What's going on with LinkedIn? In the past couple of weeks I've gotten a half-dozen invitations from people to join their LinkedIn networks. I'm not sure I'd had a half dozen LinkedIn requests in the past six months. Moreover, several people I've talked to report the same experience: a sudden flood of LinkedIn activity in the past couple of weeks. On a possibly related note, I'm starting to get Facebook invitations, as well, now that Facebook is open to everyone and not just college students. Maybe that's somehow driving the LinkedIn activity, as well.
Of course, the problem is that I've yet to encounter anybody who has found a use for LinkedIn, aside from the amusement value of reading puffed resumes. (It's amazing how many people claim to be founders of companies they joined months after the company began operations!) I've heard second- and third-hand stories of people doing all sorts of hiring and business deals through LinkedIn connections; that's news to me and other LinkedIn participants I know. Basically, it looks like a glorified Rolodex, with the added ability of being able to track down former colleagues you've lost touch with. But based on the activity of the past couple of weeks, you have to wonder if it's suddenly hit some sort of new level of critical mass.
Are you talking about the surge in washingtonpost.com people on facebook? I've noticed that, too--everybody there got religion! That said, I'm going to go facebook you right now...
Posted by: Mary Specht | June 19, 2007 at 07:18 AM
Two thoughts:
-- Increase in invites (which I am partly guilty of). In recent months LinkedIn has improved its ability to find people it thinks you should be linked with simply by sifting through your profile. Thus, I see lists of people from GW, Space.com, Yachting, McKinsey, etc. You're right -- it hasn't led to any jobs, opps, etc. but it has reconnected me with a few folks and helps me keep score. Not necessarily the foundation of a strong business plan but ...
-- Where is this headed? Absolutely no clue. But I have this feeling that its importance will increase. Same with Facebook. Everyone coming out of college creates communities this way and it's only going to increase. My nieces/nephews are on Facebook all the time. I don't quite get it but that's how they stay in touch. And I refuse to step back and be the one saying "Back when I was a kid working with Mark Potts we didn't do it this way ..."
Posted by: Charlie Barthold | June 26, 2007 at 11:37 AM
I'm starting to wonder if the rise in LinkedIn invites is a spinoff of the simultaneous explosion in Facebook. In the few weeks since Facebook has been opened wider, I'm finding it to be light years better--and more popular--than LinkedIn. In fact, LinkedIn suddenly feels so...over.
Posted by: Mark Potts | June 26, 2007 at 11:46 AM