by Simone Gross
While Facebook is struggling after what looks like an inflated IPO, LinkedIn is enjoying positive press coverage and appears like the undisputed leader among professional networking sites with 175 million users in 200 countries as of June 2012.
Still, I don't have any plans to join LinkedIn any time soon. Here's my 3 good reasons why
1: LinkedIn lacks security awareness
A massive breach happened in June with 6.5 million LinkedIn passwords said to be accessed and posted online. Security experts came out criticising LinkedIn.
If you followed the story as it happened, you cannot help the impression that LinkedIn did not regain control of passwords. The fact that passwords could be cracked by simple tools suggests that there was a lack of security awareness at LinkedIn. If LinkedIn just invested their fee income from expensive premium services to prevent security leaks!
2: LinkedIn is my 2nd choice and I only have time for 1
If you use one of the alternate professional networking sites, eg. XING, like I do, then it would probably take some very convincing arguments or occasions to get you onto LinkedIn. As my networks circle around people and issues in Middle Europe, I am quite happy with XING, which is the professional network of choice in that region. I once thought about switching when I worked with a UK/US based company.
Another popular alternative to LinkedIn is Viadeo and then on the social media radar screen there's also Google+. Both are interesting. But do I really want to invest in another full profile when my network is somewhere else?
Arguably, to find the right balance with only one profile might be insufficient. Dropping LinkedIn yesterday, trying Google+ today, turning to XING tomorrow – maybe we have to get used to continuous beta, also in our social networks.
3: LinkedIn is purely professional
I still believe and like the fact that private and professional profiles will continue to merge. Why set up a new (so far the LinkedIn strategy) purely professional account, when I have Facebook in place which I can use increasingly for both contacts?
Rather than liking and not liking to merge private and business community, I think it is increasingly becoming a matter of fact. Just see how private smartphone start to enter enterprises through Bring Your Own Device initiatives.
After all, whichever social network you use, it is not the tool, it is the people, the relationships and how much time you invest to make it prosperous and useful. And who knows what the next big thing for the social networks is? Facebook’s Newest Feature Could Be Banking...
What are your thoughts on profile management? Professional and private. Add your thoughts below.
“While I appreciate yours thoughts on you only have time for one, I personally like to keep my personal and professional profiles separate. I get a lot of “friend” requests on Facebook from people I barely know and I refer them to my LinkedIn page. If they are a professional contact, they will “link”, if not, I don’t hear from them again.”
“Hi Simone
Wow, that really is thought provoking. I use LinkedIn because it adds value when:
* I want to make sure people know what I do, did and what competencies I’ve got
* I want to know relevant and up to date information on colleagues, competitors, clients and potential dittos.
* I want to keep track of people I know and how we can help each other with connections, knowledge and recommendations
XING will do the same for you in your market (I have 4 connections on XING) but in my market LinkedIn provide this value UNIQUELY. So if your only argument was relevancy i would buy it, but I bet XING will go niche, because globalization speaks for LinkedIn mainstream dominance.
Thank LinkedIn and XING are purely professional – kids, pets and stuff you/I bought is kept out.
As for security – it’s never good to compromise, but probably not a LinkedIn specialty.”
“I’m with Mr Pauley on this one.”
“#3 is the best argument. At a low level, personal and business relations are separated. But when one reaches director level or higher, these merge. My closest and best business relationships are also close good friends: we’ve known each other for 5-10 years; we’ve done many projects together; we trust each other to look out for the best.
Many have notices that C-level people are generally not in LinkedIn (and most social networks). They don’t need it. Their personal networks were built over many years.
For 80-90% of what I do, I’m never asked for a resume, references, or an interview. They know me or know someone who knows me.
That’s what you should be aiming for. Post your resume to LinkedIn so you can be found, but focus on improving your personal/business friendships.”
“Great to hear an anti-sound to Li for once. Although I’m a heavy Li-user as well, I understand your points.
I once started out with Xing (then still openbc), but when I started working, Linkedin was the standard allready. So that’s where I went and stayed.
And I do like that Li is professional. Twitter for me is the mix, and Facebook is mostly personal, especially with friends who’ve moved abroad.
About the security-part, I don’t think Xing is doing so much better, security will always stay an issue I guess.”