LinkedIN – Does it Truly Deliver? (2nd - Has anything improved??)

Following a lot of Feedback on the first article I wrote on LinkedIn I thought it would be a good time to check on what has changed since...

Anyhow, we all know that LinkedIn went public and indeed the main difference since is that they are doing less modifications and slower than before being purchased. While there have been some GUI modifications and more changes to the Profile are planned in the near future it would seem that not a lot has changed. Let's first take a look at the points I have raised the last time I wrote and see if LinkedIn made any modifications.

Here are some of the points that LinkedIN should consider modifying:

1. In the “Groups” module it is not clear why there is no option to export those contacts at least as the owner of the group.
I am afraid that there is still no way to export contacts in a group

2. In the “Groups” module there is no way to connect data such as files, movies and other material content other than links. Even a simple embedding is not an option.

I am afraid that there is still no change here as well

3. Not clear why I cannot determine the title of the Link I am supplying in the News and why I cannot add pictures or any other materials to news items.
I am happy to say that LinkedIn has improved the link attachment mechanism.

4. In the invitation option in groups it is once again not clear why I can’t use the saved profiles, tags and other search capabilities for adding exactly those contacts that I want.

I am afraid that there is still no change here as well

5. Did you ever find a way to search contacts according to something written in the notes? What if like me you have tons of connections and all you remember is that you wrote a note that you met someone at an exhibition?
I am afraid that there is still no change here as well

6. What about sending mail to more than 50 contacts? Why not have the options like in any normal mailing tool to add those contacts in BCC?
I am afraid that there is still no change here as well

7. How about the exporting option that will include the notes you have written?

I am afraid that there is still no change here as well

8. The “Groups” module should also definitely have an option to have more graphic capabilities in the body of the overview page. It should also allow connection to other company names the same is on the company module.
Again, LinkedIn has changed the GUI and now allows better networking but still no dramatic changes.

So most of the points I have written have not been modified or addressed. I am about to raise some additional points and maybe LinkedIn will have a better answer next time I write:

1. The "Answers" tool is a very powerful tool which if used correctly could provide important leads for any Business Development professional. The only option that should be added here is a better filtration of the contact that are chosen. On the one hand LinkedIn allows 200 contacts to be chosen and on the other there are only 2 very crude filters to choose them which does not make any sense since those are personal 1st degree contacts  Would be better off to have the same filter screen as for any contact which would dramatically improve this tool.

2. Contact with people from Groups that are shared - Now here is something that LinkedIn changed very close to when it went public which has true negative effect. Seems that in the past people that were part of the Group I share could be contacted from the main Contact search. Today the only way to get in touch is to search for them again in the Group member page which is not logical and a major hassle!

3. Attachments - While I can understand that LinkedIn is not interested in people upload of material they are losing out on the fact that they do not allow some sort of Upload. The ability to upload various certificates to the profile could provide much more comprehensive look which is what LinkedIn is interested and hopefully they will find a way to allow such an option in the future.

4. Get More Applications - It is not clear to me why LinkedIn did not open the market for new applications to be developed on the Application part. This has almost stayed constant for so long which makes you wonder... in times where there are huge platforms for application development it is only logical that this portion will have at least hundreds of new applications so where are they??

5. Skills - This is a very important feature that LinkedIn entered and now allow endorsement. The only thing that is not clear is why LinkedIn does not allow search according to Skills as well!

6. Company Pages - I think that LinkedIn tried to develop new functionality to the Company pages which is very helpful although the content is somewhat disappointing  I would guess that adding content to the company pages should be more easily updated from the Profile Page.

7. Matching between Employees and Employers - Now if you want something big I guess that this is the biggest option that I truly hope LinkedIn will take seriously. Today there is not automatic non-biased way to match between employers to employees. We all know the reasons for this:

a) Employees will tend to change their profiles to make themselves more attractive to a particular job of interest.
b) Employers do not give the true factors that are important for them in an employee.
c) The job description is not sufficient in order to make the matching

Taking the above into consideration there is a great need to find ways to try and match between Employers needs and Employees needs in a no biased way. Systems such as MBCD developed by Prof. Itamar Gati from the Hebrew University are a good example for such a methodology which could later be adapted to match between Employers and Employees automatically.

If LinkedIn will take this challenge it could become the best source for job matching on the globe so let's hope they take a hint....

Tamir