Comments on: The Social Facts about Facebook, LinkedIn and Plaxo.

By: David Cervi

David Cervi — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:53:33 +0000

Just stumbled on this article and discussion. A year and a half on, the landscape has changed somewhat now that Facebook offers better business options etc, but it still seems that a great many people prefer to keep Faceboook personal and LinkedIn professional, since LinkedIn is, mercifully, fairly free of the mindless and sometimes tasteless banter that too often clutters Facebook. I really don’t see this changing any time soon.

As for Plaxo etc, I have yet to meet anyone who can justufy putting much effort into any other online social networks besides the big players LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

By: Omer Duesterhaus

Omer Duesterhaus — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:12:28 +0000

Just want to say your article is brilliant. The clarity in your post is simply spectacular and i can assume you are an expert on this field. Well with your permission allow me to grab your rss feed to keep up to date with future post. Thanks a million and please keep up the fabulous work

By: Mac

Mac — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:08:10 +0000

I have accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn and Plaxo. Each of them has some advantages and disadvantages.

Facebook is the definite winner for social interactions, fun and mobile integration (the iPhone app is really nice), but is fiercely controlling about what information you can export (basically you can’t export almost anything). So really a failure at any sort of connection/contact management that is somewhat critical in business.

LinkedIn has focused on business connections and tools instead of social ones. Features like the ability to show a connection chain, recommendations and searching by company can be invaluable in business applications. I have recently decided to seek out a career move. LinkedIn has been very useful in checking out companies I’m talking with. I search for the company and see who works there, or has worked there that I may have a contact in common with. That way I can get a more reliable sense of the company environment and culture when considering any offers. I think it’s a real disadvantage that you have to pay a subscription for simple features like sending messages or getting introduced, and wonder if it’s a sustainable long term business model given the pressure from Facebook. Although, unlike Facebook, you can easily export your connections from LinkedIn.

Plaxo entered the game with focus on contact management and syncing, which can be very useful, but not sure enough people will pay for the features necessary to really make it effective. I think it wants to be the best of both Facebook and LinkedIn, but the boat has already sailed, and I really doubt it’s differentiating feature of automatic contact syncing and updating is enough for its network to reach critical mass to make it useful.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:16:26 +0000

If you are going to control your online visibility for business purposes rather than have it control you, my vote is on LinkedIn. It is much more robust and focused than FB and the chances of finding your kids on it is a lot lower:). If used well (and it can be for free) you can generate an amazing number of contacts and get to someone you need to. My experience with FB was reading about people doing the most trivial things – like getting their haircut! While that may be interesting on a social level it certainly doesn’t do the trick professionally.

By: lallo

lallo — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 23:47:51 +0000

I have revised my opinion just slightly of LinkedIn, partially because of all the great comments that have been left. I have still seen no real compelling reason to choose it over Facebook, but I have an open mind.

By: Tom Roux

Tom Roux — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:35:46 +0000

Ed,

I have to agree with Keith De La Rue’s comment that you may have been a bit harsh on LinkedIn. I’ve been a devoted user of LI’s free service for several years and with great success.
For further details on the value of LinkedIn, check out my recent post: Are you a networking LION or lamb?

I also have a Facebook profile that is intended (mostly) for non-business use only.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:51:54 +0000

I wanted this article to live up to its title and provide the social facts of social networking. I want to know: After initial contact, how are users remaining “social?” Now that I have a list of friends/contacts, what do I do? How do I stay keep my online presence relevant? Someone, please, write that article.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:36:03 +0000

I have been feeling guilty about not visiting my LinkedIn profile, not “connecting” with people there, and not spending enough time in the network.

How ironic, then, that with some random clicking about in LinkedIn, I found this article, which alleviated my guilt entirely and prompted me to update my LinkedIn status to “Nikki is rarely on LinkedIn but often on Facebook. Same name, better status lines, I promise.”

Thanks. There’s already enough stress in my life.

By: Betsy

Betsy — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:52:44 +0000

OK, add me to the middle ground too. I’ve been on linked in about 6 years now and have loved the work aspect and networking aspect of it. I recently got on Facebook and – while I love it – it’s a little broad and busy for a ADD person like me. Also, a practical point for those of us living behind corporate firewalls: many companies block Facebook but allow LinkedIn.

And one more thing. I’m a geek, but also anxious to keep the lines a little distinct between work and home, and I’m not so sure I want my boss trolling my personal wall and public discussions and pictures with friends.

By: Keith De La Rue

Keith De La Rue — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 10:41:45 +0000

Ed –

I am of the opinion that you may have judged LinkedIn a little harshly. It really does have value as a business networking tool – and I mean with the *free* services *only*. I have never seen a need to upgrade. I also use Facebook and Twitter. Each of these services has great value to me, and I can’t give totally clear-cut boundaries between them. (Yes, to some extent LinkedIn is “business” and Facebook is “personal”, but I don’t like making such distinctions anyway.)

One clear benefit of LinkedIn is the ability to have colleagues or clients write independent recommendations.

Read more about how I have used these services in my article: “Wanted – used car for $8,516.58″. Perhaps start here and refer back: http://delarue.net/blog/2008/03/found-car/.

– Keith.