LinkedIN Gets a Redesign

Usually I don’t post two items around the same topic so close together, but I didn’t see this coming either. Today LinkedIN launched a facelift to the popular business networking site. The new design has a cleaner flow and appearance and a much more simplified navigational system.

The homepage (assuming you sign-in) contains all the content of the previous iteration but they also have made advertising a more prominent aspect of the site. In the top right corner there is now a commercial which certainly grabs my attention much more. LinkedIN did a nice job implementing this commercial for the following reasons:

• The audio is off by default. This is something that ESPN, NFL and many other sites should learn from. My primary reason for going to the site is to network, which requires me to read. I’m A.D.D enough and I appreciate that LinkedIN recognizes that the commercial can still work minus the audio. Thank you!
• 2. It doesn’t loop. It runs for X seconds and then stops. A new commercial doesn’t load, it doesn’t repeat and it doesn’t blink and flash at me. Again, thank you!

LinkedIN has also added modules to the homepage, which are akin to most portal sites. The modules let me select and customize content for my homepage which is most relevant to me. Given these latest improvements I’ll be sure to spend more time in LinkedIN.