Since 2012 LinkedIn has promoted the thoughts of big names in the business world, including Richard Branson and Bill Gates, through its Influencer program. Starting today LinkedIn is opening this publishing platform to all of its members, allowing everyone can share their insights with the LinkedIn community and continue to build upon their professional profiles.
LinkedIn hopes its newly expanded publishing platform will help LinkedIn members gain more knowledge in their fields. “We believe in giving our members access to the business knowledge they need to be great at what they do,” Director of Product Management Ryan Roslansky wrote on the LinkedIn blog. “To put that simply, we are making a commitment to our members: the time you spend on LinkedIn will make you better at your job today.”
Now when members publish to LinkedIn, the content will live in their profiles and will be shared with their network. Some posts might even be spread to LinkedIn users beyond just their contacts. Considering the average Influencer post receives over 31,000 views and 250 likes and 80 comments, LinkedIn members have the potential to see a lot of engagement with their posts.
The newly expanded publishing platform complements LinkedIn’s efforts to make its service more sticky. Giving users the ability to post their thoughts to the network as well as to find more content from their contacts might encourage users to log in every day.
While LinkedIn expands publishing capabilities to the masses, it’s also adding new voices to its Influencer program. New faces include Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, CEO of AOL Brand Group Susan Lyne and Financial Expert and CNBC host Suze Orman.
Initially LinkedIn will give 25,000 members publishing access, and will eventually expand publishing capabilities to all members over the coming months.
Recently LinkedIn launched a new marketplace to connected professionals with volunteer opportunities.
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