My friend Brad Lovett has been looking at this issue and offers this insightful guest post: Looks like Facebook is taking a whack at LinkedIn. With the launch of BranchOut , Facebook is giving LinkedIn a punch in the chops.  If you have a LinkedIn profile, you don’t have to create a new one for BranchOut. One click allows you to import your LinkedIn profile. Of course you can edit your profile once you have imported it from LinkedIn.  If I want to read those kinds of updates, I put on my career hat and head over to LinkedIn or Twitter.&#. MORE >>

Indisputably the largest business-oriented social network, LinkedIn has emerged as a crucial site for professional networking, B2B marketing, hiring and job seeking. LinkedIn now boasts more than 200 million members across 200 countries, and adds two new members every second; what’s more, 35% of LinkedIn members use the site daily. Furthermore, due to its multiple sharing options including buttons, apps, personal updates, company updates, and industry-focused group discussions, LinkedIn is often among the top three or four traffic sources for B2B blogs. MORE >>

I spend a lot of time in LinkedIn groups and have learned a bit about maximizing their potential as conversation-starters. The best way to provoke discussion on LinkedIn is to ask questions. LinkedIn is the only major social network that doesn’t permit brands to interact as members. LinkedIn gives you 120 characters for a headline, which is pretty generous. There Are Three Parts Of Any LinkedIn Post. They are: Headline – Keep it brief and use it to communicate basic information or arouse interest. Facebook is more playful than LinkedIn. MORE >>

From my perspective, LinkedIn has some interesting opportunities. Here's Here's my look at  LinkedIn in the brave new world of media pitching: Make Connections : LinkedIn's core purpose is to make connections - either with people you know or people you want to know. If you're seeking to connect with a journalist, you can request a "linkedin" connection to make an introduction. Research Media : I was recently searching for a reporter to create a briefing sheet and found the reporter's LinkedIn page. LinkedIn is rich with information about a person's background. MORE >>

If you are in B2B advertising, you cannot ignore LinkedIn. With great reach (#22 US site in January 2013 according to ComScore ), extensive profile data actively maintained by the audience and granular targeting options, LinkedIn is a powerhouse in the world of B2B advertising. So when LinkedIn introduces a new advertising option, as a B2B advertiser, you need to pay attention. Here are two new offerings LinkedIn introduced in the last quarter that seem to have slipped under the radar of most B2B marketers. Use Your SlideShare Content in LinkedIn Ads. MORE >>