LinkedIn influence – is this for real?
So I’m cruising around LinkedIn when I spot, under the heading Viewers of this profile also viewed…, this entry:
I admit, curiosity got the better of me so I took a quick look. It is indeed the US secretary of state and presidential candidate. On her profile, again under the Viewers of this profile also viewed… showed:
and so on.
Is this for real? Are politicians and actors really using LinkedIn as a networking device? Mr Obama’s entry has (not surprisingly) over 500 connections.
If it’s all a spoof it’s expertly done. The understatements are wonderful: Mr Obama describes his current role as “I am serving as the 44th President of the United States of America.” Kevin Bacon is an “Independent Entertainment Professional”. There is no hint of sarcasm or irony. It could be authentic.
Is it? Can anyone confirm this?
Linked helpfully informs me, on the How you’re connected to Barack sidebar, that I’m only 3 connections away from the president of the United States. But I suspect that everyone else is too. Unfortunately, LinkedIn also notes that “Barack Obama is not currently open to receiving Introductions or InMail”
Oh well…
PS – As far as I can see our own nation’s leader, Gordon Brown, isn’t on LinkedIn. Is anyone surprised by this?
Duncan, You might find this post at LinkedIn corp blog of interest.
“Barack Obama asks for your ideas on the competitiveness agenda”
URL: http://blog.linkedin.com/2008/06/19/barack-obama-as/
And to be fair, this one as well…
“LinkedIn Answers: John McCain asks what the biggest challenge facing America is”
Link:
http://blog.linkedin.com/2008/04/09/linkedin-answ-1-2/
I really want to believe that “famous” people are using linkedin. However, I find it hard to believe that the President, as hip as he is, is really updating any social media sites himself. There is most likely a staff member assigned to keep these sites updated. It’s possible that he may not even know that they are doing this and just using it as a marketing tool.
As for actors, again, I do want to believe, but I would have to think that this is probably their managers/reps that are updating their social media sites for them.
I do challenge any “famous” person to email me directly or call me (my number is on my site) and talk about how they use these sites!
GB seems to be on there now – at first glance I wanted to connect…and managed it succesfully (which instantly makes it dubious).
His profile is also rather hilarious – surely a mockery?? It’s his contact list that makes it seem partly believable, unless they are all in on it too!
Of course all of the above will have a PA or 2 who monitor their emails, and networks.
It’s true! Lordy – with a general election in the UK in the next 11 months will we see Gordon’s profile on LinkedIn? And more importantly, will anyone connect to him?!