The Beginning
LinkedIn originated in 2002 in the living room of Reid Hoffman, one of the co-founders. However, it wasn't until May 5, 2003, that the platform was officially launched. At the end of its inaugural year, LinkedIn had a humble base of 245 members, most of whom were directly connected to the founding team.
The Growth
LinkedIn experienced slow but steady growth in the initial years. In 2004, features appealing to small business owners were introduced, including address book uploads and Groups. This resulted in a membership surge from a few hundred to several thousands.
By 2005, membership exceeded 1 million, and LinkedIn launched two business lines, Jobs and Subscriptions, that started generating revenue. This year also marked the opening of a fourth office, reflecting the company's growth.
The Turning Point
The year 2006 was a turning point for LinkedIn. The site launched Public Profiles, a feature that is now synonymous with LinkedIn. This feature provided a platform for professionals to connect with others. Other features like 'People You May Know' and 'Recommendations' were also introduced. Interestingly, this was the first year LinkedIn turned a profit.
Change in Leadership
In 2007, Reid Hoffman stepped down as CEO, passing the baton to Dan Nye. With membership nearing 10 million, LinkedIn opened a Customer Service Centre in Omaha.
Going Global
2008 saw LinkedIn's first steps towards becoming a global social network. The company opened its first international office in London and launched Spanish and French versions of the site.
New Leadership
Jeff Weiner took over as the CEO of LinkedIn in 2009. This transition set the stage for substantial growth, both domestically and internationally.
LinkedIn's Milestones
By 2010, LinkedIn had a whopping 90 million members and 1,000 employees. This year also marked the opening of an International Headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.
In 2011, LinkedIn became a publicly traded company. The same year, the site underwent a significant infrastructure overhaul.
2012 brought a new vision for LinkedIn, focusing on three concepts: simplify, grow, everyday. New features like Influencers, platforms in eight new languages, and an iPad app were launched.
Acquisition by Microsoft
In December 2016, Microsoft completed its acquisition of LinkedIn. This merger brought together the world’s leading professional cloud and the world’s leading professional network.
The Vision and Mission
LinkedIn's vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. Its mission is simple: connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.
The Future of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is constantly evolving, offering more features to its premium users and creating a more immersive experience. With a focus on video content and video chat functionality, LinkedIn is keeping pace with trends in other social networks.
Conclusion
LinkedIn has indeed come a long way since its inception. It has not only changed the way we interact professionally but has also become a vital tool for job seekers, employers, and businesses alike. As LinkedIn continues to grow and innovate, it will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of professional networking.