Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, I am a huge fan of LinkedIn. Over the years it has been a true companion in my business ‘journey’ (excuse the X Factor-ism). As time has passed, it has changed in its appearance, but haven’t we all?
Overall, LinkedIn has been a consistent source of information, support, ideas and work. I am always a bit taken by surprise when people dislike it, which tends to be due to the content being pushed their way. Ultimately the user experience on LinkedIn is very much down to the choices of the user and I’m not even talking algorithms here.
When looking at writing this blog I decided to check out (for the first time ever) the core values of LinkedIn, which are…
“We aspire to create a trusted, caring, inclusive, fun, and transformational experience for each other at LinkedIn, and through our platform for every member of the global workforce.”
In fairness to them, this is very much my experience (although maybe a little light on the transformational aspect…but that might be the American VS my English take on takeaways from using the platform?)
The fact of the matter is, I regularly go through my LinkedIn connections and remove or unfollow those who are no longer relevant. This does not mean I am no longer ‘friends’ with said individuals, but it is a reflection of the fact that for me, LinkedIn is a business tool. I have a clear remit of who I want to connect with or follow. I will not continue any connection with anyone that is argumentative or unprofessional – there is no need for it and it speaks volumes when I see someone do it.
In fairness, the rants and arguments so often found in the early days of the platform have dissipated as the concept of online professionalism and brand perception have taken hold – often following some catastrophic falls from grace, by which others have learnt and these do not need to be headline grabbing examples. I also automatically disconnect with anyone that launches straight into their sales pitch after connecting. I am here to build a network, share ideas and this does not happen without time and effort.
I also have committed to doing my bit on LinkedIn, although there are lapses, I look to contribute to the platform on a regular basis. Hopefully providing value for my connections and based on the stats, ensuring I get seen. After all…
“…only around 3 million users share content on a weekly basis. This means that only about 1% of LinkedIn’s 260 million monthly users share posts, and those 3 million or so users net the 9 billion impressions.”
Ultimately the culture and experience of LinkedIn may differ from person to person. For me, the success of LinkedIn proves dependent on the network I have built, the conversations I instigate or take part in and the culture and values that I operate to.
Thank you for reading.
Pamela