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6 recommendations to make Linkedin a better utility

by Phil Barrett

Just because I’ve admitted that I find Linkedin useful as a professional networking tool, that doesn’t mean I’m satisfied  with the entire experience.

Here are 6 things I’d like to see implemented to make this a truly great professional utility:

  1. RSS feeds for more than network updates. The news is often useful… but let me have it through RSS! Same with my inbox. And Answers. All site updates should be RSS enabled
  2. Talk / chat feature. Facebook added it… wouldn’t it be great if you could engage people who are online right now in linkedin instead of waiting for their email response?
  3. Better widgets - we should be able to add a twitter widget for example to our profile page. While you’re at it, drop the ridiculous revenue sharing conditions you’ve placed on developers. No wonder nobody is developing on your platform!  
  4. Leverage groups- it’s great we have badges to show off group status… and getting access to ppl in that group is pretty super awesome, but why not create the ability share information in a social / collaborative setting? It could be an extension of the answers utility.
  5. Extend interface. Social aggregators are all the rage right now… why not become the professional social aggregator and allow people to extend and personalize the interface? A stickier interface is one that can be more easily monetized too…
  6. Add SMS alerts to the system. Email alerts are great… but email is for old people.

What would you add to this list?

4 comments

1 Sachendra Yadav { 07.21.08 at 6:42 am }

+1 : RSS Feeds

01 : Talk/Chat - this is a tricky one, can’t decide

+1 : Better Widgets

++1 : Leverage Groups - The most underused feature in LinkedIn, this one needs some real upheaval

-1 : Extend Interface - Why dilute the strength of a powerful business social network into flim flam. There are a couple of good aggregators out there, let LinkedIn do what it does best… Business networking

-1 : Alerts on SMS - I have a blackberry (like most people in the business community) so I don’t really care about SMS

My addition to list:
I want to add alerts on new Answers to questions I subscribe to.

2 Craig Ritchie { 07.21.08 at 5:18 pm }

I think the LinkedIn interface has advanced leaps and bounds in the past few months. Xobni’s tie-in is great too. As for some of your suggested features, sure, but what about FriendFeed, Facebook, and a much better newsfeed?

3 Craig Ritchie { 07.22.08 at 2:35 pm }

oh yeah, and what about this? http://www.nytimes.whsites.net/linkedin/ … interesting developments.

4 Phil Barrett { 07.22.08 at 9:15 pm }

Thanks for the link Craig - it’s definitely a start.

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