The two professional networking platforms are both a great ways to customize your professional profile. There are both pros and cons to both.
The pros of the PWP are:
The pros of the PWP are:
- free sites are available
- gives a user the ability to be very creative in designing everything from pages, to layouts, to backgrounds, etc.
- can be used as an electronic business card by supplying the link
- many forms of information can be put on display such as an uploaded file, embeded video, audio, surveys, etc.
- some PWP sites can be looked upon as informal by employers vs. LinkedIn
- some PWP sites are limited as a free site (i.e. number of pages, etc.)
- the basic level is free
- can be customized by as much or as little information as you would like to display
- a standard format/layout makes it easy to find information you are looking for
- can be connected immediately to everyone in your contacts as well as people you might know
- known as the professional networking site, and so it is a great way to get seen by potential employers
- can be used an electronic business card by supplying the link
- less can be done to customize layouts, backgrounds, etc.
- networking interaction is limited vs. Facebook and Twitter
- requires other professional colleagues you would like to connect with to be LinkedIn users