Related - LinkedInSurprises, LinkedInArrogance, Why, ItsNotYourNetwork

Sorry, It's Not Your Network

Disclaimer

I'm just stating facts here. The following discussion is not intended to deny LinkedIn the right to run their service as they see fit. I respect both that this is a private service that LinkedIn owns and controls, and that there are many members who fully and unconditionally support its design and current feature set.

I am a huge fan of LinkedIn. I also believe that it can be much better. It can be designed to be inclusive and not exclusive to certain networkers. It can be valuable and productive for ALL users. It's one thing not to develop features that affect only a small number of users. It's another to target that audience and intentionally cripple the service and not provide basic user features that are standard elsewhere, like selecting all contacts on a page.

Just don't network too much

LinkedIn actively discriminates against ActiveNetworkers. LinkedIn does not provide tools and features if you have many connections and contacts. Instead LinkedIn goes the other direction and programs the service to limit and make it difficult for ActiveNetworkers to use the service.

See LinkedInSurprises for a listing of the many ways LinkedIn limits its service.

Anti-user arrogance

Why?

LinkedIn focuses on strong networking (small networks with active personal connections) and is sensitive to network image and customer complaints. The result is a design mindset that is so focused on the needs of millions of casual users as opposed to a few thousand larger networkers that it restricts the capabilities of the later. And that attitude hardly changes if you have a business account. LinkedIn is not intended for ActiveNetworkers, recruiters, sales reps, people with long careers, or anyone in the people or networking business.

Web 2.0, Not

Thus, while LinkedIn proclaims it is a Web 2.0 service, it is not. Web 2.0 is about empowering users and allowing them to use your product for their purposes.

LinkedIn does not do that. Instead they intentionally limit the service for its most active users.

Want more info on Web 2.0? Read the Cluetrain Manifesto. LinkedIn does not have a clue and never made it on the train. In particular:

• Networks today "subvert hierarchy"
• People in networked markets have figured out that they get far better information and support from one another than from vendors.
• The networked market knows more than companies do about their own products.
• Companies need to lighten up and take themselves less seriously. They need to get a sense of humor.
• We (people) have real power and we know it. If you don't quite see the light, some other outfit will come along that's more attentive, more interesting, more fun to play with.

At least that's my opinion.

MarcFreedman