LinkedIn

[Euler]

Would you pay $4bn for a service that introduces people to each other who already know each other?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13435849

[Euler]

Key stats: -

http://mashable.com/2011/01/28/linkedin ... -overview/

[LeTiss]

I'd like to know how many people have benefitted from LinkedIn

When I was in Sales, I had an account, but all of my contacts were people I already dealt with anyway!

I've never met anyone who developed new business through having contact with a complete stranger on LinkedIn

[Iron]

In a word, 'No'...

From http://finance.yahoo.com/news/LinkedIn- ... 29464.html:

'Last year, LinkedIn earned $3.4 million on revenue of $243 million. Its growth accelerated during the first three months of 2011, putting it on a pace to generate $500 million in revenue this year.'

Since when is a firm making profits of $3.4 million per year worth $4 billion?!?

Jeff

Would you pay $4bn for a service that introduces people to each other who already know each other?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13435849

[Euler]

I have a decent network but it's only to keep in contact with people I have done business with in the past. When I get a random stranger asked to be linkedin I think 'OK what is he going to try and sell me and my contacts' so I don't approve them. I have a few CEO's on my network so out of courtesy to them I don't expand my network beyond those I know and trust. I guess others may use if differently.

Interesting to see recruitment is the driver for their business.

[Iron]

PS As I understand it, you can't search LinkedIn by area, job title and skills.

So if I own a company and I'm looking for an accountant, it's not the case that I can search for locally based accountants looking for new jobs, saving myself the cost of an ad in the paper or recruitment agency fees...

Jeff

[CaerMyrddin]

A very important company here is hiring 50% through Linkedin, but I wouldn't say it's worth what the market says...

[Iron]

'Was LinkedIn Scammed?' - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/opini ... .html?_r=2

Jeff

[andyfuller]

Business networking site LinkedIn has reported a 120% rise in revenues between April and June in its first results as a publicly-traded company.

Revenues hit $121m (£74m). Net profit rose to $4.5m from $4.3m a year ago.

In May, LinkedIn became the first major social networking site to go public, looking to cash in on investor appetite for social media firms.

But many analysts say that after the dotcom boom of a decade ago, we have now entered a social media tech bubble.

LinkedIn priced its shares at $45 in May, but the share price more than doubled on its first day of trading.

A $100 share price values the company at about $10bn, although the price has fallen to about $95 a share since then.

The LinkedIn website allows users to create professional profiles online and share them with others.

Investment planned
Ken Sena, analyst at Evercore Partners, said that the company's numbers for the April to June period had to be good to support the "lofty valuation".

Its membership base increased 61% on the same quarter last year to 115.8 million.

Chief executive Jeff Weiner said in a conference call that the site was adding about two members every second, and that it had more than 120 million members as of Thursday.

LinkedIn's profit was a much better result than expected, with most analysts forecasting a loss in the quarter.

The company itself has warned that it will not be profitable in 2011 as a whole, as it seeks to expand by investing aggressively.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14414827

[pt9091]

Must have been goldman sachs that valued linked in!

[Talkbet]

LinkedIn has the chance to be a really useful tool but it lacks any sort of management. The groups on there are a joke, no sooner do you join one group then another one starts up doing exactly the same thing. Unfortunately the whole thing is getting spammed by workers trying to get outsourced work.
On the plus side, I find it very handy to keep in touch with agents (I'm a contractor) and vice-versa as well as people I've worked with in the past. Always good to stay in touch with people for possible new opportunities!

[andyfuller]

Stock price is taking a hit today - down around 10%.