So far this year, the IPO market has gotten off to a good start. Just look at Cornerstone OnDemand (CSOD), which develops human resources software. Last week, the company's public offering gained nearly 50% on its first day of trading.

Although, one of the most anticipated IPOs is LinkedIn. In fact, through some of its SEC filings, it looks like the company is poised for a strong debut.

Continue reading Prepping for an IPO, LinkedIn Hits 100 Million Users

Prepping for an IPO, LinkedIn Hits 100 Million Users originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After a successful stint at PayPal, Reid Hoffman started LinkedIn in 2002. He did it from his living room.

Now LinkedIn is the largest social networking site for business. And yes, the company has filed to go public. The lead managers on the deal include Morgan Stanley (MS), Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM).

Continue reading LinkedIn's Next Contact: The IPO Market

LinkedIn's Next Contact: The IPO Market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sources close to the social network Linkedln say it is planning to go public, as reported in Reuters. It has filed statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Owner Jeff Weiner told Reuters that he has selected Morgan Stanley (MS), Bank of America (BAC) and JP Morgan (JPM) as book runners. Book runners take the original stock offering and then resell it to retail clients.

Linkedln is a fast growing social networking site with 85 million viewers. Financial information is not available. Company revenues come from advertising. A source close to the company values it at about $2.2 billion.

Continue reading Social Network Linkedln to Go Public in 2011

Social Network Linkedln to Go Public in 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading LinkedIn Says Ninjas Are on the Loose in the Jobforce

LinkedIn Says Ninjas Are on the Loose in the Jobforce originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Speculation about the future valuations of companies like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter has undoubtedly driven interest in private markets where early shareholders can turn for a taste of liquidity before the big day. SharesPost, which has been a source of information on the likely IPO implications of these companies, has been among the beneficiaries: membership has doubled ... since November. According to a statement by SharesPost, "over 15,000 buyers and sellers of private equity" belong to the site.

Continue reading Private Start-Up Market Heats Up

Private Start-Up Market Heats Up originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 28 Mar 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading US Millionaires' Club Gets a Boost

US Millionaires' Club Gets a Boost originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The financial crisis, employment market and social media explosion have converged, providing a new level of clarity into what is happening in the world around us. Where was ground zero for this financial catastrophe? Well, according to the LinkedIn blog, five companies have shown the most action: Barclays (BCS), Credit Suisse (CS), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM). Interestingly, Goldman Sachs (GS), among the biggest winners now that we're pulling out from the recession, didn't see as much play.

Continue reading Financial Crisis Didn't Push Bankers from Industry, LinkedIn Reports

Financial Crisis Didn't Push Bankers from Industry, LinkedIn Reports originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Retailers Lagging in Social Media Rush

Retailers Lagging in Social Media Rush originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Social Media Backlash?

Social Media Backlash? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The three major social media sites have been pushing new tools out to their user communities aggressively over the past year. Each company has its own set of rumors, from IPOs to being on both sides of an acquisition. While the ultimate 2010 aims of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn may not have been revealed to us yet, it is clear that all three are looking for ways to beef up revenue and demonstrate long-term viability.

Whether or not Facebook goes public this year, it's still pointed toward that ultimate goal. The 350-million member social network is focused on finding new sources of revenue and gaining better penetration into those it already has. Even if it's more than a year away, it's never too soon to start shoring up your financial statements for an IPO. The latest new feature from Facebook, which has been announcing enhancements fairly rapidly over the past few months, is targeted directly at advertisers, underscoring the importance that the company's attaching to revenue growth.

Continue reading Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Release New Features with Revenue Implications

Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Release New Features with Revenue Implications originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading HootSuite Rakes in Close to $2 Million in New Venture Round

HootSuite Rakes in Close to $2 Million in New Venture Round originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Look, 2009 was a "flush" year. Market rallies were constrained by the low baseline set at the end of 2008, unemployment was high and caution defined nearly every corporate decision. The travel market sucked. The art market sucked. The financial industry labored on with the support of taxpayer money while 140 banks were forced to call it quits. So, we turn to the new year, as yet undefined, for excitement of the type we want ... and it seems likely to deliver. As Nero played from the rooftops, the social media industry inched forward to the climax we hope to see this year -- the initial public offering.

