The dust has finally settled on the recent transaction by tech titan Microsoft acquiring business-oriented social networking service LinkedIn. Much has been speculated on what will happen from the purchase, and we at SteerPoint figured we’d list the possibilities. As firm believers of your businesses utilizing the power of social media, it’s important to understand the potential implications stemming from the seismic shift of one of (if not the) most important platforms businesses use.
We’re not exactly sure how to predict this will happen, but Microsoft’s applications and services would appear to easily integrate with what LinkedIn primarily offers, which is:
- A detailed profile of you. At its most primitive level, LinkedIn is an interactive resume that outlines your job history, skill, certifications and interests.
- A metaphorical web that displays the hierarchy of professionals across numerous industries.
- A communication platform for businesses and professionals.
- A de facto recruiting vehicle.
- A Sales Navigator to help companies close deals and leads more efficiently.
Microsoft is most associated with its Office Suite, which includes staples such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and Skype. These products are integral in daily productivity and have endured for now over two decades as some of the most essential pieces of software ever created. More recently, Microsoft has developed Cortana, a digital assistant a la Apple’s Siri and Dynamics, a CRM to rival Salesforce.
Naturally, this acquisition lends itself to a partnership between many products and services. For instance, Outlook could enhance email presentation with a sleeker look and more efficient interactivity from a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn can expand its use as a communication platform by integrating applications like Excel. A merger between Dynamics and Sales Navigator could yield a product that could beat Salesforce in the marketplace.
On a macro level, the promise to bring what’s proclaimed as the “world’s leading professional cloud with the world’s leading professional network” seems like a great fit. But as we’ve seen in the past with tweaks and alterations to social media platforms (because in the end, that’s what LinkedIn truly is), overcomplicating what’s familiar and mixing and matching products and services often doesn’t work out.
But we aren’t venture capitalists, so we’re not too concerned with the financial outcomes of the deal. We just hope that whatever does happen doesn’t alienate the users who only use LinkedIn at it’s most simple levels.
SteerPoint is a full-service digital marketing agency located in Indianapolis specializing in SEO, Content Creation, Social Media Strategy and Web Development.
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