In late 2018, LinkedIn started rolling out an Events feature. This feature is intended to provide LinkedIn members with “an easy way to create and join professional events that interest them.”
The rollout has been slow, but rumor has it that it will be complete to all English-speaking users in October.
See it on your LinkedIn yet? Let us know in the comments what you think of it!
LinkedIn’s New Events Feature: The History
You may remember this feature from about eight years ago. It did not catch on; LinkedIn pulled it from the platform.
In recent months, LinkedIn India has been testing the feature out again and has seen really positive results and adoption. Ajay Datta, Head of Product at LinkedIn India, said that LinkedIn has seen people forming “micro-communities” on the platform, and in the last two years, they have found that many of its members have had the desire to meet face-to-face.
According to TechCrunch, there was a limited trial of the LinkedIn Events feature in New York and San Francisco last year. The pilot feature included meetups, training sessions, off-sites, sales events, and happy hours. So, it is likely these will be in the final product!
What This Feature Means For LinkedIn
LinkedIn is launching this product with the hope that it will grow active, professional communities by building authentic, face-to-face relationships. At KWSM: a digital marketing agency, we see this new feature going head-to-head with Facebook Events, one of the features that Facebook has really owned in the social media space. For me, this feature is all I was missing from LinkedIn to have it become my primary social media channel. That being said, they have my full support!
How Will LinkedIn Events Work?
If you are curious about using LinkedIn Events, below is a quick overview of what you need to know. In case there is something we did not cover, please let us know in the comments, and we will add it in.
2 Types of Roles Available for LinkedIn Events
1. Organizer – A member that operates as the event’s host, by creating the event, deciding on the event details, and inviting attendees. This role can do the following:
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- Create the Event on LinkedIn, add relevant details such as date, time, etc.
- Invite attendees from their 1st-degree connections
- Share the Event with their professional network
- See who is attending and network with them
- Withdraw an invitation or remove an attendee
- Post updates about the event and change/amend any of the Event details
- Follow up with attendees post the Event
2. Attendee – A member that either accepted an invitation to attend an event or that has joined a public event.
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- See who else is attending the event
- Send invitations to their own 1st-degree connections to also attend
- Chat with other attendees using the Event page feed before, during and after the Event
- Invite other attendees to connect with them
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Frequently Asked Questions About the LinkedIn Events Feature
Do The Roles Change if the LinkedIn Event is Private?
Yes, if an event is private, the organizer will need to provide permission for attendees to invite their connections. In addition, the event organizer can withdraw an invitation or remove an attendee if they change their mind.
Can You Edit LinkedIn Event Details After it is Published?
Yes, once you create an event, you can change the event’s details at any time. This includes updating the event’s privacy settings and guest list.
Who Can See Whether I am Attending a LinkedIn Event?
Once you’ve accepted an invite to a LinkedIn event, all the other attendees can see that you plan to attend the event. This is a great opportunity for you to start getting in touch with the other attendees before the day of the event. You can also decide to share the event on your personal LinkedIn Feed, to encourage your connections to also attend.
Can You Sell Tickets or Limit Attendance to LinkedIn Event?
No, you can’t create any ticketing or limitations to attendance numbers. However, what you can do is link the event to a third-party platform that can do that for you (ex. Eventbrite)
Can You Promote Your LinkedIn Events on LinkedIn Ads?
No, unfortunately, you cannot promote your LinkedIn Event using LinkedIn Ads. Datta shares with TechCrunch, that “targeting is not the focus right now,” and that “organic adoption is what we are looking for first before we look at anything else.”
At KWSM: a digital marketing agency, we all agree that it is a matter of time before LinkedIn starts to monetize this feature. It has worked extremely well for Facebook, so it would be a big missed opportunity if they did not roll it out while the iron is still hot!
Have other thoughts, comments, or suggestions for this article? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
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