socialmedian: Why Does LinkedIn Still Have Facebook Envy?

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Why Does LinkedIn Still Have Facebook Envy?

Source: ReadWriteWeb

Dec 18, 2008

Summary

Commentary on this week's management changes at LinkedIn implied that a shake-up was needed to make LinkedIn more like Facebook. As somebody who has used LinkedIn extensively and spoken to many people who have also found it very useful, this is a plea to listen to users and not the Valley cognoscenti. Sure, when Facebook was "valued" at $15 billion, a bit of envy was understandable. But now that we're in the real world...

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Comments (10)

Jenniferl,

Dec 18, 2008

To diversify into LinkedIn is great.

Louisgray,

Dec 18, 2008

Totally agree here. LinkedIn should not try to be Facebook.

Hutch,

Dec 18, 2008

"LinkedIn won't ever beat Facebook on page views. So why try? Beat it by being more useful. And then business people will pay."

Davidpetherick,

Dec 19, 2008

I think the Facebook envy comes from the fact FB is currently adding 600,000 users a day!

But I think the LinkedIn Apps used across a distributed web will be more important to them - and some sort of response or take-up for Google Friend Connect and Facebook Connect, so one can relate to LinkedIn colleagues across different web sites.

Jenniferl,

Dec 19, 2008

Fastest every build up on new users as well as Social Meridian now connected with XING

Akahn,

Dec 19, 2008

I was under the impression that LinkedIn was a money-making machine, w/ CPI's in the $75-100 range.

Jenniferl,

Dec 19, 2008

My thoughts are that LinkedIn is very new. Than the trusted site Facebook. Facebook been going for years. So the LinkedIn is for the highly paid. When you can find almost everyone on Facebook. Well the new aquaintances.

Simonlloyd,

Dec 19, 2008

linkedin needed to find a stratagy to make big monies through their B2B contacts and not chace the facebook modle which relies on fad advertising. if they teamed up with www.getmobster.com they can offer cheap mobile services - even the highly paid want to save costs.

Breebop,

Dec 19, 2008

I agree - a model based on advertising is silly. the real value is in the network and the data. Sell services based on that, and as RWW says, realize that LinkedIn is an essential resource to tap *when needed*. We don't need another Facebook to suck up our time.

Troyjensen,

Dec 22, 2008

They are 100% different models - as soon as I saw some of the latest changes I thought "uh oh"...I cannot understand, with all due respect, why digital properties do not focus, refine, and monetize the very business model that got them there. I consult with early-stage digital startups, and 75% of them want to "expand into this or that"....when meanwhile they acheived 5MM uniques with their core business model. Focus and refine and improve what made you what you are LinkedIn!