
Sachin Uppal September 10th, 2007
What’s LinkedIn for me? Why I like LinkedIn? How I use LinkedIn?
-Pure professional networking.
-Genuine professional reccomendations.
-Self interacting intellectual online community – Answers
-Opportunity to learn best practices – Answers
-Get access to real-life talent beyond geographical boundaries.
-Easy way to grab business opportunities.
-Genuine advice on important matters.
-Easy to get in touch with school, college, previous job colleagues and friends.
-Quick way of conducting surveys:- though this can be added as an additional feature.
-LinkedIn is one of the most credible networking platform
-Service provider reccomendation easily helps in business tie ups.
-The one thing which i think can be made better is the Job search algorithm: If I am a manager, i see automatic job openings of managers, however isin’t it that I would want a higher position?
-Another thing is my network requests are untrackable:-How many sent? How many pending? etc.
Overall a WOW experience from a online community!
Vinod September 10th, 2007
I find linkedin as a very effective tool for networking professionally.
The additional benefits include keeping in touch with your contacts and maintaining your web identity.
C R Venkatesh September 10th, 2007
This is a great place to find old friends and also a great place to develop business contacts. It has helped me and my business a lot.
Mario Sundar September 10th, 2007
Hey guys,
Thanks for all those comments and keep em’ coming…
At any point of time; feel free to email me with your questions: msundar@linkedin.com.
Scott Allen September 10th, 2007
Great to see so much response and thanks for the link love.
As a minor clarification, in the post above, those are the three things I use LinkedIn for differently than other social networking tools. I also use it for many of the other reasons people have cited here.
Actually, I’ve found that the #1 thing I use it for that is most directly related to getting business done is getting inside information on deals I’m working on.
Jim Turner September 10th, 2007
How interesting… I’ve been on LinkedIn since about March of ‘07. It took me a few weeks to understand how LindedIn and social networking in general worked. I have to say it’s been very beneficial to me personally and for my copywriting business.
There a lot of folks/friends I now know that I probably would’ve never met. Plus I’ve gained new clients and prospective clients from networking activities on LinkedIn.
I posted a similar question in the Q&A section about a month ago. You can go here and see some of the responses given:
http://www.linkedin.com/answers/marketing-sales/business-development/MAR_BDV/80418-11267922
Jim Turner
Kathy September 11th, 2007
Why LinkedIn? Beats me. The support is little more than “Got your email.” I’ve had the same problem accessing my profile for months (REPEATEDLY being asked to sign in to do anything on this site, even *after* I’ve successfully signed in!), but nothing gets done. Invitations languish, and I can’t even tell people why.
I’ve never used this site to get a job, don’t personally know anyone here who has, but everyone seems to flock here anyway – from the hype, I suppose. Me, I’m done. If I’m going to waste time online, there are plenty of more interesting sites to do it.
Carla Visser September 17th, 2007
LinkedIn: Customer Service not Linked In or Missing in Action
Two weeks ago, I had 300 connections on my LinkedIn Profile (carlavisser@ghrsonline.com). Today, I have one. Why? Quite frankly, it is mystery to me. I have reported this to LinkedIn customer service several times with no response. Have they been deleted by LinkedIn or what? Why would anybody want to upgrade their service to this non-responsive web site that ignores customers and does not resolve customer complaints. So be careful when you get something for free – it may not be worth more than it costs!!!!!
Carla Visser
President
Global Human Resource Solutions LLC
http://www.ghrsonline.com
carlavisser@ghrsonline.com
LinkedIn: Your Objections, and Why You Should Get Over Them Now « The WorkCompEdge Blog August 5th, 2009
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