Neal S.
Global Social Media Strategy Consultant, Coach, Speaker | Author, Maximizing LinkedIn for Sales & Social Media Marketing
Do you prefer to communicate utilizing the email service of Gmail, Facebook, or LinkedIn Inbox?
I ask this question because although the recent changes by LinkedIn make us have to use Inbox more, in my view it pales in comparison with the other methods of communicating with others on Gmail or Facebook. I find it takes a lot of time to get very little done. Looking forward to your answers and advice from those who have found an effective method of using Inbox! Thanks!
Clarification added March 24, 2009:
Thanks for all of your answers so far. I should clarify this as to pertaining to how you communicate with your LinkedIn contacts. Do you use LinkedIn Inbox or another email application...could be Outlook, any Internet mail client, or even utilizing the robust features in Facebook. My intent was really to see how often people are using LinkedIn Inbox and how it compares as a mail service to all of the other options out there. Are you effectively using Inbox, and if so, how? Thank you.
Good Answers (5)
Susan L.
Transforming Emerging Entrepreneurs into Confident Business Owners
Best Answers in: Professional Networking (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
I still download everything into Outlook, including Gmail, because I want everything (all my contacts and all my emails) to end up in one place. You can respond directly from Outlook when you get an email forwarded from LinkedIn, provided that that person is in your Outlook contacts. Another reason to keep all emails and contacts in Outlook is that I have control of them and can back them up.
Amit B.
Manager, Release Management & Sr. IT Project Manager
Best Answers in: Certification and Licenses (1)
Neal,
In the scenario that I receive an inmail from a LI user, I use my LI inbox to reply from the LI interface... including my email address for further email communication. I would assume that since this is a new functionality that LI has introduced, there will be further improvements to it. That said it will not be replacing your gmail/hotmail/etc. email accounts... also if I need to find emails that I have exchanged with one of my connections I can take a look at my Inbox/Archive rather than having to go back to my email-account.
Sheilah E.
Owner, ★SME Management:.......... Business Management and Accounting Consultant
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (892), Professional Networking (39), Staffing and Recruiting (31), Accounting (20), Government Policy (20), Job Search (17), Career Management (16), Ethics (15), Business Development (14), Customer Service (12), Mentoring (12), Education and Schools (11), Organizational Development (10), Computers and Software (10), Personnel Policies (9), Property Law (9), Advertising (9), Small Business (9), Criminal Law (8), Internet Marketing (8), Labor Relations (7), Nonprofit Management (7), Starting Up (6), Blogging (6), Purchasing (5), Government Services (5), Compensation and Benefits (5), Tax Law (5), Lead Generation (5), Change Management (5), Planning (5), Manufacturing (5), Quality Management and Standards (5), Web Development (5), Corporate Law (4), Direct Marketing (4), Public Relations (4), Writing and Editing (4), Corporate Governance (4), Communication and Public Speaking (4), Professional Organizations (4), Software Development (4), Facilities Management (3), Regulation and Compliance (3), Travel Tools (3), Freelancing and Contracting (3), Auditing (3), Venture Capital and Private Equity (3), Economics (3), International Law (3), Internationalization and Localization (3), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (3), Market Research and Definition (3), Information Security (3), Business Dining and Entertainment (2), Resume Writing (2), Government Contracts (2), Employment and Labor Law (2), Customer Relationship Management (2), Sales Techniques (2), Business Analytics (2), Derivatives Markets (2), Inventory Management (2), Project Management (2), Supply Chain Management (2), Individual Insurance (2), Personal Taxes (2), Personal Real Estate (2), Product Design (2), Pricing (2), Business Plans (2), Energy and Development (2), E-Commerce (2), Enterprise Software (2), Computer Networking (2), Telecommunications (2), Wireless (2), Air Travel (1), Certification and Licenses (1), Occupational Training (1), Conference Planning (1), Budgeting (1), Corporate Debt (1), Corporate Taxes (1), Financial Regulation (1), Risk Management (1), Exporting/Importing (1), Offshoring and Outsourcing (1), Customs, Tariffs and Taxes (1), Contracts (1), Finance and Securities Law (1), Viral Marketing (1), Graphic Design (1), Hedge Funds (1), Nonprofit Fundraising (1), Philanthropy (1), Personal Debt Management (1), Wealth Management (1), Branding (1), Positioning (1), Incorporation (1), Biotech (1), Information Storage (1)
I tend to communicate through my regular email whenever possible. If I am connected with the person or know their email address then it is email. If not then I will reply through linkedin.
