[olug] LinkedIn - who else uses this?

[Christopher Cashell]

At Wed, 11 Jul 07, Unidentified Flying Banana Kevin, said:
> How's it different from something more widely used like Facebook?

The big difference is on the intended audience and focus on a different
type of connection.

> I wouldn't complain about how widely used it is, except that it seems
> to be primarily the connections that drive it. Therefore, widespread
> acceptance is crucial to its use. The chicken and the egg problem is a
> whole order of magnitude more here.

Facebook, along with most of the other social networking sites, tend to
focus on general networking and connections, including friendships,
family relationships, schoolmates, regional membership, etc.  LinkedIn,
on the other hand, focuses very strongly on business and professional
relationships, to the exclusion of the others.

I find it rather handy as a way of keeping a contact list of current and
previous co-workers, as well as other business contacts, acquaintances,
etc.  Additionally, I've actually gotten one contact regarding a job
opening, so it does have some potential use there, too.

With facebook, you aren't likely to connect up with your co-workers,
your boss, professional contacts with business partners, etc.  And with
LinkedIn, you aren't likely to include all your friends and family and
such.  Each serves a different purpose.

-- 
| Christopher
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| Here I stand.  I can do no other.              |
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