scheck+report+proposal

TO: Proximity Social Networking Team FROM: Alex Scheck DATE: Jan. 11, 2010 SUBJECT: LinkedIn report proposal

LinkedIn currently dominates the online professional networking market. L inkedIn strives to bring Gen-Y into it's demographic. I propose to write a report on how Gen-Y would benefit from using LinkedIn.


 * Needs**

The current economy makes finding jobs difficult, necessitating the need for networking. Facebook and other popular social networking sites are an option, however:


 * These site are designed primarily for social use
 * Few companies utilize these sites to connect with each other or search for potential job candidates

LinkedIn, however, is designed specifically for professional use, and executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members (LinkedIn, 2010). Therefore, those seeking career positions at Fortune 500 type companies will find LinkedIn useful. Independent and freelance professionals can also use LinkedIn to promote themselves and their services.

Gen-Y business professionals need this report to recognize how LinkedIn will help them gain a stronghold in the corporate domain.


 * Topics**

The proposed report, "Why Gen-Y Should Use LinkedIn," will cover the following topics:


 * Gen-X's use of LinkedIn


 * How Gen-Y would benefit from using LinkedIn


 * What LinkedIn is doing to expand its demographic


 * The future of LinkedIn

The report will include an attachment comparing LinkedIn with other professional networking sites.

LinkedIn. (2010 Jan.) About Us. Retrieved Jan. 6, 2010 from [].

On its "About Us"page, LinkedIn provides general information about its site. It displays a short list of facts about the site that express the scope of LinkedIn's user base, such as having over 55 million members. LinkedIn expresses how users will benefit from using its site and provides a list of things members are capable of doing through the site.

Parfeni, L. (2010 Jan. 6). LinkedIn Sets Up Its First Outpost in Mainland Europe. //Softpedia//. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2010 from [].

Parfeni reports on the opening of a new LinkedIn branch in the Netherlands, the first in continental Europe. Parfeni quotes LinkedIn's Netherlands country manager, who expresses her optimistic expectations for the new branch and how the branch will benefit the Dutch. Parfeni notes that LinkedIn's primary competitor, Xing, is headquartered in Europe. However, LinkedIn hopes to remain the dominant player in the professional networking market.

Siegler, M.G. (2009 Dec. 28). LinkedIn Polishes Its iPhone App Into A More Facebook-like Gem. //TechCrunch//. Retrieved Jan. 8, 2010 from [].

Siegler analyzes LinkedIn's 3.0 version of its iPhone app. He notes that the app is extremely similar to that of Facebook but states that the new app is a significant improvement over its predecessor. Siegler then discusses the ways in which the new app is easier to use. For example, the new "In Person" button makes exchanging contact information with someone close by easier through use of the iPhones Bluetooth.

Schaffer, N. (2009, Nov. 10) 5 Reasons Why the LinkedIn-Twitter Interface is Big News. //Windmill Networking.// Retrieved Jan. 11, 2010 from http://windmillnetworking.com/2009/11/10/4-reasons-why-the-linkedin-twitter-integration-is-big-news/.

Schaffer reports on how using the LinkedIn-Twitter interface is superior to using Ping.fm to update statuses on either site. He notes how the integration of Twitter and LinkedIn will benefit users as well as the sites themselves. He then, discusses five reasons why the interface is "Big News." For example, he states that the simultaneous status updates on both sites will attract more LinkedIn users from Twitter. .

Schaffer, N. (2009, Aug 29) What is LinkedIn and Why Should you Join?. //Windmill Networking.// Retrieved Jan. 11, 2010 from http://windmillnetworking.com/2009/08/26/what-is-linkedin-and-why-should-you-join/.

Schaffer reports on LinkedIn and how it benefits users. He first describes LinkedIn as "a huge database of professionals," stating how he believes it to be superior to other networking sites. Schaffer then lists and explains that people should join LinkedIn to: 1) reconnect with old friends and colleagues; 2) gain and share expertise by commenting on discussion and news boards in over 300,000 different groups; and 3) to manage one's career and ensure future growth in said career.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/20/linkedin-now-for-companies-2/

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/02/linkedins-reid-hoffman-we-can-go-public-any-time-we-want-to/