E-Marketing Key LinkedIn Planning to Go Public in 2011

As one of the most important tool for all the E-Marketing owners, linkedin has already become the must have tool for any E-Marketing. Rumors are swirling that LinkedIn, the dominant social networking site for professionals, is planning an IPO in the coming months.  Reuters is reporting that at least three sources have confirmed that LinkedIn is moving to go public in 2011 and that it has already selected three investment banks to handle the underwriting process for the IPO. Officially, the company is not commenting on its plans to go public, but it did acknowledge through statements from executives that going public was an option they were considering.

LinkedIn is sort of the "business" version of Facebook, claiming over 85 million members currently. And while it is certainly an impressive social network in its own right, it doesn't have the fanatical following or anywhere close to the user loyalty that Facebook does. The vast majority of people who have accounts on LinkedIn also have accounts on Facebook and the gap between the implied uses for each network closes with every new feature Facebook adds.

LinkedIn has managed to thrive as an option for people who want to keep their social networking on a more professional level. The site is dedicated more toward making professional network connections, building potential E-Marketing business contacts and, less directly, as a hiring and recruiting tool for both employers and job seekers.

Some in the industry are speculating that LinkedIn would be wise to have an IPO before Facebook takes the plunge, not wanting to get lost in the wake of what will surely be the most hyped IPO since Google. Of course, because the models are so similar, Facebook may be wary of another social network getting to the IPO stage first as well. Once either one of these firms goes public, everyone will be able to have a better understanding of their earnings potential and where and how they make money. If the E-Marketing business models seem at all suspect, investor interest could suffer.