Why are you on LinkedIn???

My colleagues and I were having this interesting discussion today over lunch - Why are people (us and others) on LinkedIn?

Some of us commented that the only purpose being on LinkedIn is to search for a job. Either as an unemployed or when searching for a new vacancy. At least that is what the most of the group thought why people are active on LinkedIn.

My opinion was different. (This is nothing new. I tend to have contradict thoughts often.) At least many of my contacts have settled life and they tend to expand their networks as they live their busy lives. Many of them seem to be active and are sharing their knowledge online (in multiple social media channels) with others and are active to stay in touch with people. (This is what I really like but feel that I do not excel in it. Yet.)

My personal purpose then is to share my professional experience. I have somewhat colorful past as I have been working (and also studying) in many countries from small companies (sole proprietorship) to multinational company (Disneyland Paris). Therefor I feel that I have stories to tell and some knowledge to spread. Many times I can be as a mentor for other employees / interns or people who are entering work-life for the first time or after some years of unemployment. I have noticed that I can both share some of my successes but also what I have learned not to mention to help them know which mistakes could be avoided. I like being able to help and to use the knowledge bank inside me.

I am also looking for opportunities here. I would like to have some new challenges along my current work and to be able to utilize those of my skills that are not in use at the moment. Also it would be nice to find the ways to earn some extra, too. So anyone with good ideas feel free to contact me! ;) I am also writing my second book about strategic marketing (including sales and today's business life etc.) so the same time as I am posting here I am also creating content into my book.

Some of our lunch group were thinking that LinkedIn is dying, that people are moving to SnapChat or other platforms. However, personally I feel that those are different kind of platforms and they do not compete with LinkedIn. Neither does the Facebook or Instagram either. So I wouldn't say this platform is dying. On my opinion they are for different kinds of use. For me LinkedIn is more for professional contacts and then the Facebook is mainly for family and friends.

Now I would like to know what is your purpose being here?

• Do you feel that LinkedIn is an active platform for you and do you feel you gain something concrete from it?
• Also, do you feel that social media gives you good and useful platforms to communicate with your peers?

I, myself, find it valuable to have these connections here. I do not have to be in touch but if I need to contact someone I can do it easily. Or if I want to recommend someone or help someone, it is easy here. Many times it is also easy to find answers to my everyday work-life matters here. Sometimes you need to find information about people or just their contacts and here you can do it. Also one of the things I feel I get from this is that I can get my thoughts on paper. Sometimes it is just mainly to amuse myself with writing as so far I haven't been that good engaging people to respond my postings.

However, the amount of postings overall here is so huge that we can really get fed up and tired with it. There is sometimes just too much postings and too much stories and too many opinions (not to mention that I feel this is not the right place for politics). So the challenge really is how to keep that all in balance and keep people interested and connected.

So, here it is in a nutshell why I am here and now I really hope to get lots of feedback and many responses about why you are! So start writing! :)