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December 3, 2024 10 mins
LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform that allows users to connect, find jobs, and build their professional identities. Launched in 2003, it operates via a website and mobile app, providing users with access to knowledge, insights, and opportunities. LinkedIn is a valuable tool for job seekers and employers alike, facilitating the sharing of CVs and job postings. It is also used for connecting with industry professionals and staying updated on relevant news and trends.a

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the deep dive. Today, we're diving into a platform.
I'm sure you're all familiar with, maybe even use every day,
but have you really thought about what it means LinkedIn.
We're going to be going through some user reviews straight
from product hunt, no sugar coating, just the raw good
and bad. And hey, by the way, if you're interested
in sponsoring a show like this one, you know, reaching

(00:21):
engaged listeners, curious folks like yourselves. We're all ears. Just
drop us a line. We really do read every message,
you know.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
It's fascinating to think of LinkedIn as almost this social experiment,
like how we present ourselves professionally online.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Yeah, and we're seeing some pretty strong opinions, yeah, about
whether it's working or not. Some reviewers are calling it
a total game changer for their career. Others say it's
lost its way, becoming too much like you know, Facebook.
So let's unpack this. What patterns are we seeing? What
do these reviews tell us about what LinkedIn is doing well,
what it's not doing so well, and maybe even like
where it's headed.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Okay, So to start, I think it's helpful to remember
what LinkedIn says. It is a place to manage a
professional identity, build your network, tap into knowledge, and unlock
you know, opportunities.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Sounds simple enough, right, but then you realize this is
happening on a scale of get this over eight hundred
and thirty million members. According to one of the reviewers,
sayat Hussein Rasa, that's that's practically a digital nation state.
It really is.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
And you know, you have to wonder how has LinkedIn
managed to stay relatively focused on professional networking while other
platforms like Facebook and Twitter they've kind of become these
generalized spaces. I mean, it makes you think about how
we separate our online.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Lives, especially now when you know the lines between work
self and personal self are getting so blurry. But let's
get specific. What are people loving about LinkedIn based on
these product time reviews.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Well, one theme that comes up again and again is
the power of targeted networking. You're not just connecting with
anyone randomly. You're connecting with people who have similar interest,
expertise in your industry, maybe even the same career goal like.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Louis who specifically mentions connecting with like minded professionals. It's
almost like LinkedIn takes the awkwardness out of.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Networking exactly, and that targeted approach is super valuable, especially
in today's job market, which is becoming increasingly specialized. Thin
about it. If you're trying to you know, change careers
or level up, wouldn't you want to connect with people
who are already doing what you want to do?

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Absolutely, no more awkward networking events, you know, just handing
out your business card to anyone who'll take it. Right,
And speaking of jobs, we see tons of reviews from
people like Aditya and Karen who actually credit LinkedIn with
helping them land their dream jobs or connect with recruiters.
It's clearly become a go to for anyone looking for

(02:42):
a new gig.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
It's interesting how LinkedIn has basically replaced the traditional resume
in some ways. Your profile becomes this dynamic showcase of
your skills and experience, even your personality to a degree.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Right, it's not just a static document anymore. It's how
you tell your professional story.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
And for those who who are you know, already established
in their careers, there's a big focus on professional development.
We see that in Sinon's review. He talks about using
LinkedIn to learn new things and stay up to date,
even doing company research. It's like LinkedIn is this knowledge hub.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Oh and speaking of staying up to date, just a
quick reminder, you know we mentioned reading every message, Well,
we really do go through all the comments and reviews
on that product tun page to bring you our raw
take on what actual users are saying. And by the way,
the producer of this show is Uzman use Off. You
can find him on LinkedIn at Uzma nine nine nine

(03:35):
nine nine if you're looking to you know, get your
business out there online, market your services, whatever it is.
Uzma has tons of experience working with businesses of all sizes.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
Okay, so we've talked a lot about the good stuff,
but as with any platform, there's a flip side. Right,
let's die into some of the criticisms that are coming
up in these reviews.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Definitely no platforms perfect, right, Okay, So one thing that
keeps popping up is censorship, especially around you know, topics
that are a little sensitive or controversial all American. One
of the reviewers expresses concern about LinkedIn silencing certain voices
and perspectives, which I think brings up some important questions

(04:13):
about freedom of expression and even like potential bias on
the platform. Even though it's supposed to be about professional discourse.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, it really makes you wonder, like who gets to
decide what's professional and what's.

Speaker 1 (04:25):
Not right and how do you even define that. It's
a slippery slope for sure.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
And this ties into that bigger conversation happening across social
media about finding the right balance between fostering open dialogue
and preventing harmful content. I mean, it's a tough line.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
To walk, totally. Because speaking of tough lines, let's talk
about paywalls. Morgan Lucas brings this up, and I think
a lot of people can relate to this, the frustration
of needing certain features, essential networking features, but they're locked
behind a premium subscription.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
It's like you need a strong network to advance your career,
but then the tools you need to build that network
they cost money.

Speaker 1 (04:59):
It's a total catch twenty two and it makes you wonder,
you know, is LinkedIn really serving all of its users
equally or is it just catering to those who can
afford to pay.

Speaker 2 (05:09):
It's a valid point. Accessibility is a big issue, and
it goes beyond just LinkedIn. I mean, this is something
we see across a lot of.

