LinkedIn – Increasingly relevant, struggle with “cool”

Just checked out the latest entry on the LinkedIn blog which I stay ontop of due to working in the online job space. There is a video showing them chilling out and relaxing by playing a game called Four Square. What I don’t understand is why they have all donned LinkedIn polo shirts for the video. IT IS ON YOUR BLOG GUYS! We see the logo at the beginning of the clip! For a company trying to be at the forefront of Web 2.0, you should be treating our audience with a little more grace; seeing you in a LinkedIn t-shirt on a cheesy PR piece doesn’t make me want to buy one, it makes me want to use LinkedIn less.

This is a conversation I have very regularly with folk who want to PR the hell out of every little development. There was a great post on TechCrunch a few days ago with 10 tips from Loic Le Meur on start-up success. One that really stood out for me was “Don’t plan a big marketing effort. It’s much more important and powerful that your community loves the product.” So, so true, and something I am trying to incorporate into the DNA of the people I work with. People, just let your work speak for itself; nobody believes the LinkedIn guys wear those every day, and if they do, why? I’m a big believer that the conversations happen without you, so all you should be doing is focussing on giving people positive things to talk about.

…one day at a time…