What’s Missing on LinkedIn? A Feature We All Need!

LinkedIn has become the go-to platform for professionals to connect, learn, and grow. From thought leadership posts to career updates, the wealth of content is immense. However, this very abundance can sometimes feel overwhelming. As a Product Manager, I find myself wanting a more structured way to consume content relevant to my interests—but LinkedIn lacks a feature that could make this possible: customizable lists.

The Problem: Information Overload

LinkedIn’s feed is designed to showcase updates from your connections, posts from people you follow, and algorithmically recommended content. While this is great for discovering new ideas, it’s far from perfect for focused engagement.

Here’s why:

1. Lack of Prioritization: If you’re connected to a diverse group of professionals, your feed will naturally contain a mix of updates—many of which may not align with your immediate interests.
2. Difficult to Focus: For instance, as a Product Manager, I want to keep up with posts about product management, but my feed also contains unrelated updates like company anniversaries, hiring posts, or entirely different domains.
3. Missed Opportunities: The scattergun approach of the current feed means I might miss important updates from people I truly want to follow closely, like thought leaders in my industry or key colleagues.
4. No Way to Segment: Unlike platforms like X or Facebook, LinkedIn does not allow users to create lists or groups to organize their connections. This makes it difficult to filter updates based on categories like product management, design, or leadership.

The Solution: Introducing LinkedIn Lists

LinkedIn could introduce a "Lists" feature to solve this problem. Here’s how it could work:

1. Create Custom Lists

Users can create custom lists to group their connections or people they follow into specific categories. For example:

• Product Management
• Industry Thought Leaders
• Team Members
• Motivation

2. View Feed by List

Once lists are created, users can toggle their feed to view updates from a specific list. This would allow focused engagement on topics or groups that matter at a given moment.

3. Suggested Lists

LinkedIn could leverage its algorithm to suggest lists based on user behavior. For instance:

• A "Colleagues" list could automatically include people from your current organization.
• A "Mentors" list could be suggested based on users you frequently engage with for advice.

4. Privacy Controls

To maintain LinkedIn’s professional tone, privacy controls can ensure lists are visible only to the creator.

5. Analytics for Lists

For premium users, LinkedIn could offer insights into their lists. For example, how often do you engage with your "Product Management" list compared to your "Leadership" list?

The Product Management Perspective

As Product Managers, we know that the best features solve specific pain points while aligning with the company’s goals. Here’s why "Lists" make sense for LinkedIn:

1. User Engagement

Segmented feeds increase user engagement. When users can focus on content that matters to them, they’re likely to spend more time on the platform and interact more frequently.

2. Enhances LinkedIn’s Professional Value

Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn’s mission is to connect professionals. Lists align with this by fostering targeted engagement, networking, and knowledge sharing.

3. Monetization Opportunities

LinkedIn could monetize this feature by making advanced list functionalities—like analytics or additional lists—part of its premium offerings. This creates a win-win for both users and the platform.

4. Competitive Edge

Features like lists already exist on platforms like X, giving users more control over their content consumption. By adopting this, LinkedIn can retain its competitive edge while catering to professional needs.

This simple feature could transform LinkedIn into a more organized, user-centric platform—helping professionals connect and grow with greater ease.