I detest the new layout for both the inbox and the Q&A's. Showing people's expertise in this forum is a huge waste of space. That space could be used to return us to the prior inbox and subfolders.
Sheilah
Tyler B.
Reporting analyst
Best Answers in: Staffing and Recruiting (7), Employment and Labor Law (1), Internet Marketing (1), Viral Marketing (1), Professional Networking (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
I generally don't like using LI or even FB for email communications. I try to put as much correspondence through my Gmail account, except from business-only contacts. Generally, that's how it all works out anyhow, as my personal and personal/business contacts all have my private address. I never bother using FB mail for the same reason.
-TWB
Boosy O.
Professional Associate at The World Bank
Best Answers in: Change Management (1), Career Management (1)
I believe all the aforementioned systems have pro and cons. Gmails are the ability to manage an integrated "in the cloud" function by providing documents and the rss read embedded into the menu system. Facebook is still great for sending emails, many of the younger facebook crowd use the messaging system for keeping in contact, receiving relevant group information, create email chains.
Linked in is great for professional correspondence.
More Answers (20)
Matthew Ian L.
New Product Development Leader, Übernetworker, Professor, LEGO Nerd, Dakar Dreamer, R32 Driver; Powered by Caffeine
Best Answers in: Software Development (1)
I think the new inbox functionalities are a step in the wrong direction. It is much harder to trace-back on messages, invitation, introductions, etc. It would not be bad if there was additional columns that could be sorted or filtered.
Martin T.
Crisis Management§Interim Executive
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (131), Government Policy (13), Business Development (10), Organizational Development (9), Starting Up (8), Customer Service (7), Education and Schools (6), Economics (6), Staffing and Recruiting (6), Advertising (6), Career Management (6), Change Management (5), Ethics (5), Small Business (5), Business Dining and Entertainment (4), Travel Tools (4), Mentoring (4), Internationalization and Localization (4), Sales Techniques (4), Job Search (3), Internet Marketing (3), Writing and Editing (3), Social Enterpreneurship (3), Positioning (3), Car and Train Travel (2), Hotels (2), Occupational Training (2), Government Services (2), Public Health and Safety (2), Work-life Balance (2), International Law (2), Customs, Tariffs and Taxes (2), Guerrilla Marketing (2), Public Relations (2), Search Marketing (2), Business Analytics (2), Planning (2), Project Management (2), Personal Investing (2), Wealth Management (2), Business Plans (2), Blogging (2), Computers and Software (2), Computer Networking (2), Information Security (2), Web Development (2), Business Insurance (1), Commercial Real Estate (1), Facilities Management (1), Event Marketing and Promotions (1), Accounting (1), Foreign Investment (1), Compensation and Benefits (1), Personnel Policies (1), Environmental Health (1), Criminal Law (1), Contracts (1), Employment and Labor Law (1), Viral Marketing (1), Graphic Design (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Lead Generation (1), Corporate Governance (1), Equity Markets (1), Futures Markets (1), Manufacturing (1), Packaging and Labeling (1), Quality Management and Standards (1), Retirement and Estate Planning (1), Market Research and Definition (1), Engineering (1), Pricing (1), Energy and Development (1), E-Commerce (1), Enterprise Software (1), Information Storage (1), Telecommunications (1), Wireless (1)
gmail is excellent and both LI and Facebook inbox are irrelevant in the real world.
I try to circumvent the problem by providing my gmail address in the first email, that way we can jump to my most preferred method of communication.
Ana D.
Freelancer
Best Answers in: Job Search (3), Government Policy (2), Staffing and Recruiting (2), Air Travel (1), Personnel Policies (1), International Law (1), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (1), Criminal Law (1), Direct Marketing (1), Business Development (1), Graphic Design (1), Planning (1), Futures Markets (1), Social Enterpreneurship (1), Branding (1), Career Management (1), Telecommunications (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
Gmail's the best! I don't use Facebook and I find LI's Inbox inefficient. For example, if I've 70 messages in my Inbox I can't navigate from one to another but have to go back and then go into the next message. And the no deleting is no good.
Gmail, with it's various functions, is the most efficient way to communicate. You can share spreadsheets, documents and chat real-time using Gmail. It is also can be used with Microsoft Outlook and stored offline on a laptop.(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA011488981033.aspx)
Gmail/Outlook combination works well for me.
I prefer LinkedIn because I believe it is a professional website were Facebook and Gmail are more social places, which is OK, but not
for my purposes or usage.
