As part of the new profile work I’ve mentioned beore, Linkedin has also started to discontinue its applications. What does this mean for you?
The Applications, or Apps, were what Linkedin used to increase its functionality and interact with other platforms. Here are some examples of apps that are (or are about to be) discontinued, and what you can do about it if it affects you.
Tweets – Linkedin’s rather useful tool to find your Linkedin connections on Twitter has been gone for a while. To find twitter users, either check their ‘Contact Information’ button on their profiles, or export your Linkedin addresses and import them to Twitter via Googlemail or similar. Twitter’s iPhone app has now started to sync with your address book (if you let it) so you can also check via this if your Linkedin connections are on twitter and make sure you join the conversation there if you are.
Events – Linkedin enabled event pages to be created, and this was a very useful tie-in with the ecosystem of Linkedin, as your attendance at events could be added to your profile, and a status update also let your network know you were going. However, Linkedin is getting rid of many of its ‘non-core’ tools like this, and instead I recommend you use other dedicated tools (like I use Eventbrite) to plan events, and then share these via the status update system on Linkedin.
Blogs – Linkedin had several blog applications which allowed you to add a feed of latest blog posts to your profile. Some of the more common ones like WordPress and Blogger have tools to enable you to post automatically to the status update system on Linkedin now. Again, Linkedin is encouraging you to post as and when, direct into its status update system. You’ll also note that RSS feeds (the syndication feed system on which blogs and news feeds operate) are being discontinued as a way of feeding content into groups. I think this is a good thing as it encourages more thought about what you share where. You can still post directly though, with discretion!
Slideshare – Linkedin bought Slideshare, the presentation publishing tool, last year. Slideshare is a great tool for sharing powerpoint or keynote content, and pdf documents too. Previously you could add these to your profile via the Slideshare app. Now you have to do it direct using the ‘Rich Media’ button.
How to add Rich Media: Visit the part of your profile and click on the Rich Media button in the top right hand corner of that part. You can add Images, Video, Audio, Presentations and other documents, there’s a full list on a button in the dialogue box that comes up.
Be sparing with your use of rich media or it can look rather messy. I think that this tool will be gradually improved by Linkedin if it takes off. Its a shame that some of the functionality of Slideshare isn’t there anymore, but its good that you can still add that video about your work to your profile under the job to which it relates – a useful too.
There are many other applications which Linkedin is discontinuing. If you have any questions about these, why not comment below and we can investigate for you and share the results.
Leave a Reply