I guess people really want LinkedIn to not be another dead-end business network. I have a LinkedIn profile. Many people do. But, I don’t use it that much – do you? I have heard LinkedIn referred to as an “online Rolodex” more than a social network. While the debate about people using it remains, it has been growing rapidly – in fact, according to Nielsen Online, LinkedIn is one of the fastest growing social networks between 2007 and 2008, growing 187% (yes, that’s more than Facebook, which grew 77% from 07 to 08). I think last time I checked, LinkedIn was approaching 10 million unique visitors. Hard facts aside – anecdotally, I rarely find somebody who USES LinkedIn after they sign up and make some connections. It seems the only time people go back to LinkedIn is to accept a connection.
So, is LinkedIn really going to take? Are people going to use it as a legitimate business and networking tool? In the past few days, I’ve gotten updates that LinkedIn is going app crazy. From ways to create projects and collaborate, share information or customize your profile. Here’s a short list (full disclosure – most of this section is LinkedIn’s wording). Maybe this will help?
Work collaboratively with your network:
Box on LinkedIn: Share files and collaborate with your network.
Huddle on LinkedIn: Private workspaces to collaborate with your network on projects.
Share information and keep up to date with your network.
Amazon on LinkedIn: Discover what your network is reading.
TripIt on LinkedIn: See where your network is traveling.
SixApart on LinkedIn: Stay up to date with your network’s latest blog posts.
Present yourself and your work in new ways:
Google Docs on LinkedIn: Embed a presentation on your profile.
SlideShare on LinkedIn: Share, view and comment on presentations from your network.
WordPress on LinkedIn: Promote your blog and latest posts.
Gain key insights that will make you more effective:
Company Buzz by LinkedIn: See what people are saying about your company.
How to Use LinkedIn
There’s also a blog dedicated to using LinkedIn (tough to say how deep the connection between the blogger and LinkedIn is). But, there are some decent tips there: The LinkedIn Personal Trainer – ways to use LinkedIn. There is actually a pretty interesting article about how people in the financial industry are using LinkedIn a LOT in the past several weeks.
The Future of LinkedIn?
What’s your take? How do you use LinkedIn? DO you use LinkedIn?
Mike My Words - from the brain of Mike McDowell 
Steve Tylock said,
November 6, 2008 @ 2:33 pm
Mike,
Thanks for the kind words;-) To set the record straight, I have no formal connection to LinkedIn. They are aware of my book, and saw a pre-publication version of it, but have not officially endorsed or commented on it.
I’m happy to take reader comments and fold them into new articles, so please make use of the blog – that’s what it’s there for.
And given the question – is it useful – it absolutely is, and I’ll have to use that basis for an entry soon to make that point.
steve
—
Steven Tylock
The LinkedIn Personal Trainer
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com/book.htm
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetylock
Richard said,
November 6, 2008 @ 3:18 pm
Linkedin was included into the About.com Top 10 employment site list…linkedin is still the only social network on the list though…..the newest 3 on the list are-
http://www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
http://www.indeed.com (aggregated listings)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches you to the perfect job)
Complete top 10 job site list here:
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/joblistings/tp/jobbanks.htm