The end of Linked In is close now, or at least that’s the message in Is Linked In Checking Out? by Brad McCarty at TNW.
It’s a good article, referring back to a previous piece in the same publication about the downward spiral in usage resulting from crappy old fashioned software and the lack of features and market hype which have built Facebook and Twitter into the steamrollers they appear to be.
We’ve commented on the failure of social media, not living up to the promise painted by TNW, Mashable and a bunch of wannabe rim dwelling thought leaders.
What we’ve seen so far is indeed an indication of new types of behaviour, but isn’t the real thing, yet. The “find lots of followers, build influence and make piles of cash” argument punted by snake oil sales people, might have worked for them but isn’t working for the general business community.
However the ability to connect in new ways with people we couldn’t otherwise reach is a real benefit – just not the one those guys propound.
Brad’s article refers to the other about the downward spiral in usage for Linked In. Unfortunately he doesn’t provide a link, so I can’t show it here. It must be interesting because a) it’s true, and b) it’s also true of Twitter and Facebook. Interaction in both of those services by people we’re connected to has fallen through the floor over the last 6 months. It’s like the fashion trend is over. Social media marketing – spam in other words – ruined what was a great idea, and people found no value, even in the personal dimension.
Meanwhile the promise of the behaviour change persists, and from our business perspective Linked In is every bit as useful as Twitter and infinitely more so than Facebook.
Linked In’s software is certainly crappy, and its attempts to monetise are frustrating. The site is also full of self promotion, which will put off anybody busy enough to need it.
BUT, especially in the single interest groups, there are real people looking to connect, and prepared to help. We’ve benefited enormously from that in the last couple of weeks, and hope to continue doing so.
AND that’s why we’ll be spending more time, not less, on Linked In.
Twitter will undoubtedly continue to prosper, but as a messaging and broadcast service – not a conversation medium. Once everybody gets Twitter positioned correctly they’ll realise the threat posed by Google Buzz, and Google Voice.
Facebook will also prosper for a while, but not in B2B. Linked In and Google will fight over that space.
What will be lost and gone forever is this whole concept of “follow”.
“Connecting” in a business sense, between people who can add value to each other is the real promise of Linked In.
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