Is LinkedIn losing ground as a professional-level platform?

I've had a lot of success with hosting LinkedIn events. Occasionally, I'll spend an hour discussing topics in which I am most passionate: - Pre-launch, launch, and post-launch initiatives (especially with @fabian_maume as a co-host) - Go-to-market product marketing - Community-led growth - Language-market fit (publishing the book on it with @hashem_elassad) - Experimentation and innovation - Etc. (Mostly in the context of B2B SaaS.) It's a relatively simple, yet genuine way to connect with ideal customers and network with colleagues. https://www.linkedin.com/events/

LinkedIn remains a vital tool for professional networking, but its increasing focus on content and engagement metrics may be diluting its core value. Users are seeking more authentic connections and meaningful interactions, which could open opportunities for new platforms to emerge.

LinkedIn remains a strong professional platform, but its effectiveness can vary by industry and user engagement. Exploring alternative networks might be beneficial for those not seeing desired results.

I do miss when LI was more formal cringe, all the Im so honoured and proud announcements etc. Now its all informal cringe 😂 (and there are more trolls as well, I try to kill them with positivity 😂)

LinkedIn still has the advantage of providing up-to-date CVs for your contacts. Even if it gets more and more informal, the fact that LinkedIn is built around your CV will keep it relevant for B2B and personal branding.

It is still used for job search where your profile is your CV, so I guess it is still a professional network, but those informal elements make it more comfotrable to use.

Honestly, I believe everything you described is actually useful for Li. I remember when it was considered okay for almost everyone to describe Li in the third person, which felt cringeworthy to me. I understand that some businesses are very traditional and that's just how they operate. However, at the end of the day, people do business with people, and those business shark personas are usually quite fake and don't help at all. What really helps is finding a good balance, which could even be brought by memes.

LinkedIn is slowly losing its professional appeal. I often see people posting information along with their Instagram pictures, which irritates me sometimes.

I can feel it when you say "informal". But generally, I think people are there mostly to DM sales pitches, I think that's the only use case and interesting part of LinkedIn.

Interesting question. The recent drops in reach, the notifications, the new « GAMES » section (I mean, what s up with that?) , the upcoming push towards reels videos. Seems LinkedIn is lurking on tik tok and other trends. In the meantime at its core value (imo) the job offer suggestions are still totally irrelevant, connection suggestions don’t make sense half the time, and it’s AI tool feels like a cheap GPT 3.5

LinkedIn is indeed more relaxed now but it still maintains its professional edge.

LinkedIn is evolving along with the changing landscape of professional networking. While it's true that the platform has seen some more casual content lately, it's also important to remember that professionals are multifaceted individuals who like to engage with content beyond just the strictly business-oriented. The key is finding the right balance between showcasing your professional expertise and personality. After all, building relationships and making connections go beyond just sharing resumes and job skills. It's about forming genuine connections with others in your field. Embrace the platform's evolution and use it as an opportunity to showcase all aspects of yourself, both personal and professional. We are building a marketing Contentify AI for Free here, just look up Contentify AI.

I think that it’s still the main platform for building professional networks and staying up to date with what everyone is doing. Yes it’s mainly used by content creators and people working in sales and marketing probably. It does contain some content that’s more casual perhaps and the way it’s delivered is certainly quite informal. Do people still like wearing suits and having serious formal conversations? I think there’s time and place for that too , but I personally want to leave that to politicians 😊

I used to find LinkedIn too stiff, but the recent changes have made it easier for me to connect authentically with peers. It's less about formalities now and more about real interactions.

I think so. LI may be expanding its space for creators which is really good, on the other hand, LI is known for its professional vibe so maybe there will be some distance for this!

They're even launching games lol I feel like it's a trend for a previously-niche platform to try and expand its offering. Instagram tried it and, according to many, failed. TikTok did it rather successfully. Let's see what happens to LinkedIn

I believe LinkedIn offers the ideal platform for achieving substantial professional growth, given its prominence in B2B sectors. Currently, it maintains its reputation as a dedicated professional environment.

I wonder about this also. Is there a somewhat popular "more professional" alternative? (Only XING comes to my mind, but I think it's only popular in the German-speaking world, which could change of course)

Losing ground vs? The anniversaries - birthdays have always been there - I have wished clients happy birthday with cards or emails for years. I first got Rickrolled by a co worker, and have been meme'd 100's times in an office context. Communication in general is a lot less formal on LI than on an email or other business related content.

Isn't LinkedIn's transformation like trying to turn a board meeting into a karaoke night? It's all fun and games until someone brings out the MEMEs! 😄