When we are blessed with what we have wanted all along, strove for, or worked so hard for, that feeling of joy, the elation, that relief, cannot truly be described. It is like a ton of bricks being lifted off your back. This is especially true for job seekers, small business owners and even all the way up to CEO’s, Founders and the remaining Elite.
Keeping in mind the “Add value to others” strategy, when trying to build a network, generate a lead, close a deal or for some other reason, how can we give back and share that joy?
One way could be the InRewards feature, coupled with the InRewards Pot.
What is it?
It is a way for premium members on LinkedIn to give back to the LinkedIn community as a whole, or to someone specific they know or to a charity of choice. Every member will have an option to add credit or specific sums of money in the form of InRewards into a personal “Pot” for later use or directly into the LinkedIn’s community InRewards Pot.
Mapping Customer Expectations Through Kano Analysis
InRewards and the InRewards Pot– A possible LinkedIn feature, under review...
1. One month into being a member and then soon afterwards, a trial period premium
member (now back to being a non-premium member), the idea for a new feature for
LinkedIn came to mind, which was born from my short yet intense and deep following
of LinkedIn trends, members, Influencers and their shares, comments and posts. I would
spend at least 4 hours of my free time per day for the first few weeks of my membership
on LinkedIn, attending webinars, contacting LinkedIn experts, long time
advocates, market and innovation professionals. Not many answered, however the ones
who did answer, were of the utmost help in terms of encouragement, guidance and
advice. None more so than Brian Tietje. Without him I possibly wouldn't have been able
to get my idea presented to Jeff Weiner. Now flashback to where it all began. I then got
working on the actual idea.
After many a sleepless night, tweaking and fine tuning, I finally had a proof of concept
written down, in digitized form of course. It was a matter of getting it in front of the
right people. After scurrying around the LinkedIn community, I finally found Brian
Tietje. "I am passionate about helping the people in my life personally and
professionally", these are the exact words he starts with on his LinkedIn profile
summary. He is true to his word... Just 4 months’ shy from the time I started this journey
of mine, Brian had my ideas laid out to Jeff Weiner himself.
2. I would also like to thank Jeff himself for the time he took to review my idea, as I know
he’s a very busy man. It’s not very often, we the little cogs in the great machine of
things, get a chance to actually present an idea to business leaders, and for that I am
grateful. I did not actually communicate with Jeff, however Brian has been my go
between and has let me know that Jeff has forwarded my ideas to his Product
Development Leads for review. I am currently waiting to hear from them through Brian,
as to whether or not any of my ideas will come to fruition. As with all innovative
concepts, not every idea becomes a reality. We learn what we can from tough decisions,
then move on to the next idea and so on. Perhaps a few words from some LinkedIn
members might create enough buzz to make it worthwhile…let’s see.
I would also like to personally thank:
Viveka von Rosen
Marshall Goldsmith
Andy Foote
Greg Cooper
They were truly helpful on my journey, from their reviews, comments, words of advice
and encouragement, all of which I appreciate very much indeed.
So without any further ado I hereby present to the world, InRewards a concept LinkedIn
feature:
When we are blessed with what we have wanted all along, strove for, or worked so hard
for, that feeling of joy, the elation, that relief, cannot truly be described. It is like a ton
of bricks being lifted off your back. This is especially true for job seekers, small business
owners and even all the way up to CEO’s, Founders and the remaining Elite.
3. Keeping in mind the “Add value to others” strategy, when trying to build a network,
generate a lead, close a deal or for some other reason, how can we give back and share
that joy?
One way could be the InRewards feature, coupled with the
InRewards Pot.
What is it?
It is a way for premium members on LinkedIn to give back to the LinkedIn community
as a whole, or to someone specific they know or to a charity of choice. Every member
will have an option to add credit or specific sums of money in the form of InRewards
into a personal “Pot” for later use or directly into the LinkedIn’s community InRewards
Pot.
How does the InRewards feature work?
The InRewards button could be placed on the same row as the share, like and comment
buttons. However, a full colour 3D badge somewhere on an actual publication would
make it more prominent, or part of the drop-down list on the send message button. Once
the InRewards button is pressed, it will lead the user to a number of options. Which can
be in the form of, yet not limited to the following as a gift or present to someone on
LinkedIn, who is believed to be deserving of a reward:
Send an InReward “Token” which will be placed in their private pot for later use.
A Lifetime membership, through the InRewards button (Substantial sum).
A Year long membership.
A month long membership
Actual sum of money in the form of “Tokens” into someone’s pot.
4. A membership upgrade.
A charity of choice.
A specific option upgrade such as, Inmails, as a featured applicant for job-
seekers, who’s viewed, etc.
Into LinkedIn’s community InReward Pot.
What is the InRewards Pot and how does it work?
It is a virtual pot where sums of money in the form of InRewards or “Tokens” are
collected for the benefit of the entire LinkedIn non-premium or Job-seeker premium
community. Once sums have been added to the InRewards Pot by way of using the
InRewards button feature or through direct transferral from a member’s personal pot, an
automatic process will start to take place and allocate unbiased rewards to non-premium
or job-seeker premium members, according to (yet not limited to) the following:
The most shares. (> 50 = ?Tokens, > 100 = ?Tokens, > ? = ?Tokens, etc.)
The most comments through engagement. (> 50 = ?Tokens, > 100 = ?Tokens, >
? = ?Tokens, etc.)
The most Likes. (> 50 = ?Tokens, > 100 = ?Tokens, > ? = ?Tokens, etc.)
The most views. (> 300 = ?Tokens, > 1000 = ?Tokens, > 5000 = ?Tokens, > ? =
?Tokens, etc.)
(> 20 = ?Tokens, > 50 = ?Tokens, > ? = ?Tokens, etc.)
(> 5 = ?Tokens, > 10 = ?Tokens, > ? = ?Tokens, etc.)
Other, yet to be determined.
Who are eligible to receive InRewards?
Non-premium members.
Job-seeker premium members.
Possible non-members through invitation.
5. Who can be a benefactor of the InRewards?
Influencers
Business Plus plan members
Executive plan members
LIONS
Non-members
How can the InRewards feature benefit non-premium and Job-seeker
members?
The non-premium and job-seeker members can use their “InRewards” from their
personal pot for the following, yet not limited to:
Inmail messages
Who’s viewed your profile
Add search filters
Larger search listings
Be placed as a featured applicant
Applicant Insights
Salary data
Saving up for a Business plan membership; month long, quarterly or yearlong.
Saving up for an Executive plan; month long, quarterly or yearlong.
Other upgrades yet to be determined.
How will Corporate LinkedIn benefit?
With the onset of the “Give back a little of what you've been given” strategy, the
LinkedIn professional community can become a more vibrant and invigorated one, by
way of increased valuable publications, increased likes, shares, comments, along with