LinkedIn released Q1 earnings today, posting revenue growth of 101%, contributing to the 7th straight quarter YOY growth over 100%. The company is growing its membership rapidly and the subscription and advertisement revenue segments seem to be growing well past analyst estimates. The company just released that they will acquire SlideShare for $119 million which will help professionals be more effective and productive with the content they create.
Acquisitions have been the headliners in the first quarter for large tech and social media companies including the Zuckerberg giant $FB most notable acquisition of Instagram for a easy $1 billion. But still LinkedIn may be missing something that could transform it to a Goliath that trumps all professional social networking sites that will be sure to put upcoming apps such as BranchOut on Facebook to shame.
Citrix offers web conferencing products including GoToMeeting, GoToConference, and GoToTraining. They specialize in cost savings for companies looking to get everything out of your business meetings while only sacrificing a physical handshake. With an acquisition or merger with Citrix, there would be strong synergies. Combining the largest online networking site with the leader in web conferencing is like butter and bread.
Some other forms of applications to add to LinkedIn that would help the company become a destination for networking is the integration of instant messaging and interviewing software to allow recruiters to interact with their potential candidates through a central location with a strong community.
I am unsure if LinkedIn is currently looking into this with research and development or are searching for a potential buy out. From speaking to many professionals and interacting on online forums, the most desirable new addition to LinkedIn is an instant messaging application. The fear of this is that it will negatively effect the companies reputation as strictly professional as IM has always been used for social purposes for the most part.
As for now we wait and see as the tech industry tends to change direction daily.
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