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LinkedIn wants to become Facebook for Business
October 17, 2012 | Author: Adam Levine
Though the term "Facebook for Business" is already associated with intranet social networks, such as as Yammer and Chatter, LinkedIn is close to becoming the first real social business network ala Facebook. A few years ago, when Facebook like a truck was crushing all other social networks, LinkedIn stepped aside. It didn't try to compete with Facebook for a place where people hang out and communicate. LinkedIn has become a social service finding job (or employees) and fulfilled this function well. Probably, it allowed LinkedIn to survive at that time. However, LinkedIn is no longer surviving. LinkedIn attacks. Over the last three years the number of LinkedIn users increased by 150 million (up to 175 million). Now, LinkedIn is ready to compete with Facebook and Twitter for the "hang out place".
Twitter recently realized this and blocked users to send tweets to LinkedIn. But it looks like it only encouraged LinkedIn. Recently, LinkedIn is constantly publishing researches, holding conferences, adding new features, expanding advertising service. The major update has happened today - a new profile that is similar to profile in Facebook - with a large photo and activities block in the center. Previously, the center block contained resume - and now there are user posts, updates and interesting news he shares. Come comment, communicate and hang out!
Also, now when you open someone's profile you will immediately see what you have in common with this person thanks to this diagram:
LinkedIn wants you to quickly find common interests and start communicating with the user.
On the profile, you'll also see people similar to this person (by location, company, industry) - may be you'll want to communicate with them? And user's contacts are now displayed not as a boring list without pictures, but like this:
Besides, recently LinkedIn added Influencer-blogs and the opportunity to subscribe to them (Just like you can subscribe to Facebook-stars). Among influencers you can find a lot of experienced managers, like Barack Obama and Richard Branson. Read what these people write, discuss with friends, communicate, hang out!
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