Facebook is the most popular social platform. It has more than a billion users worldwide and almost limitless content. People connect with one another and share their stories, thoughts, images, and videos. Something you may not know, however, is that LinkedIn is taking steps in this direction too.
The Social Network for Business
In case you don’t know, LinkedIn is a network dedicated to connecting the business world. Individuals can display their skills and qualifications while searching for jobs, and companies can get better ideas about prospective new hires. It’s a highly professional platform, filled with over 450 million users across the worldwide.
There are built-in features specifically for business and hiring, such as the ability to add resumes and work experience. It’s much more streamlined and focused, lacking the ability to play games or use instant messaging. Connections can be messaged privately, but the site is designed to give an air of sophistication.
This is a stark contrast to Facebook’s overload of entertaining videos and recipes. To be fair, the sites were created with completely different goals in mind, and that shows today. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Or is it?
In recent times, LinkedIn began to make changes. The most obvious new feature is the ability to add video to your profile. It may seem like this is just an imitation of Facebook, but does it have business implications?
Why LinkedIn Videos Are Important
Telecommuting jobs are more popular than ever. Companies and employees both save significantly on expenses when travel and office space is removed from the equation. Some businesses, however, find it hard to hire people they’ve never formally met. LinkedIn videos can help remedy this.
During the interview process, applications like Skype or FaceTime are often used so the employee and employer can chat. This added functionality in LinkedIn allows both parties to investigate one another.
Potential employees can demonstrate promising skills or perhaps reveal they’re not so well matched for the position. By reviewing the profile after an application, businesses can save time by avoiding candidates who aren’t a good fit. Strong contenders, on the other hand, have a chance to make themselves shine and create a feeling of familiarity.
LinkedIn’s focus isn’t to be the next Facebook, but instead to connect the professional world with the right people. Adding video has undoubtedly helped improve the experience, but they haven’t abandoned the business world to become a purely social engagement.