LinkedIn groups are not like forums are they?

[Frimley111R]

I haven't really used these before but looking at them now they seem just to be full of people posting content/blogs, not really helpful to find out things/ask questions in the same way forums do. Am I missing something?

[akirk]

You aren't missing much...
LinkedIn has several valuable attributes:
- good way of putting your 'business card' out there
- good way to network if you are in the recruitment / head hunting business
- good way to check someone out before doing business with them

not very good for anything else

[Frimley111R]

So I see, I thought I'd find a group who knew about data and ask them for recommendations but it doesn't work like that. PH is a better LI and LI!

[Timmy40]

As far as I can tell 99% of people on linked in are recruiters, 'entrepreneurs' ( i.e. unemployed ), or juniors somehow hoping they can get a bunk up ( perhaps the pretty ones can in the literal sense ).

[mickytruelove]

I have never understood linkedin, I had an old account i forgot about. Then had some of my suppliers in UK and China adding me. I really dont want people know my suppliers and who else i do business with.

I dont understand how it is valued at $26 billion.

[Evanivitch]

mickytruelove said:

I dont understand how it is valued at $26 billion.

Because without it the huge industry if recruitment consultants would have to do a real job.

[insurance_jon]

actually the good groups are very much like forums. you just have to pick the right ones with enough members.

A friend of mine started one called the yorkshire mafia. Its now a second business for him and has its own events and the largest none industry specific conference in the UK (buy yorkshire conference).

have a look here http://theyorkshiremafia.com/

I know you aren't yorkshire based, but there is something for everyone on Linkedin. Its a great driver of trade for us.

[98elise]

Timmy40 said:

As far as I can tell 99% of people on linked in are recruiters, 'entrepreneurs' ( i.e. unemployed ), or juniors somehow hoping they can get a bunk up ( perhaps the pretty ones can in the literal sense ).

As far as I can tell everyone I've ever worked with is on there, and its an easy way to keep connected to those people professioanlly without all the pointless noise on facebook.

Its also pretty good for picking up a new role. I get at least one approach per month. Had one today recruiting for a project to implement some specialist software that I have a lot of knowledge off.

[JonV8V]

Depends on what you do, it's essential for anybody providing consultancy or other professional services. I see it as a Facebook for business, some of the features are different which is just as well.

Now that data question....?

[Frimley111R]

mickytruelove said:

I don't understand how it is valued at $26 billion.

It's not really what it does that is the value, its the data. It has more business data than anyone else by miles.

[bogie]

Frimley111R said:

mickytruelove said:

I don't understand how it is valued at $26 billion.

It's not really what it does that is the value, its the data. It has more business data than anyone else by miles.

and its an advertising platform ...like Facebook