Keith F.
Principal at KMF Consulting
Best Answers in: Enterprise Software (4), Computers and Software (2), Travel Tools (1), Education and Schools (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Writing and Editing (1), Nonprofit Fundraising (1), Software Development (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
For me, none of them. I use outlook so that I have a consolidated set of emails. (I have email ids that people still use from 1991 so way before facebook, gmail etc.) I do use xondi to manage/search it and find that is very useful.
I've been using gmail for a while now and think it's great, even binned off me ol faithful hotmail account. would touch facebook or LI with barge pole
Mike R.
Chairman & CEO, www.MeCareHealth.com
Best Answers in: Starting Up (3), Change Management (2), Business Plans (2), Venture Capital and Private Equity (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Lead Generation (1), Corporate Governance (1), Professional Networking (1), Small Business (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
Hi Neal,
None of the above. I use Outlook, have FB, G, Yahoo!, AOL and others.
Mike
Links:
Melanie D.
Speaker / Author / Communication Alignment: Brand and Culture
Best Answers in: Internet Marketing (1), Mobile Marketing (1)
I think it depends on the use. Is your question targeted toward contacting people for personal or business reasons and is it with someone you already know or someone new?
Also, why are you asking about Gmail in specific?
Clarification added March 25, 2009:
Thanks Neal for the clarification. Outlook is my primary tool for email, contacts, calendar, etc. LinkedIn is good for contacting someone for the first time or until you are connected to them. Other than that, I am also on Twitter. Hope this helps!
I'm using the linkedin inbox mostly for conversations with people that I'm still trying to understand better. At some point, if something sounds promising or if I feel like I trust a new contact, I'll usually switch over to gmail or my work address.
Gmail for sure
Greg C.
greg.linkedin@wootheweb.com - Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach specializing in e-business and online media
Best Answers in: Communication and Public Speaking (2), Professional Networking (2), Using LinkedIn (2), Job Search (1), Search Marketing (1), Career Management (1), Web Development (1)
I think that LinkedIn is still grappling with groups.
The recent change is close to mimicking Yahoo Groups. In Yahoo Groups, you'd have the option to see messages within the group's interface (as a forum-type list) or to receive them in your Inbox of choice (be it Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, Eudora, Thunderbird or whatever.)
The LinkedIn Inbox is, in my eyes, not a good tool - it creates yet one more Inbox to have to check.
Best,
Greg
Véronique S.
Head Program Finance
Best Answers in: Using LinkedIn (11), Economics (3), Job Search (2), Budgeting (2), Ethics (2), Business Dining and Entertainment (1), Travel Tools (1), Mentoring (1), Work-life Balance (1), International Law (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Treaties, Agreements and Organizations (1), Business Development (1), Public Relations (1), Change Management (1), Organizational Development (1), Project Management (1), Wealth Management (1), Business Plans (1), Blogging (1), Information Storage (1), Web Development (1)
Haven't figured out how to delete (for ever) emails on LI... So, I don't use LI much.
Facebook is my preference, It's easier to navigate and post events. It is also user friendly with my iPhone.
Veronique O.
Hostess, Advocate, Tastemaker, Trendsetter at VERONIQUE'S SUPPER CLUB
When it comes to communicating through emails , The service that I would prefer to use is Facebook. For me, LinkeIN just doesn't mesh all that well and it takes an effort to really see all your emails. For gmail as well, it's like any other service and has been a few times on me. That makes my choice Facebook because it allows you to be more social and get other things done at the same time.
Chris G.
Minister, Speaker and Writer
Best Answers in: Business Development (2), Organizational Development (2), Using LinkedIn (2), Graphic Design (1), Customer Relationship Management (1), Labor Relations (1), Communication and Public Speaking (1), Small Business (1), Starting Up (1)
As with most social networking inboxes, I find them pale in comparison to having outlook 2007 on my computer. Now I will say I am biased because I have Outlook configured to met my needs.
The LinkedIn inbox could have more features, but the overall program is not bad considering what I am here for. I find this as a good avenue to reach out to others and communicate, but when the level is increased, I am able to provide them my personal, business email to communicate with.
LinkedIn is growing at a phenomenal rate and I am sure more improvements are coming.
Just my thoughts...
I find Gmail is the best way to communicate. I have actually started sending my other email accounts to Gmail because of the superior way it let's me deal with my email.
I was using linkedin inbox until 10 days ago. But since they have introduced the new inbox, it has become very difficult to use and manage the mails.
