I read something interesting the other day. From a poster musing on the etiquette of unsolicited messages on LinkedIn.
Which got me thinking.
What is LinkedIn? What is it meant to be?
And the truth is I’m not sure I can answer either of those questions.
Is it just a glorified Facebook for business? LinkedIn kind of is if you look at the vast majority of posts. Personally, I don’t think it should be a place to be sending unsolicited birthday wishes to people you don’t know or never met, even though you’re invited to do so on a regular basis.
I have a lot of LinkedIn connections, but how many are connections in the way the word is meant to be used?
I’m sure LinkedIn is the sum of many parts. More than what I suggested.
How about a collaborative space for exchanging ideas and information as well as doing business with other businesses who might need your service and you theirs?
This is not meant to be an exercise in LinkedIn bashing. Quite the contrary. The fault is almost certainly mine if I’m not getting as much out of the site as I should.
But I’d be interested in other opinions. Most of all I would welcome you telling me of your experience on LinkedIn. what it really is and what it’s meant to be.
You may end up helping both of us.