LinkedIn is both introducing new features and retiring old ones, reflecting its commitment to evolving user needs and staying competitive in the professional networking space. This ongoing transformation aims to enhance engagement, improve user experiences, and streamline functionalities to align with modern professional workflows.
LinkedIn Introduces “Open to Volunteer” Option
LinkedIn has introduced a new feature – Open to Volunteer, which is designed to help users signal their interest in volunteering opportunities and connect nonprofit organizations with skilled individuals eager to contribute. Users can activate this by selecting “Volunteer” from the “Open to” dropdown menu beneath their profile picture. They can then specify their preferred causes, skills, and preferences, including location and whether they’re open to in-person or virtual volunteering. LinkedIn will use this data to surface relevant volunteer opportunities in the feed and provide alerts for matching roles.
The feature is inspired by trends showing that 75% of LinkedIn members are interested in volunteering. It not only supports nonprofits but also enables users to develop valuable skills like communication and empathy while fostering purpose and community connection. However, some users may misuse the feature for superficial signaling rather than genuine participation, but the overall potential for increased volunteerism outweighs these concerns. This new option offers a meaningful way for professionals to align their personal values with career development while positively impacting their communities.
Audio Events are Now a Part of LinkedIn Live
The platform is not only adding new features but has also set its mind on improving previous ones. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, live audio surged in popularity, led by platforms like Clubhouse, and was quickly adopted by major social networks, including LinkedIn. The platform introduced live audio events relatively late in 2022 and has now announced it will retire its native audio event feature. Starting December 2, 2024, users will no longer be able to create new audio events, and all scheduled audio events will cease functioning after December 31, 2024.
Instead, LinkedIn is integrating audio functionality into its live-streaming tool, LinkedIn Live, which requires third-party software for event hosting. While audio-only events will still be feasible, hosting them will involve additional steps, such as setting up a static image for the stream. LinkedIn’s shift mirrors a broader industry trend, as platforms like Reddit, Facebook, Spotify, and Amazon have all abandoned their pandemic-era audio features. Even Clubhouse, once synonymous with live audio, pivoted away from the format. This change reflects LinkedIn’s focus on consolidating its event offerings while keeping pace with evolving user preferences and technological advancements.
Sales Navigator now Even Better with New AI-Powered Functionalities
Going back again to new additions to the professional network – LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator is following a long streak of the platform optimising its features with the help of AI. It has introduced two new tools – Lead IQ and Account IQ – whose main aim is to revolutionize sales workflows and improve buyer engagement.
Lead IQ provides concise, AI-generated summaries of LinkedIn data about potential buyers. It highlights a lead’s professional experience, interests, and recent activities, enabling sales professionals to craft highly personalized outreach and prepare for meetings with minimal effort. It acts as a real-time assistant, offering essential insights during unexpected interactions, ensuring sellers are always prepared to engage effectively.
Account IQ, on the other hand, focuses on delivering comprehensive account-level insights. It helps sellers understand a target account’s needs and align their solutions accordingly. Enhanced with detailed, AI-driven recommendations, Account IQ enables informed conversations and accelerates account planning.
These two features are not only expected to save time but also to enable more productive, personalized, and effective selling. Available for Advanced and Advanced Plus users, Lead IQ and Account IQ are integral to LinkedIn’s vision of AI-enhanced sales processes.
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