With increasing international travel and interaction, we know how critical communication is to commerce. And while English is used in parts of the world, many of us would like the option to do business in our native language.
So it’s time to say Vielen Dank to all of our German-speaking members who can now start using LinkedIn auf Deutsch!
We started our internationalization efforts in July 2008 with the launch of our Spanish language site. And, since then we’ve also added the French version last November. Globally, LinkedIn has over 35 million professionals on the site giving you unrivaled potential to expand your network, with over 9 million members from Europe alone. Next Station: German!
LinkedIn’s global network adds approximately one new member every second, and now we’re glad to present LinkedIn’s functionality auf Deutsch to millions of German speakers worldwide. Send us your feedback on what you like about the German site and how we can improve it further.
- Topics:
- German,
- International
Comments
we have a nice article online about linkedin an what it could mean for the job market in Germany:
http://www.executivesearchconsultants.de/
I’m a big advocate for Localization as the only way for any company to truly make it in a foreign market is to adapt to the markets language and customs. I give credit to LinkedIn for localizing the site. However, this promo video is not a good example of localization. Using non native speakers whether they are fluent or not is not a good option. Any professional translator or localization expert knows that you only localize/translate into your native language. Furthermore, the definition of Localization is to give a product or service a local look and feel.” This video does not do this. The message it sends is, “we couldn’t find enough native German speakers to use in our promo video, so we used what we had. Never mind that they have accents. The Germans won’t notice.” If anyone, a business networking site should have the resources to find enough native speakers. Unfortunately, this doesn’t bode well for the success of LinkedIn in Germany.
@Bryan,
Thanks for your feedback. The video features the team behind the German launch as well as a sneak peak at the product itself. However, your point is well taken.
If you’ve any feedback on the product itself, please feel free to share that either on the comments section or email us at kommentare@linkedin.com.
Questions? LMK.
Mario from LinkedIn
I wish people would learn in business school that localization does not necessary start with translation. And that just having a translation available is not going to cut it if you already have a player like Xing in the market. And why only mention “we now have a german interface?” while in the interviews Kevin hints to possible content partnerships and additional offers?
While I am able to read those, somebdy like f.e. Bryan is probably not.
Mario, short question why does the blog not display links to the trackbacks? I would have liked to read some of the ones here and it is not as if I could not find them but it makes it more annoying.
The cruel to be kind article above can be found under http://tinyurl.com/bpm8nb
Hey Nicole,
Long time, no hear. Thanks for your feedback on the video. We do accept trackbacks although I’m not aware of how WordPress or other blogging platforms process them.
Are you flying out to SXSW this year?
Mario from LinkedIn
Now that LinkedIn is going global, it would be nice if there was a better way for individuals to connect globally. Maybe some of these ideas can be incorporated into the next generation of the site.
Here are some suggestions:
1. A place in your profile to list international experience, language proficiency, etc.
2. International connections can be highlighted somehow or featured separately.
3. A place in your profile to showcase your connections around the world (very impressive)!
Hi,
While that’s a good point about the lack of native German
speakers being used in the video, their German is reasonably good–much better than the German of some Americans who actually work in Germany.
Mike Willett
Willett Corporate Communications
Don’t get me wrong, but the youtube video isn’t just cheesy, it’s unbelievably uninspiring as well.
The new web of transparency and dialogue offers so many great opportunities to get something on the market, but it’s just not enough to show the people behind a product and give a hint that there’s now a German version.
Why should I join linkedIn now that it is in German? Most business people using online-tools for networking speak English anyway and Xing is already a great tool where everyone has got their contacts already.
The people in the video act as if the world has waited for nothing but a localized version of LinkedIn, but as I’ve outlined in the paragraph before, I think Germany has to dissapoint you.
Maybe you should have taken the ms-dos 5 approach I guess: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEvPZUdAVI
Sorry about the negative feedback, but I’m just posting my humble & honest opinion.
@Stefan,
Thanks for your candid feedback. Sorry to hear your interpretation of the video. That was definitely not the intent.
Given your usage of LinkedIn, feel free to share your tips, tricks and feedback on how you use LinkedIn.
Mario from LinkedIn
On the bright side: Did we seriously expect something different from an american company?
You will get there. 
)
I hope Kevin Eyres can make it for the next09 in Hamburg and yes Mario, looking forward to SXSW
As a native German working in the US, I use LinkedIn more than Xing. I use both, but like the functionality of Linkedin better, down to the colors used on the site. There are also more apps. It’s always good to have options. Use both. So who cares about the video…see the value of options!!!
Leider gibt es noch keine deutschsprachige Anleitung für die Nutzung der LinkedIn Suche. Bei uns im Blog gibt es seit dieser Woche eine Reihe von deutschsprachigen Artikeln zum Thema Suche mit LinkedIn. Bin sicher, dass sowohl LinkedIn Neulinge als auch Experten dort ein paar nützliche Tipps finden werden, wie man bei LinkedIn effektiv suchen kann.
Grüße
Alexander
http://www.personalberater-blog.de
I am used frist time but functionly are so easy to understand.It’s great to understands……
Sehr guter Beitrag. Wurde gerne noch weitere Informationen daruber erhalten.
Besten Dank und gruss
Da fragt man sich beim groben Uberfliegen schon, ob man doof war. Danke fur Ihre Erklarungen