Home
>
Traffic Building
>
What is all the Buzz about LinkedIn and Does It Work?

What is all the Buzz about LinkedIn and Does It Work?

Have you received invitations to join an online networking website? These new websites have created quite a buzz as the next big thing. People brag about having thousands of 'links' on LinkedIn.com. But this article attempts to explain what value, if any, derives from these networks. Basically, people are driven by the system to forge networks with complete strangers. One of the founders of LinkedIN, Konstantin, posted a message on another forum that was filled with idealistic platitudes that do not match the reality of LinkedIn. Here is my response to him.

KONSTANTIN: the feedback our customer service receives indicates quite clearly that most regular business people are taking aback when receiving invitations from strangers.

MIKE: Simply put, those business people do not belong in LinkedIN. People who want to be a remote island and only hear from people they know are not part of a network. They are discrete modules and demonstrate they are ignorant of the value in expanding their network, yes, to complete strangers who have better ideas, fresher ideas, and innovations they have not considered yet.

KONSTANTIN: The practice of inviting other users to connect even though they are strangers is bad for everyone-it undermines among casual users the trust in LinkedIn as a useful tool, and it doesn't help thee sender's reputation either. If not at least 80-90% of existing LinkedIn users accept your invitations, think about what this is doing to your reputation.

MIKE: LinkedIN creates its own frenzy to accumulate strangers into networks by limiting people to see only profiles of those who are in 4 degrees of the user. There are over 3.5 million users of the system, but, for example, I can only reach 2 million of them. What am I missing in the other 1.5 million? I don't have any contacts to top-tier investment banks or hedge funds, and in order to develop even a contact name, I, like every other user of LinkedIN, have to reach out to strangers who have third degree contacts with the type of firms I want to reach.

From the outset, LinkedIN intentionally sought to undermine the value of having only closely affiliated friends and colleagues in a network by limiting the ability of people to see beyond their narrow circle. There is no reason that a general search should not cover EVERY SINGLE profile in LinkedIN. By limiting us to the fourth degree contacts, everyone has an incentive to do whatever is necessary to bring the fourth degree contacts up to the total 3.5 million users if possible.

Again, if there are people who don't want to be contacted, they really have no business joining LinkedIN. It detracts from the rest of us who actually know the value of a network and of networking --- which means expanding the size of one's network.

KONSTANTIN: Other sites have failed to attract a business audience beyond networkers-LinkedIn is the first that appeals to the broad segment of relationship managers. We are trying to create the biggest possible tent and tolerate all behavior that falls within the bounds of the LinkedIn user agreement. Most of our users only invite people they know well. However, if a small minority of 1,000's of users doesn't show respect to the majority of millions and it affects how LinkedIn is perceived by mainstream business users, we will be forced into the awkward position of bouncer to protect our users from people violating the LinkedIn user agreement.

We have VPs or CEOs of 498 of the Fortune 500 on LinkedIn-I don't see them inviting strangers to add some links to their connection. If we want toemulate successful business behavior, let's start by studying those who have made it to the top . . .

MIKE: When someone reaches the level of VP or CEO of a Fortune 500 company, he or she has a built-in network and does not need to use LinkedIN, period. But for the small businessman, and those who aspire to be more than what they are today, then your LinkedIN system distorts preferences to the point that it gives every single user significant incentives to add as many strangers to his network as possible. It is all because you will not allow users to reach out and contact other users directly, and because you limit the results that show up in searches to only four degrees. Honestly Konstantin, did you put ANY thought into the limitations of your system before you launched it on the web? No wonder I have a problem getting many of my past co-workers to join LinkedIN, because they perceive it as a gimmick with no value, since their own narrow circle of friends cannot provide the business opportunities they seek.

Michael is a trilingual (English, German, French) transactional lawyer and financial manager with fifteen years experience and legal expertise in the areas of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; securities regulation and hedge fund creation; and deal structuring / business transactions. To further compliment his legal skill set, Michael is an experienced investment banker having worked within the top tier investment banks, namely Credit Suisse First Boston and Deutsche Bank, for an international clientele. He played an instrumental role in developing an index-tracking fund and answered technical questions on fund management marketing calls. He advised clients on pre-IPO investments, stock repurchases, and using structured finance products to manage risk. More recently, he directed the risk management and financial control groups for two trading floors.

See his web page at http://riskmgmt.biz

no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..

In The News:

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.

Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Texas family reunites with missing 11-year-old cat Grayson after 103 days using Petco Love Lost's AI photo matching technology and community help.

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

What is all the Buzz about LinkedIn and Does It Work?

Traffic Building