Mumbai: India is one of the fastest growing markets for LinkedIn as India retains its spot as the second largest market in member base terms, after the US, and the largest market in APAC. LinkedIn, yesterday (10 August 2016), celebrated crossing the 100-million member mark in the Asia Pacific region (APAC), with its total member base doubling in two years. The region now represents 22 percent of LinkedIn’s global member base of over 450 million.
With 37 million members, India now represents nearly 8.2% of LinkedIn’s global member base. In a press statement, LinkedIn said that China currently accounts for more than 23 million members, while Australia has 8 million members. The member base across Southeast Asia also continues to rise, hitting 18 million including 6 million in Indonesia, 4 million in the Philippines, 3 million in Malaysia, and 1 million in Singapore.
Prominent thought leaders are also on the platform as LinkedIn Influencers, including Piyush Gupta (Group CEO, DBS Bank), Hiroshi Mikitani (CEO, Rakuten Inc.), Tony Fernandes (Group CEO, AirAsia), Andrew Penn (CEO, Telstra), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Chairman & Managing Director, Biocon) and Narendra Modi (Prime Minister of India).
Highlighting the achievements, Olivier Legrand, Managing Director, LinkedIn Asia Pacific and Japan said “The momentum is special to us as we doubled our member base from 50 to 100 million members. It also reflects a growing understanding of the economic value of personal branding and a global professional network. At this scale, LinkedIn is in an even stronger position to help members connect to economic opportunity, whether it’s a new job, a promotion or other business opportunities, added Mr Legrand.
LinkedIn has identified opportunities areas such as the segments related to students and young professionals, the fastest-growing demographic on LinkedIn. With 40 percent or 280 million of the world’s professionals living and working in Asia Pacific, the APAC market offers compelling opportunities.
Outside of the APAC region, the US and UK are among the top 3 countries that members are connected to, in addition to other professionals in their respective home countries. In APAC, professionals are using LinkedIn to grow their business and career. Across markets like Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, salesperson emerged as the most common occupation on LinkedIn, followed by business owners. Professionals avoid “cold-calling” and leverage social connections to initiate “warm introductions”, build relationships with prospects and customers to grow their businesses.
