LinkedIn

LinkedIn operates a dual-sided platform. On one side, it attracts professionals with networking, content, messaging, jobs and learning. On the other, it monetises that audience and data through enterprise software, recruitment tools, sales intelligence products and a self-serve advertising platform. The company creates value by converting member activity, profile data and professional intent signals into paid business solutions for marketers, recruiters, sales teams and employers.

LinkedIn is a professional social platform owned by Microsoft that serves individuals and businesses through networking, content distribution, hiring, sales prospecting and online learning products. The consumer-facing platform lets members create profiles, build networks, publish content, message contacts and find jobs, while the business side sells advertising, recruiter software, sales intelligence, job posting tools and enterprise learning subscriptions.

Its revenue model is diversified across advertising and subscription products. Advertisers pay to reach professional audiences through LinkedIn Ads, while employers, recruiters, sales teams and learning departments pay recurring fees for products such as Recruiter, Sales Navigator, Talent Insights, Hiring tools and LinkedIn Learning. This makes LinkedIn both a large-scale social platform and a B2B software business built on proprietary professional identity data.