- Original Poster
- #1
OK this might be part question/part rant 
I have used LinkedIn for years. Always kept it strictly professional - career changes, sharing company info & news, keeping up with ex-colleagues career moves etc. I wouldn't say I've ever thought it's massively useful but it's been worth browsing through once or twice a day, whilst having a laugh at the fake stories (you know the ones... "I was on my way to a job interview and a guy I thought was homeless couldn't pay for his coffee. I paid for it, then when I arrived for the job interview that guy was actually interviewing me and it turns out he just hadn't brushed his hair that day and had left his platinum Amex at home... he gave me the job... the moral of the story is you never know who you're speaking to" type absolute nonsense).
But recently.... good God. Maybe it's just my bullshit tolerance levels draining as I get older, but it's just an unreadable cesspit of pointless information, unnecessary self- back-slapping, and AI generated absolute drivel. Not just the AI stories that are obviously false, but the fact that almost every post by a business is AI-created too... leading to the same phrases that say lots without saying anything, time after time.
I've just returned from our industrys biggest international trade show - the last 2-3 days on LinkedIn have just been the same post from 50 or 60 or 70 different companies who have all, apparently, been doing the exact same thing:
- Having a great time - what a whirlwind!
- Strengthening relationships
- Meaningful discussions
- Connecting with new partners and re-connecting with long established ones.
- Discussing the future of the industry
- Sharing ideas and opportunities
Etc etc etc - And I should add, our company have posted the exact same sentiments! What's particularly laughable is that everyone at the event was moaning to each other about the lack of footfall, how it goes on too long, unsure about the future of trade fairs.... but no, we can't let that be shown or discussed on LinkedIn!
It made me wonder - what do I actually get from LinkedIn? Personally, or our business. And the answer, at least in quantifiable terms, is pretty much zero. In terms of leads, in the 3 1/2 years I've been here we had one lead come through about 2 years ago which has *just* recently turned into a small order. We've had other oddball/random enquiries but nothing serious.
I suppose that much like other advertising there might be things we can't quantify - has it helped with our brand recognition? Have people lower down the chain seen our products and then bought them from a local supplier or distributor?
There's occasionally keeping on top of what competitors are doing I suppose - but I don't think it's ever really stuff that, if relevant, I wouldn't hear about through the grapevine anyway.
So - am I doing something wrong, or has it really just become the pointless treadmill of "aren't we doing great" and "look at me" type posts that I think it is? Does anyone really see LinkedIn as a meaningful, useful tool for their business?
I'm on a bit of a mission to cull some of my socials and certainly my daily scrolling time - as it stands, LinkedIn is up there as one to be deleted!
I have used LinkedIn for years. Always kept it strictly professional - career changes, sharing company info & news, keeping up with ex-colleagues career moves etc. I wouldn't say I've ever thought it's massively useful but it's been worth browsing through once or twice a day, whilst having a laugh at the fake stories (you know the ones... "I was on my way to a job interview and a guy I thought was homeless couldn't pay for his coffee. I paid for it, then when I arrived for the job interview that guy was actually interviewing me and it turns out he just hadn't brushed his hair that day and had left his platinum Amex at home... he gave me the job... the moral of the story is you never know who you're speaking to" type absolute nonsense).
But recently.... good God. Maybe it's just my bullshit tolerance levels draining as I get older, but it's just an unreadable cesspit of pointless information, unnecessary self- back-slapping, and AI generated absolute drivel. Not just the AI stories that are obviously false, but the fact that almost every post by a business is AI-created too... leading to the same phrases that say lots without saying anything, time after time.
I've just returned from our industrys biggest international trade show - the last 2-3 days on LinkedIn have just been the same post from 50 or 60 or 70 different companies who have all, apparently, been doing the exact same thing:
- Having a great time - what a whirlwind!
- Strengthening relationships
- Meaningful discussions
- Connecting with new partners and re-connecting with long established ones.
- Discussing the future of the industry
- Sharing ideas and opportunities
Etc etc etc - And I should add, our company have posted the exact same sentiments! What's particularly laughable is that everyone at the event was moaning to each other about the lack of footfall, how it goes on too long, unsure about the future of trade fairs.... but no, we can't let that be shown or discussed on LinkedIn!
It made me wonder - what do I actually get from LinkedIn? Personally, or our business. And the answer, at least in quantifiable terms, is pretty much zero. In terms of leads, in the 3 1/2 years I've been here we had one lead come through about 2 years ago which has *just* recently turned into a small order. We've had other oddball/random enquiries but nothing serious.
I suppose that much like other advertising there might be things we can't quantify - has it helped with our brand recognition? Have people lower down the chain seen our products and then bought them from a local supplier or distributor?
There's occasionally keeping on top of what competitors are doing I suppose - but I don't think it's ever really stuff that, if relevant, I wouldn't hear about through the grapevine anyway.
So - am I doing something wrong, or has it really just become the pointless treadmill of "aren't we doing great" and "look at me" type posts that I think it is? Does anyone really see LinkedIn as a meaningful, useful tool for their business?
I'm on a bit of a mission to cull some of my socials and certainly my daily scrolling time - as it stands, LinkedIn is up there as one to be deleted!