Speaker 1 (05:15):
Platforms absolutely okay, And to add fuel to the fire,
Morgan also brings up concerns about trust and safety and
suggests that maybe LinkedIn's efforts in this area are more
about protecting corporate interests than actually improving the platform for
the users, which.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Ouch, it's a tough critique, but it's a valid point.
If users feel like their concerns aren't being taken seriously
or that the platform isn't putting their needs first, that's
going to a road trust and ultimately it could hurt
LinkedIn's reputation for sure.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
Okay. And then there's this other big issue that a
lot of reviewers bring up. It's almost like, you know,
the elephant in the room, or maybe should say the
Facebook and the LinkedIn feed. Several reviewers, like Gabriel and vpol,
they talk about LinkedIn becoming too much like its more
casual counterpart, too many personal posts, too many updates that
just feel out of place in a professional setting.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
Right. It goes back to that blurring of lines we
were talking about earlier between our personal and professional lives.
It's harder and harder to keep those things separate, especially
as social media becomes so integrated into our lives.

Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, it's a constant balancing act. And this brings up
a really interesting question for you as a listener. Where
do you draw the line. Do you keep your LinkedIn
strictly professional or do you let some of your personality
shine through.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
There's no right answer. It really depends on your industry,
your career goals, and how comfortable you are with self promotion.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
Okay, so we've talked about the good, the bad, and
the maybe too personal. But what about the hidden gems.
What are some of the more surprising or unexpected things
that we're seeing in these reviews, stuff that might actually
challenge our assumptions about LinkedIn.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
Ooh, good question. Well, one thing that stood out to
me was Cleona's review. She talked about the positive impact
of LinkedIn's Top Voice Awards, which recognize users for their
contributions their thought leadership in specific fields.

Speaker 1 (07:09):
Oh yeah, that's cool. It's like they're saying, Hey, we
see you, we appreciate your expertise. It's nice to be recognized,
even on a massive platform like this.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
Totally, and it might even encourage people you know, to
share more of their knowledge and experience, which would create
a richer learning environment for everyone.

Speaker 1 (07:25):
I love that sharing is caring. Okay, this next one
is a use case. I never would have thought of
the team behind Fleeso. It's a new product. They actually
use LinkedIn to find the right people to build their product.
I mean, talk about thinking outside the box.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
That's a brilliant example. It shows how LinkedIn can be
a powerful tool for entrepreneurs. It's not just about finding
a job. It's about connecting with talent and resources whatever
you need to bring your ideas to life exactly.

Speaker 1 (07:52):
And it goes beyond just the traditional job search.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
Right, Okay, last one in the hidden Gems category. This
comes from Stacket Global. There is a really interesting point
about the balance between organic growth and the need for
those you know, expensive premium features we talked about earlier.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
They point out that it is possible to build a
following organically, you know, build your reputation, but those premium features, Yeah,
they come with a hefty price tag. And that speaks
to LinkedIn's business model and that tension between like providing
value to users and generating revenue. It's a tough balance
to strike. Yeah, and they don't always get it right.

Speaker 2 (08:31):
Yeah. It makes you think, you know, could LinkedIn do
more to be accessible, do more valuable to all its
users without having to rely so much on these paid features.

Speaker 1 (08:39):
Right, but then how do they keep the lights on?
It's a tricky situation, especially since LinkedIn is part of
this larger tech landscape where data and engagement those are
the real currency. Okay, so we've really dug into LinkedIn here,
the good, the bad, the maybe too personal. We've even
uncovered some you know, hidden gems along the way.

Speaker 2 (08:57):
But here's a.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
Question for you. If you add a magic wand and
you could redesign LinkedIn, what would you focus on?

Speaker 2 (09:03):
Ooh, that's a good one. Well one reviewer Morgan Lucas
he had this idea of turning LinkedIn into more of
a hub like imagine if you had integrated calendars, project showcases,
a way to really not just connect with people, but
actually collaborate with them right there on the platform.

Speaker 1 (09:20):
I like that it would make LinkedIn feel a lot
more dynamic, less about just collected contacts, more about actually
doing stuff exactly.

Speaker 2 (09:27):
It could be this one stop shop for your professional life, development, networking,
even project management.

Speaker 1 (09:33):
But would that be too much? I mean, would it
loop LinkedIn's main purpose? Would it get to cluttered and
lose that focus on professional networking.

Speaker 2 (09:41):
It's a valid concern. It's all about balance, right, adding functionality,
but still staying true to what LinkedIn is all about.
Maybe the key is to make sure those extra features
they actually enhance the networking aspect, not overshadow it.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yeah. Like imagine you connect with someone and right there
you can schedule a meeting, collaborate on a project, even
show case the work you do together all within LinkedIn.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
That would be huge. It would shift LinkedIn away from
passive networking toward more active collaboration, real knowledge sharing.

Speaker 1 (10:11):
So to sum up our deep dive into LinkedIn, I
think it's clear this is a platform with tons of potential,
but it's also got some serious challenges to work through.
Whether it becomes this collaborative hub or it sticks to
its networking roots. One thing's for sure. It reflects how
we as professionals are navigating this increasingly digital world.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
Couldn't have said it better myself. It's like a tiny
snapshot of the bigger conversation about work, identity, and connection
in this digital age.

Speaker 1 (10:39):
And that's a wrap on our LinkedIn deep dive. We
hope this has giving you some new insights, maybe even
a few aha moments. Now here's something to think about.
If you were in charge of LinkedIn's future, What would
you do? What features would make it even better for you?
Something to ponder, and until next time, keep diving deep.
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