I have to admit that LinkedIn is far and away my weakest network / touch point. I think part of that is the amount of time, part of that is that I'm still working on setting goals, and finally the feedback just isn't as instant on LinkedIn. I see a lot of people commenting, but not a lot of responses.

I'm sure for me it's mostly gruntwork as you put it, (though I'd be up for the personal video) but I think that instant gratification is what moves LinkedIn down the list for some folks.

Just my 2 cents.

Nice post. Enjoyed the video and comments. LinkedIn is certainly not dead, and is one of many social media options that is very useful, especially for business. One of their strengths is that they know their market and serve it well. I don't think LinkedIn in is trying to be twitter or facebook and when compared to other business oriented sites (Naymz, Ryz, Biznik, Plaxo, etc) I think they pretty much dominate. I use it every day for business development, research, crowd sourcing, and more.

Only grew 60%? That's not bad growth when the numbers are that large and what business would not die to have 60% yearly growth? Also, he only says that it's dead because he doesn't know how to use it. Anyone that knows how to use it, like yourself, are using LinkedIn to connect with other great business people.

Ya Brendan, there were 30 million people on LinkedIn last year, and now there are 60 million... so I'd say that is pretty good growth :)

Lewis - I appreciate your points here. Nothing like a little friendly debate! You should check out my profile sometime, http://www.linkedin.com/in/colinalsheimer. Maybe you can tell me what I'm doing wrong, because you'll see that I use LinkedIn very extensively. I'm just not getting as much value out of LinkedIn compared to networks like Twitter and Facebook. And I don't see them maintaining their position as a top network long term with the path they're taking.

Lewis

In speaking with many professionals in their search for the perfect career opportunity, I find too many of them "stop practicing when they get to the majors". While many should get the analogy, I simply mean too many professionals stop using the basics of business and networking once they believe they have arrived at the job of choice.

Just think about the elite athletes/coaches that we watch on the weekends...they work their tails off consistently. I have met Urban Meyer personally and I know why he needed a break. He is clearly one of the most intense competitors and committed coaches ever to coach college football. Peyton Manning, while he did not win the Super Bowl this year, his legend speaks for itself and there is very little argument against him being the most studied and prepared player on the field.

LinkedIn is a "tool" and a very effective tool for those who are not about resting on their past successes and understand that greatness is a journey and not a destination. The day you stand up and think you have figured it out is the same day someone is passing you by. Secondly, people need people in order to be successful. Why would someone not recognize that Linkedin contains some of the most influential business people globally and they are essentially waiting for you to creatively engage them with a smart idea.

Yes it takes work to network but we are no longer in an age of climbing the corporate ladder as it has become an everyday process to seperate yourself from the pack and stay on the ever moving escalator of business! Linkedin is a great tool and is very much ALIVE!!!

I couldn't have said it better Chris!

One big thing that also needs to be said - My public persona is wayyy different than my business self. I'm just not a straight-laced dude in my private life and sense Facebook & Twitter are my primary ways to communicate with friends and family (the phone seems to be dead if anything), I want to be able to really be myself when I update Facebook and tweet. Soooo, LinkedIn is an absolute necessity for me to connect professionally. Bottom-Line, if I could buy stock in LinkedIn, I would buy a whole lot of it.

I agree Aaron, I would as well ;)

Great post Lewis. There are a lot of features in LinkedIn that the average user doesn't realize. Simply based on my profile I was contacted by a major sports organization about potential opportunities to assist them. While that's an example of career opportunities, there are many other features I frequently use. I often participate in group discussions to learn best practices, new marketing ideas, etc. As you say, you'll get out what you put in.

Great post, Lewis. Love the topic. I have followed Chris Brogan for months and my guess is that his comments were probably used out of context. There is a place for LinkedIn just like any other tool in the social media toolbox. It's like saying the pliers or the hammer or the screwdriver is dead. Not dead, just a tool for some things and not others.

concur with lewis. i am extracting significant value from the linkedin network.

I know LinkedIn was huge for your success after you won The Apprentice with Donald Trump, and it's been big for Rotohog.com as well. Thanks for posting Kelly!