Microsoft-owned LinkedIn is one of the largest social networking platforms, with more than 774 million registered users across 200 countries and territories globally. Over the past few years, it has become the go-to platform for recruiters to rope in top talent, for service providers to connect with businesses, and for individuals to build careers.
To be sure, LinkedIn was launched in 2003, and it has evolved quite a lot since its humble beginnings, as it went to add multiple new features to make it attractive for professionals and businesses globally. Going ahead, the platform is likely to reshape as per the latest industry trends and to ensure it remains relatable to the workforce and businesses.
In a bid to get a sense of how LinkedIn of the future would look, we have come up with this blog. Here are a few top predictions and trends to watch:
1. Video Content to Get More Popular
The world is increasingly consuming content in byte-sized video pieces, a format that got popularized with the entry of TikTok. The format’s popularity is such that almost every social media platform now prioritizes these videos, aiming to increase user engagement time.
LinkedIn is no different; therefore, the platform will likely prioritize video content in the future. Several LinkedIn influencers are already championing the trends with their videos doing rounds over the social networking platform.
Founder and CEO of Warm Robots Goldie Chan, speaker/author Viveka von Rosen, LinkedIn coach Judi Fox, LinkedIn trainer Andy Foote, and content marketing expert Ryan Hanley are some of the most popular LinkedIn influencers who regularly share videos on LinkedIn. Emerging creators can give them a follow to understand how to stay on top of their game.
2. AI-driven Features To Get Increased Adoption
AI (Artificial intelligence) revolution is upon us. It’s going to change almost all things internet, whether you like it or not. With LinkedIn’s parent company Microsoft at the forefront of the AI-led revolution, it’s easy to predict that there will be swathing changes to the social networking platform. So, you can expect a slew of new AI-driven features that will make LinkedIn much smarter and more useful than ever before.
3. Online Learning Courses To Get More Traction
For many, Linkedin is the go-to education platform as it offers vast knowledge. Its online learning platform LinkedIn Learning is already a hit among professionals looking to either upskill or reskill to adapt to the rapidly changing nature of the workforce.
Dashing ahead with the trend, LinkedIn will likely invest heavily in online learning. It will likely provide more personalized learning opportunities that could give wings to careers for millions of professionals looking to learn new skills or upgrade their existing ones.
4. More power to freelancers
Over the past several years, LinkedIn has been popular among freelancers looking for gigs and companies looking to get affordable services for smaller projects. It has proven to be a win-win situation for both parties.
For instance, LinkedIn launched LinkedIn Services Marketplace in October 2021 to cater to professionals who are venturing out for freelancing roles. It also developed the ProFinder tool to help freelancers find work as per their preferences.
Realizing the massive opportunity, the company is expected to make further advancements in the space to serve the ever-increasing freelance workforce and companies looking to get top talent for their gigs.
5. Improved Integration with Other Microsoft Products
For the past several years, Microsoft has launched a suite of services for companies and professionals to make work more effective and efficient. Over time, it has integrated several of its products to simplify the working of these tools.
As speculated, Microsoft could integrate LinkedIn with its other offerings, such as email software Outlook, instant messaging, and calling platform Teams. Streamlined integration of LinkedIn profiles and networks within these products could help employees connect with their coworkers easily on LinkedIn.
6. Greater Use of Voice Technology
Most consumer-centric apps increasingly use voice technology to make their platforms more engaging and user-friendly. While LinkedIn too has leveraged it to some extent, the platform could further incorporate the technology.
The Microsoft-owned platform could add more voice-enabled features, voice messaging, voice search, or even voice-enabled job applications. These features could prove to be a game-changer for the industry.
7. Augmented Reality To Find Growing Acceptance
Augmented reality is making its way to virtually all possible social media platforms, and it could finally arrive at LinkedIn in a big way in the upcoming years. Firms can use the technology for interviewing candidates, as AR can provide them with detailed insights and improve interaction.
Companies can also use technology for advertising and marketing their product and services, as AR can boost user engagement. Virtual events or webinars could be hosted on LinkedIn via AR.
8. Hybrid Work To Get More Traction
Since the onset of the pandemic, LinkedIn has helped many to get remote jobs. But as the pandemic recedes, many companies have now started calling employees to physical offices at least a few days a week – a new work culture now commonly known as a hybrid work model.
In a bid to adapt to the new normal, LinkedIn also launched several new features aimed at promoting hybrid work culture. It will likely play an important role in helping professionals find such job opportunities.
9. Renewed Focus on Employee Engagement
For employers, LinkedIn offers various tools that help them to engage with their employees. Tools for advocacy and company page search already help employees stay connected with their employers and coworkers.
LinkedIn could add more features and tools to the platform to boost employee engagement via internal communication, employee recognition, and employee feedback. If added, these features will help the platform to become more employee-friendly.
10. Expansion Into New Verticals
To date, LinkedIn has remained a platform catering to white-collar professions. However, with a massive rise in the blue-collar workforce, especially with new gig platforms spending millions of dollars on hiring gig workers.
Indeed, there is a huge potential for LinkedIn to enter newer territories. It could develop a new platform to cater to the rising demand serving industries such as food tech, healthcare, or education.
Final words
LinkedIn is a platform full of exciting possibilities. The professional networking site that has been traditionally slow to adapt to newer changes could act fast to cater to the new demands of employers and employees. From content creation tools to virtual and augmented reality features to expand into new verticals, LinkedIn has a long way to go. It could literally change the way how we have thought of it, only to be better than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is LinkedIn, and how has it evolved over time?
Answer:
LinkedIn is a social networking platform that was launched in 2003. Over time, it has become one of the largest social media platforms, with over 774 million professionals across 200 countries. It has added multiple new features, such as LinkedIn Learning, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, LinkedIn Recruiter, and LinkedIn ProFinder, among others, to make it more engaging with professionals and businesses.
Q2. Why will LinkedIn have more video content?
Answer:
LinkedIn is likely to have more videos because the content is more engaging and has the potential to capture a user’s attention better than text or images. More businesses are now sharing information in the form of videos to better engage with their target audience on LinkedIn. Influencers, too, are resorting to videos to gain more followers on the social networking platform.
Q3. How is LinkedIn expected to improve to serve the freelance workforce better?
Answer:
While LinkedIn already has some features to cater to the ever-rising freelance workforce, the social networking platform is likely to add more in the times to come. For instance, it could improve the find work section, increase visibility for freelance work, and add new features to help gig workers show their portfolio of work in a better way.
Q4. How could Microsoft integrate LinkedIn with its other product suite, including the email platform Outlook and collaborating tool Teams?
Answer:
Microsoft could integrate LinkedIn with Outlook by letting users view LinkedIn profiles within Outlook. It could help professionals understand to whom they are sending emails.
Separately, the company could integrate also LinkedIn with Teams. It could help team members find each other on LinkedIn and send connection requests directly from the collaboration platform.
