Comments on: Is LinkedIn Walking A Fine Line?

By: Lisa Simone

Lisa Simone — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:57:24 +0000

I think each should strive to maintain its own identify with the market each was intended to serve. Of course FB wants the best of LI’s features, etc., but if you are on one, then you are on several. Use each how it was intended. If you want to easily access several, use TweetDeck or something.

I agree with Charlie – when I look for colleagues, job search, etc., I expect to see a professional profile, especially when I’m hiring someone. There is that expectation (at least now) at LinkedIn. Then I saw a former student post a profile picture in a suggestive pose and I contacted her to take it down because I knew it would hurt her job search.

It’s the old “there’s a time and a place for everything.”

My $0.02

By: Jason Alba

Jason Alba — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:17:52 +0000

Excellent comments, points and discussion, folks – thank you!

By: Charlie on PA Tpk

Charlie on PA Tpk — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:51:06 +0000

My thanks to Jason for featuring my comment in one of his posts.

While I concede LI will bend to market forces (as well it should, and I do encourage in a macro sense), I still do not have to necessarily like those changes.

While I agree and recognize that the changes are indeed optional, it seems to me that many of the features cheapen the product (as SM mentioned, open networkers run contrary to the stated intent of LI, but are embraced by many). The photos feature, when initially offered, had mostly ‘passport’ style photos… now, many in my contacts now have funny photos. That’s not to say I lack a sense of humor (indeed, anyone can read my blog to see quite the contrary), but I would submit funny photos are for Facebook. Of course, my mileage will vary.

Thanks for the discussion.

By: Marggi Roldan

Marggi Roldan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:35:57 +0000

Just because a feature is there doesn’t mean you HAVE to use it!

By: SM

SM — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:51:56 +0000

Charlie,
There is definitely a blurring of the functionality between the sites and I suspect much of it has to do with intense competition to carve out a niche, response to user preferences, and marketing. There are purists who insist LinkedIn should never include open networking – that it is intended for connecting with only people we know. There are probably those Twitter aficionados feel similarly about their space. My sense that this is almost purely free market driven – to each their own, and the consumer decides what works best for him/her. Best of luck…

By: Kim Mohiuddin

Kim Mohiuddin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:30:21 +0000

As long as these applications remain optional, they are great for job seekers. As a career strategist, my concern is the ability of the job seeker to communicate their personal brand online. The more tools, the better. Picasso and Van Gogh both had access to similar palettes and used them to very different effect. I don’t think LinkedIn is in danger due to over-homogenizing, but even if they are, I don’t care. There’s no turning back from social media, and there will always be a digital career platform(s) of some kind. The ones that succeed will enable members to express themselves as fully as possible.

By: Hudson Whitenight

Hudson Whitenight — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:17:04 +0000

This is a great post. Excellent points are made. Successful branding has always and will always be about differentiation, and LinkdedIn, Twitter and Facebook have worked hard to differentiate themselves and create unique niches. That is the beauty of the service they provide. There is value in using these services congruently, however, to market yourself and/or your business, but if the differentiation between them becomes undistinguisable, then it would only make sense to pick one of these resources. In my opinion, if they try too hard to become alike, they will create their own demise.

By: Greg Strosaker

Greg Strosaker — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:57:16 +0000

My concern is that there will be some who over-update their LinkedIn status with irrelevant links (“hey, I’m reading this http://www.whateverwhateverwhatever.com). One update per day on LinkedIn is enough.

I think if used correctly this is at best a slight time saver; before, I would simply copy a tweet and then paste it as a LinkedIn update. Now I get a hashtag to save maybe 2 steps. I guess what I’m saying is, what’s the big deal? It’s a simple functionality that is completely over-hyped.

By: Robert Clay

Robert Clay — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:17:25 +0000

I can’t believe people don’t see the elegance of the linked-in and twitter integration. You can set it up so that only those tweets containing the hashtag #LI show up on LinkedIn. I may update my status twenty times a day on twitter, and I agree I have no interest in those tweets being published on LinkedIn. But I may also do one or two status updates a day that are relevant to LinkedIn. All I have to do is add the hashtag to those tweets, and they will automatically update LinkedIn. This is a great time saver. I’m all for it!

By: Christine Pilch

Christine Pilch — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:46:18 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. I have tweeted several times over the past few days that I don’t see the value in syncing my tweets and my LinkedIn status, as each serves its own unique marketing niche.

I do post from TweetDeck to Facebook once or twice daily, as those two applications, and the connections on each, are more in sync.

LinkedIn is indeed walking a fine line here. Many of my clients are on LinkedIn but have no interest in Twitter. Too many status posts, and especially those not directly related to work, will annoy them.

I urge caution and discretion in utilizing this new LinkedIn feature.