www.lifehack.org: I dare speculate that professionals, business leaders, and entrepreneurs spent more time on LinkedIn more than on Facebook. That’s why common sense dictates that in the world of B2B marketing, LinkedIn is the premium social media platform to connect with leaders and decision makers. It’s as clear as a cloudless sky, LinkedIn is built for networking in the business sector. So everybody thinks that LinkedIn would be the best for business networking. Most especially for reaching customers.
8 comments:
I would have to say that there is not one right answer to the question, "LinkedIn Vs. Facebook: Which is Better For Business Networking". I say this because, I think that for personal networking in a professional manner, LinkedIn is the best place to be networking, but for a Business rather than an individual, Facebook seems to have a larger audience and has more options for how to connect with people around the world. In terms of networking, I would definitely say that Facebook is better for larger corporations/companies, and LinkedIn is better for individuals. Facebook is too personal and not professional enough to use as a networking profile in the business world, but Business pages on Facebook tend to be much more 'matter of fact' and less personal. I think both are great to use in certain instances.
I agree with Nate that each website has its own merit in terms of business networking. I think depends on how you use each website will determine how effective it will be. Facebook definitely has wider public, which can have quick and bigger network. However, LinkedIn is a network website for specific group of people who are interested in professional networking, so people will be more serious when interacting with people. I personally do not have much knowledge in LinkedIn because I only use Facebook. I always tend not to create too many accounts for the social networking websites because I do not want too much of my personal stuff to be floating in network. It is interesting how since the creation of Facebook, global networking for personal and professional purpose become so popular that everyone is expected to have Facebook account and to communicate and interact within the cyber space. Now, looking at what LinkedIn is for, I am amazed how more network website are created for different, specific purposes and goals. I think that it is really good idea in that it can help create connection for business people, but I am worried that sometimes, people will only see other people's surfaces based on what is posted on the website without knowing who they really are.
1. this is a really nice infographic.
2. I see facebook as a way for businesses to find consumers more than employees. Same with the other more "lifestyle" and less "professionally" oriented communication tools discussed here. Given the superbowl example, I personally don't watch ads and think, "gee, I hadn't ever thought about this company, maybe they are worth looking into as a potential employer." my mind is saying something more akin to, "man, that makes ME really want pizza too! I wonder if the place nearby delivers..."
3. LinkedIn is still going to seem more professionally viable than facebook. Facebook has more people, all of whom take it less seriously because it's not built as a career networking tool. That's just a side effect of the fact that we're always on it; we've just begun to use it for everything.
I agree with Becca on this one. Facebook is a great way for businesses to draw in more customers, but I doubt it's a way for a vast majority of people to find employment. I've said it a hundred times before, and I'll say it a hundred times more: Facebook is not professional. It's a good way to get a business's name out there and drum up customers, but if you are trying to market yourself to a potential employer, Facebook is an awful place to do it (unless you want to work for Facebook). Facebook is a social networking site, not a professional networking site. Leave the social networking aside when you're looking for a job.
In the same line of thought: clean your Facebook page up because employers WILL look at it. I have had multiple employers tell me straight up that they looked at my Facebook page when I applied for a job, and that it influenced whether or not they chose to hire me. If you're page is filled with pictures of drunken nights out and comments about all the crazy things you've done, then a company probably isn't going to want to hire you. They don't want that image portrayed by one of their employees in fear that it will give the company a bad name.
I wish our generation would think about how these online sites are viewed by professionals in the working world and about how it can ruin your chances at getting that dream job.
I don't exactly see how Facebook could be beneficial for business networking. I see Facebook as more of a personal social media where users share their lives rather than connect with businesses. And even though there's pages for businesses to connecting with users, it's more for a advertising cause than anything else. Businesses can't really form strong networks when they're simply posting for millions of users to see. Maybe I have a bad sense of what is meant by "Business Networking," but it just doesn't seem as though Facebook is the place to do this.
Like others, I believe that Facebook's power as a social networking tool for businesses is in the solicitation of business, more so than potential employees. I also think that, when networking, it's important to think of the quality of your business network in addition to the sheer number of nodes. For that, I would think LinkedIn is a more facile interface for connecting professionally. For example, I'm sure I could look up people who work for a company I'd be interested in, but is it really worth it to me to spend the time scrolling through pictures of children and cats to determine whether this person would be a useful contact?
Ultimately, I feel like it's prudent to keep personal and professional networks as separate as possible. I wouldn't connect to my grandmother on LinkedIn, and I personally don't feel comfortable essentially cold-calling prospective employers with the same profile I've had since 14.
Facebook is like Instagram and Twitter, a social online gathering. LinkedIn on the other hand is a professional display of myself. I am even very selective about who I accept or keep on there. However I have more freedom with my other personal social media accounts.
I don't see why some people can't tell how Facebook can be beneficial for business networking. That's like saying don't take your product to a full mall, cause no one will see it. Look at how many people are on Facebook!!! Look at how many artists and companies now have Instagram and Twitter accounts, it is not just Facebook. The logic behind having a business account on Facebook is that you can't always wait for people to come to you, you have to go to them. I have found out about so many companies and jobs and events through Facebook and to be honest, LinkedIn hasn't been very helpful as yet!
I agree with my peers. Facebook is not professional, and LinkedIn is a resource that was developed strictly for professional networking and use. However I disagree that Facebook is not something that CAN be used for professional networking or practice. I don't think it should just because it blurs the line between being professional and being social. However I got my job this past summer because my boss put a Facebook blast for the new position and I had some mutual friends let me know. So you definitely can't discount the benefits and power that Facebook has. You just have to remember that it is still just another social media and isn't considered professionally valid.
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