**UPDATE** As of yesterday, 5/24/16, LinkedIn has added videographers to the categories on their ProFinder site. BRAVO!!
This morning, I received an email from LinkedIn “inviting” me to participate in a pilot program with LinkedIn ProFinder. This is LinkedIn’s venture into “lead-gen,” presumably to compete with Thumbtack, Angie’s List and so many other portals used by SMBs to help grow their respective businesses. I was pleased to see LinkedIn have a go at this, but was immediately repulsed by what I saw as I attempted to set up my business to possibly get leads: THERE WAS NO CATEGORY FOR VIDEOGRAPHERS!! The closest thing I could find was ‘video editing,’ which is only one element of what video professionals do! Now comes the stake in every video person’s heart: Photography! There were all manner of categories for photographers, but only one for video! This is NOT a slam at photographers! I started in still photography over 40 years ago, so I have no beef with my still shooter counterparts. It’s just that video people have gotten short shrift long enough, and it’s time to take a stand.
I am sick and tired of videographers not getting their proper due–or respect! It seems that most lead-gen portals recognize photography, but rarely–on the first blush–list videographers autonomously. This is a colossal blunder and all you have to do is read the hundreds of articles that espouse the importance of video for businesses–small and large. I would expect better of LinkedIn and remember: YOU INVITED ME for the ‘beta test.’
The title of this Pulse says LinkedIn ‘misses’ an opportunity. It can still be fixed…I suggest that someone jump on this promptly. It shouldn’t be that hard to correct.
That is all. A final point: If LinkedIn makes this change and includes more video-oriented categories, I will make note of it here.
First Impressions Video 