LinkedIn Services Marketplace Is Open

LinkedIn has just announced the official launch of its Services Marketplace. An online meeting place for buyers and providers which is aimed at freelancers and small businesses.

If you are providing a service (irrespective of business size) you can set up a Service Page linked to your profile page. You can list up to ten services that you provide from LinkedIn's menu, add a short description of your business, and invite up to 20 clients to leave a review and a star rating. (Any LinkedIn member can message you with an enquiry not just connections).

Fig 1: Service Page Layout

As you can see there is space to add your location and whether you work remotely or in person. The category choices are selected from a fixed menu (see below).

Service Categories

These are currently 17 category headings, each of which has up to 20 sub categories e.g. web design and interior design come under "Design".

Accounting, Coaching and Mentoring, Consulting, Design, Events, Finance, Home Improvements, Information Technology, Insurance. Law, Marketing, Operations, Photography, Real Estate, Software Development, Writing

Today there are 250 categories but this will increase to 500. Even so there will be niche services that are not on the list, so at present there is no category for LinkedIn Coach which is why I had to use the nearest relevant ones.

Proposal requests

Once a page it set up prospective customers are able to click the "request a proposal" button and submit an enquiry.

Fig 2: Prospective clients can request a proposal

The prospect is then taken through a series of screens asking for more details of their requirement, after a final review there is an option to add a personal message, the request is then sent to the service provider. See example below of an enquiry about interview preparation coaching, Fig 3.

Fig 3: The prospect is taken through a series of questions before the request is sent

The service provider is then notified of the request and can decide if they wish to respond.

NB: The search results are based on how closely you are connected to the service provider, 1st degree connections will appear first but it is possible to apply any of the people search filters to refine the result.

How does someone find my Service Page?

There are several ways for potential clients to find your page:

1. The service categories you have chosen are listed prominently at the top of your profile page. Viewers can then simply click through to see all details on the Service Page,
2. "Service Category" is a LinkedIn search filter, so people can search directly for someone who provide the service they need using LinkedIn's search feature.
3. By asking for referrals from their network or using a "Find an expert" post which uses the service categories to refine the search.

Currently discovery is a one way process service providers do not have the ability to search for projects.

How to set up a Service Page

Setting up a Service Page is quick and easy.

1. From your profile page click on "Open to " at the top of page
2. Select "providing services"
3. Click continue and complete page information
4. Preview the page, then publish
5. You have the option of inviting up to 20 clients to leave a review

Service providers have the option to hide/unpublish their page at any time and to choose whether to display or turn off the all of their reviews (individual reviews can not be hidden).

For the moment, reviews are by the provider's invitation only.

Conclusion

The Service Page now rolled out into a Services Marketplace is a valuable new feature that will increase visibility for providers and make it easier for non-connections to enquire about services. ProFinder, LinkedIn's original US only marketplace for freelancers will be supplanted by the Services Marketplace.

The choice of service categories is restricted to those that LinkedIn has decided upon. This will be frustrating for people like myself whose service is not included. The decision to control choice seems to be design led as when a prospect clicks on a proposal request they are asked a series of questions that are relevant to that particular service (Fig 3). Although search categories will no doubt expand over time it seems unlikely that the design will be able to accommodate custom categories. Nevertheless the vast majority of businesses will be listed so this will not be an issue for most businesses.

The design imperative seems to have been keep it simple with a one size fits all approach. I would expect to see more functionality gradually added over time for example fee negotiation and payments, invoicing and crucially the ability for service providers to search for projects rather than passively responding.

I would recommend anyone anyone who provides a service - not just small businesses and freelancers - to take advantage of the extra free visibility that a Service Page affords.

Finally it's worth noting that many freelancers switch between freelance and permanent employment. The Services Marketplace should make it easier for recruiters looking for someone with their expertise to find them.

What do you think? Has LinkedIn got this right? What changes and improvements would you like to see?

More links:

Techcrunch article: LinkedIn rolls out its Services Marketplace

LinkedIn Official Launch Announcement

Teddy Burris: Overview of Service Page reviews (6 min video)

More about Greg

Greg Cooper is a LinkedIn specialist and a volunteer mentor for the Prince's Trust based in Bristol, UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing. For over twenty years Greg ran an award-winning direct marketing agency working with leading technology companies like IBM, SAP, and Siemens. 

The Prince's Trust works with young people, providing free training to help them build confidence, develop their skills, and start a career. Greg is involved in mentoring young people who want to run their own businesses.