My New LinkedIn User guide!

Welcome to episode 118 of the LinkedInformed podcast at the end of a truly historic week for LinkedIn.

As you would expect I am going to concentrate all of this episode on evaluating Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn.

Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella – looking rather pleased with himself!

Advantages for Microsoft

• Entry into the social media space. An area they have neglected to get involved with previously which was beginning to look like a serious weakness.
• An opportunity to increase sales of Office 365 via extensive integration with LinkedIn’s functionality.
• Dynamics (Their CRM solution) will benefit the most from this acquisition and potentially allow it to become the market leader (currently Salesforce).
• Content from LinkedIn publishing allowing greater advertising opportunities.
• Big data. Rich information about people and their online behaviour.

Advantages for LinkedIn

• $26 billion!
• Greater resources to enable new products such as Pro-finder to be launched and rapidly expanded.
• $26 billion!
• Use of Microsoft’s massive cloud infrastructure.
• A way out of their stock-based compensation conundrum.
• $2.3 billion into Reid Hoffman’s bank account!

Advantages for Members

• I expect the under-resourced help centre to improve significantly
• Skype integration
• Integration with Outlook 365 & Dynamics.
• Better distribution of published posts

Disadvantages for Members

• Less Google optimisation
• Another secretive ‘closed’ culture
• Focus on corporates at the expense of SMB’s
• And …..

Interesting links;

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella email to employees on acquisition of LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s press release

This Is The Real Reason Microsoft Bought LinkedIn – Forbes

The Microsoft-LinkedIn hookup will be the END of DAYS, I tell you!

One Unspoken Reason Behind the Microsoft-LinkedIn Deal (stock based compensation)

My Life On LinkedIn Since 2006: A Case Study

Microsoft Buying LinkedIn: Who Are The Possible Winners And Losers?

Here’s What Experts Think of Microsoft’s Acquisition of LinkedIn – What About You?

LinkedIn + Microsoft: 3 Ways it Will Shake up the (Tech) World

11 Improvements Microsoft can do to make LinkedIn Better

Why the LinkedIn sale is a disappointment to most sales and marketing professionals

That’s it for this week, don’t forget to leave a voicemail or email me with any questions or suggestions, till next time.

Have a great week.

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