Monday, August 01, 2011

Branchout vs Linkedin

There is no question that Branchout is adding users at an exponential rate. Recent news indicate that the platform has surpassed a million users in a very short time. Is this the "Linked in" killer?

Branchout leverages facebook's social platform to build a professional network that benefits from the 750 million users. But isn't facebook mostly youngsters? With somewhere around 40% of facebook users in the 26- 44 age range, demographics aren't a major hindrance for Branch out. At this mix, branchout has a potential target audience of 300 Million users which compares favorably vs Linked in's 100 Million.

However, i think that Facebook isn't the best venue for a professional network. Currently, Branchout uses Facebook's profile pic, a big no no. People put fun/silly/personal photos on their profile which isn't exactly what you want a potential employer to see. Also, facebook friends are not always people you would want in your professional network either. I think this is the power of Linked-in.

Separate networks make sense for professional and personal. G+ Groups however, might be a more interesting venue to explore

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