Facebook vs LinkedIn

By on August 6, 2007 in Cool Tools with 12 Comments

At last Friday’s Central Iowa Bloggers gathering, I spoke up that I thought Facebook has the potential to someday replace LinkedIn as the social network of choice for professionals.

Paul Gillin, author of The New Influencers, shares his thoughts in Facebook Deserves Marketers’ Attention

"If it keeps up this momentum, Facebook has the chance to succeed where earlier professional networks like LinkedIn didn’t. While LinkedIn has some valuable professional networking features, it has the feeling of a software application more than a community."

Images on Facebook are a big plus (remember – MyBlogLog really took off when images became available on widgets). Allowing outside developers to create plug-ins might be the trump card that Facebook holds.

Both are missing RSS on their search (Search Once and Subscribe!). Who knows – maybe Facebook and LinkedIn hook up somehow.

And the reception of my thoughts last week? The looks I got at our gathering were similar to the glassy-eyed glazes I got two years ago when I started telling Iowa-based business they should consider blogging. Maybe we’ll wait until Missouri shows us.

Update – Relevant Links Elsewhere:

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I hear it from a lot of business owners: “Where is the ROI with all this Social Media?“ If this is a question you ask yourself, maybe we should work together a bit more. We can work together solo, or via a professional learning community. Find and increase your ROI. There is a “there” there.

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  • http://www.jasonfalls.com Jason Falls

    I agree the potential is there, but I think many business/professional social networkers overlook the need for personal networking sites and ignore many users’s desire to keep the line between work and play distinctive and ever-present. If Facebook tries to migrate to professional networking, I would think many users will stop using it altogether since what goes on in my personal network is no business of those in my professional one.
    And thanks for inspiring my post at JasonFalls.com!

  • http://www.zooped.com LIEEEEY

    have you reviewed http://www.zooped.com social network yet?

  • http://www.zooped.com LIEEEEY

    have you reviewed http://www.zooped.com social network yet?

  • http://www.brandstorming.com Jim Durbin

    I think Facebook could be a killer app, but right now they actively dissuade you from using their site for “advertising or promotional purposes.”
    Harry Joiner, the Marketing Headhunter, uploaded his address book to Facebook and was banned for doing so – with a snarky e-mail that said the decision was final.
    Not exactly a welcoming way to encourage networkers. He’s sticking with LinkedIn. The truth is, Facebook only sounds like a good idea when you look at its numbers. It’s a social site, not a business site, and they need to make that change quickly (something about striking while the iron is hot) if they want to capture the professional audience.

  • http://www.beingpeterkim.com Peter Kim

    Hi Mike. Thinking about your post in terms of corporate recruiting, this shift has the potential to be a bad thing. When I started hiring people in Europe, I was surprised to see the information included on a C.V. – e.g. picture, marital status. As you can imagine, these open the potential for bias. Your statement that “images are a big plus” evoke that same potential for me, especially as more companies use LinkedIn for recruiting.
    But – I agree with you and believe the shift is already happening (velocity depends on industry). To go a step further, I wonder when this secondary, non-EEOC data becomes a defacto requirement for getting a job.

  • http://overtonecomm.blogspot.com/ Kami Huyse

    Mike; Actually, I wonder if Facebook makes LinkedIn more relevant, just in that people who are on Facebook see the power of social networking and might want a more professional venue.

  • http://www.allthingsworkplace.com Steve Roesler

    Mike,
    You might have gotten that glazed-over look at Panera’s (always a sign that you are on the cutting edge) but not from the commenters in-the-know.
    It’s worth following to see how things unfold.

  • http://www.artdinkin.com Art Dinkin

    I was one of those people with the glazed look in my eyes. I like linked in and have had some success with it. One of the features I like about it is it is there when I need or want it. Until then it just sits in the background.
    I have invested some time in building my network. The thought of doing it again at Facebook seems daunting. There would have to be some benefit for me to invest my time rebuilding what I already have.
    I am not a technology innovator. It took me six months to actually USE linked in. So far, I have had no requests from contacts to join facebook as a networking tool (like I did pre-linked in). I am not saying no, but I am willing to wait on the sidelines a bit longer.

  • http://getanewbrowser.com Andy Brudtkuhl

    I, on the other hand, was not sitting with glazed eyes… just interest.
    I’ve been asked to join Facebook (and MySpace) since college and yet to jump on the bandwagon. I may be wrong, but I think it’s a fad. I am on LinkedIn, although I’m not a big fan as all it’s done is get MORE tech recruiters to call me.
    I’m an internet geek but if you ask me there’s no better networking than meeting face to face.

  • http://www.dsmbuzz.com sherry borzo

    I think Facebook is too much social for use in business. Having said that I think I have an account I’ve yet to really develop. From time to time someone contacts me asking if I want a good time or a new husband. I don’t know that the two could mesh.
    As far as linkedin, I’ve enjoyed some of the inquiries to join other’s networks. It gives me a feeling of being appreciated but I have yet to fully understand or explore HOW to use linkedin.
    Also, thanks for the heads up on Marcus. What a great idea but go figure coming from an idea man.

  • http://www.dmitrimarkine.com wedding photographer

    As a myspace past user,I have no idea why people use this or facebook. I do have both accounts though. It seems like everyone tries to add as many “friends” and that pretty much ends. Groups and Forums are nice,but that’s pretty much it

  • http://TheHotSpotGuide.com Free_Dating_Service

    I love both of these websites!

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