LinkedIn use at work jumps 24 percent

LinkedIn was the favourite social media site for professionals at work in 2009, with 86% of worldwide internet users referring to it, a jump of 24% on 2008.

The survey from internet security firm FaceTime Communications shows that most professionals use LinkedIn to network with colleagues (79%), to learn about colleagues (66%) and for general research (61%). Only 37% were using LinkedIn for marketing to customers.

While only 13% said they used Twitter in 2008 for work purposes, the number leapt to 76% in 2009, overtaking Digg, Delicious and YouTube in the professional social networking pecking order though these also experienced substantial increases.

Facebook is still regarded as mainly a personal social networking site and in another survey reported in eMarketer, by Liberty Mutual, three quarters of employees More »

LinkedIn integrates with Outlook

In a dream last night I got up as usual to write my morning blog and found that the toaster had integrated with Twitter and my favourite coffee mug was streaming LinkedIn status updates. Rubbing my eyes I pulled a cereal bowl out of the cupboard and an Outlook message flashed up at the bottom of it saying 1 Reminder – you need to get out more.

OK, my dreams are not that interesting but it does seem social media is infiltrating everywhere at the moment, building influence through strategic alliances – LinkedIn and Twitter, Xbox and Facebook and now, potentially the real game changer for businesses, LinkedIn and Outlook. More »