I first noticed LinkedIn changing when Microsoft purchased it in 2016 for $26.2 billion cash.

James Moore

Mark Walls at Safety National started the Work Comp Analysis group when LinkedIn was new. That is why I joined the freebie version to post to the group. My profile can be found here. I need to update my profile pic.

I subsequently purchased some type of monthly subscription. I am not sure why I decided to upgrade to the $65-per-month version.

Workers' comp LinkedIn gripes

LinkedIn provides a valuable tool for business contacts. I am not blaming LinkedIn, but let us go over a few concerns to see if you agree with me. If you do not agree with something I say, please add a comment.

LinkedIn mail: If a user pays enough money, she will have access to InMails. These have caused much spam in my inbox. As with any type of email system, the spam becomes worse over time. It is not that I cannot block the user from sending more InMails, it is the time taken to block them.

Connection invitation spam: This was one of Wall’s concerns in a post from two years ago. I agree with him that I do not want to join a LinkedIn user’s marketing program if I approve a connection with the person. Often, this has an automatic sales pitch attached to the approval that spews two or three emails. If I do not answer them in two weeks’ time, follow-up spewing occurs and, much to my chagrin, adds to my list of workers' comp LinkedIn gripes almost daily.

Thinking LinkedIn is Facebook or Twitter: This is one complaint that I have heard from many colleagues. Getting too personal on LinkedIn — a business platform — can only be to the poster’s detriment. I have seen and have been forwarded posts that are unbelievably personal.

Bottom line: Do you wish to introduce yourself with any of these three methods?

A social media secret

I had to put on my IT hat to see this happening in real time. If you use a bot calendar program or software to post to LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social media, Google and Bing track this very well.

The bots have a signature on them (hidden code) that allows social media sites to not block your posts. Your website rankings will fall precipitously. I used a bot to post to various websites four years ago. My website traffic fell by more than 50%. When I quit using the bot service, the website traffic increased.

I have analyzed a few friends’ websites where the same thing occurred: overusing a bot poster and then their website dropped within the next month.

I am not saying that all bot posters are bad; just know what you are purchasing and why you need it. Manual posts are preferred by social sites and search engines.

Bottom line: If your post that was generated by a bot points back to your website, then that link may not be what you want Google or Bing to register. If you decided to use a bot-type service, do not overuse it.

It is not the platforms that are to blame, it is how the users decide to use or overuse the services.

This blog post is provided by James Moore, AIC, MBA, ChFC, ARM, and is republished with permission from J&L Risk Management Consultants. Visit the full website at www.cutcompcosts.com.