The LinkedIn Game Show: Engagement Pods

Hello and welcome back to your favorite LinkedIn game show:

IT'S FISHY!

This is Thomas Jackson. Given the choice between starting a podcast and hosting a game show- more can be learned on the game show. On tonight's episode we are describing the bane of fake popularity- engagement pods. I have never been invited to an engagement pod. One of the strengths of this site is real engagement. Our contestants are people met through this site. They would have lost eligibility if they only said "Great Post!"

Our first contestant has a large following and is quick to respond. You might have enjoyed him on The Pozcast or at a New York Islanders game. Ladies and gentlemen: Adam Posner.

Adam: Thanks, Thomas. You should come to New York.

Thomas: So I can appear on your podcast?

AP: No, I want people to actually listen and give feedback.

TJ: Point taken. This lady I know- a host- had me on her show and expected that would open the floodgates. I was on one other show because I had a specific story. I have been on the evening news more often.

AP: Don't worry about it. We're talking now. Do you need the validation of appearing on a show?

TJ: Not really. Our second guest flew in from Beverly Hills. With Oaty in hand, please give a warm welcome to John Kraski.

John: Wow wow wow. I never imagined LinkedIn would have their own game show.

AP: Has more value than LinkedIn Games.

TJ: Is that still a thing? I spend too much time on this site anyway. At least I spend it with guys like you and our returning champion. You know her, you love her, please don't hit on her because she, like every woman on LinkedIn, is happily married. Put your hands together for Deanna Russo.

Deanna: Thank you. I have a feeling the men in foreign countries who hit on me are in pods.

TJ: That's a foolish way to reach a quota. I love commenting The three of you are not the only ones I comment with. You post frequently enough that your next post is near the top of the feed.

JK: I think that bell is useless.

DR: I had some ring my bell.

TJ: Like that Anita Ward song?

DR: You and your one hit wonders. Some of your comments have inspired me to search on YouTube. Interesting songs.

TJ: I'm a little surprised I didn't search for Quincy Jones today.

DR: He produced so many great songs. The jazz alone is worth it.

AP: Guys, remember when we were on a game show?

TJ: You're right. They put me in an unfriendly section at work so when I have the chance to talk with a friendly crowd- here's the first question. This person posted at 9:15. By 9:37 he has eight hundred likes, two hundred comments and fifty seven reshares.

JK: (buzzing in) It's fishy. What are the chances everyone in this person's network happened to be on the site at the exact time and they were all inspired the same way?

TJ: Correct. You are on the board. Sometimes I receive a bunch of likes as soon as an article is published. When I check the stats, no one read it.

DR: They could be bookmarking it to read later.

AP: Yeah. Sometimes the page refreshes and what was the top post disappears. I don't think eight hundred people are doing that.

TJ: If they are people at all. Next scenario: a man is accused of using pods. He justifies the short generic comments with the fact that many of followers are in foreign countries and their English is limited.

DR: It's fishy. If their English is broken, how could they have understood the post?

JK: I have dealt with many whom English is not their first language. You can help them find the right word and communicate as best as you can.

TJ: That's a good course of action. We have time for one more. If you use pods you run the risk of being suspended from this site.

AP: It's fishy.

TJ: LinkedIn is weird. Some who view many profiles because they are interested in connecting and-God forbid- expanding their networks are accused of using automation when they checked the profiles manually one by one. Liam was suspended today.

JK: What? Liam speaks out against engagement pods.

AP: He has no reason to use engagement pods. He is engaging.

DR: We talk all the time.

TJ: I was going to invite him on the show before this happened. It is unfair because he is a paying customer and his business is about using this site. It feels like the opposite of biting the hand that feeds you.

DR: Some have said you need to have reach on many sites in case one decides to put you in the penalty box.

TJ: There was a bar called The Penalty Box. It was opened by a member of the Capitals-Bryan Watson- who spent a lot of time in the penalty box. It was absorbed into the pizza place downstairs although the bar is still fondly recalled. In honor of Liam and his love of personal branding.

AP: Not to mention hockey.

TJ: He is Canadian, you know. The Hurricanes beat the Capitals in the battle of surprising teams off to hot starts. To the point, the slogan of The Penalty Box was "Drink your face off."

DR: Good play on words. I hope I live long enough to see the Sabres at least make the playoffs.

TJ: The Bills might have already won the AFC East.

DR: One game at a time. I would rather talk sports which is real engagement than to have many pod comments that teach us nothing about the personality of the commenter.

TJ: I met all of you through the comments. We are all going to meet in real life at some point. Time and money. I love to travel. I have been threatening to visit Raleigh for years. I hope Liam is out of detention by then.

JK: It stinks that people who make the site interesting are taken away. The strange thing about social media is we know each other and yet we don't.

AP: You should show the best side of yourself. That does not happen through pods.

TJ: One would think after Invasion of the Body Snatchers and two good remakes people would steer clear of pods. The prize on this show was going to be greater engagement. As all of you have said, you cannot deposit likes and impressions in the bank.

JK: Not unless you want to get really strange looks from a teller.

TJ: Not everyone uses LinkedIn. Since the prize was silly- let's go out to dinner. No one who uses pods is anyone I want to meet or want to get to know in life. The ones who socialize and describe their lives and work- those are the best friends you can have. When we look int each other eyes for real, it won't be the first time we met. Thank you and good night.