LinkedIn, the new Facebook for Executives

Social networking has gone a notch higher, with various social sites cropping up, including the most common Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

But for the executives, the chat groups are limiting.

Besides the rumours and gossip offered by these social sites they needed a social site which could provide professionals with a forum to discuss various work-related issues with their professional peers.

LinkedIn was born in 2003 when co-founder Reid Hoffman launched it from his living room.

Initially it was in a bid to make new connections as quickly and effortlessly as possible, which he started with a network of 350 friends.

In a month’s time the numbers were up to 4,500.

Now boasting a network of 50 million members in over 200 countries, the website has a connection that can link one to a vast number of professionals.

It has become a part of many organisations tool for searching for professionals with fresh ideas.

Collaboration with qualified professionals is one of the attractive factors in LinkedIn.

To join, one requires one’s professional expertise, accomplishments and form connections.

It attracts a huge following because of the need to find professionals in one’s area of study and work and has wide range of services other than the chat option in other social sites.

Through LinkedIn, one can upload their curriculum vitae, describe their careers, hold professional discussions and look for business opportunities in other companies.

Potential clients can also be found from the large network of professionals because of access to service providers and experts in various fields of study.

When asked about the future of social media in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Hoffman said he expects massive transformation as people discover that the internet can help their career.

It is now ranked as the world’s largest professional networking site where data can be gathered, files shared, do collaborative projects as well as solve problems.

New business opportunities and potential partnerships are also formed through the vast network.

Just like any social site; one needs to send a friend a request in order to form a ring of friends.

But on this site, the vain talk in most social networks is reduced to professional vibe.

This plays to the advantage of those will outstanding profiles and recommendations which get them positions in companies when they are recruiting.

One can update his current position, get recommendations and recommend others, add specialities, education, experience as well as additional personal information.

Company profiles are also available This helps keep tabs on any openings in that sector as well as sell members’ job descriptions.

It also useful for many business people who want to make their business known and share insights on what their company does.

In Kenya, some top business people use LinkedIn to keep in touch with potential business people.

Mr Vimal Shah, the Managing Director of Bidco Oil, says that he finds the website useful when looking for talent and professionals.

He is a member of both Facebook and LinkedIn.

“I use Facebook as a marketing tool and LinkedIn when recruiting. I got two employees for senior positions in the company through the site,” he says.

Are you missing out?

Join and you will understand the value of connecting with total strangers with a common denominator and to determine if you have enough in common to warrant a connection.