The action hasn't really begun, and the signals emitted are open to various interpretations. Nonetheless, Facebook's new dual-class stock structure is hard to miss, as it would protect the influence of early entrants to the company -- either as investors or options-compensated employees in the event that the 350 million-strong social networking site brings ownership opportunities to the public.

Continue reading Social IPO? Hype Accumulates for 2010 Offerings

Social IPO? Hype Accumulates for 2010 Offerings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It was only a matter of time. This week, social media platforms Twitter and LinkedIn announced new features that will undoubtedly appeal to corporate marketing departments, so Facebook hopped on the bandwagon. Its new preferred developer program is a step toward structuring the Facebook application development and services space, by endorsing providers known to the company.

The program is still in its infancy, which means there isn't much structure around it. According to AllFacebook, "[T]here's really no way to apply to be in the directory aside from being connected with the people over at Facebook." Fourteen vendors are already listed in the directory.

Continue reading Social Media Marketing Continues: Facebook Launches Preferred Developer Program

Social Media Marketing Continues: Facebook Launches Preferred Developer Program originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Look for a LinkedIn IPO, but not in the near future. Company co-founder and executive chairman Reid Hoffman has revealed his (and his investors') exit strategy, even if it could take a while to get there. Any social media company IPO would take a while to get off the ground in this market, since companies are being incredibly cautious. So, "not anytime soon" could coincide with a change in market conditions ... but Hoffman stopped well short of that.

At an event in London to celebrate LinkedIn's hitting the 3 million user mark in Britain, Hoffman said about the company's IPO prospects, "Probably at some point a balance will occur when that's the right thing. That will not occur in the near term." Worldwide, LinkedIn has 53 million members.

Continue reading Reid Hoffman: LinkedIn will go public (at some point)

Reid Hoffman: LinkedIn will go public (at some point) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Twitter calls Google (GOOG) a "good role model," but says it isn't ready to rush down the road to advertising.

Nonetheless, an ad-based revenue model is something that cofounder Biz Stone says they "will be looking to do down the line." But, for now, he continues, Twitter is focused on "creating value for our users." For now, revenue generation ideas are being put on paper, "and we're definitely going to get to them," Stone says.

Continue reading Twitter finally reveals revenue ambition, wants to be Google -- but not yet

Twitter finally reveals revenue ambition, wants to be Google -- but not yet originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although I have a couple of different topics concerning the life of someone who travels frequently for work that I wanted to write about this week, my mind and heart are filled with thoughts and concerns for a good friend and his new baby girl. I've been waiting for weeks to get a status on his new baby girl, and this morning I heard that since her birth Monday night, she's been in the intensive care unit. As soon as I read the update, my heart began to ache, and my eyes started to tear. Now, I'm not the most sensitive person in the world, but the thought of my friend's baby girl struggling for her life just rips me apart.

Throughout our travels, we get the opportunity to meet more people than imaginable. Some people we would love to call a friend and see every day, and some we hope to never see again! Years ago (not that many years), it was easy to travel, work with customers or vendors, and bid farewell, never to see them again. However, in the days of LinkedIn and Facebook, the ability to maintain contact with a one-time introduction becomes as easy as catching up on the day's news.

Continue reading Road Warrior: Spreading the cement of brotherly love

Road Warrior: Spreading the cement of brotherly love originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Once upon a time, Mac users could brag they were much safer from malicious electronic attacks. After all, in the days before Google (GOOG), when Microsoft (MSFT) was the only uber-player in town, Windows was the perpetual malware target. Phishers, however, aren't discriminating; they're just looking for an account to plunge. So, both Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft users are threatened. Virus writers do tend to focus on the Windows operating system, which owns 90% of the OS market, but phishers are platform independent.

Phishing involves attempts to get a user to reveal information about their accounts. Once the soon-to-be victim clicks that link or fills out a form, the "transaction" is complete -- no operating system interaction necessary. As a result, there really isn't any advantage to using a Mac over a PC.

Continue reading Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks

Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Company attitudes toward social media sites vary. Some swing the doors wide open, allowing employees to tend to their Facebook farms and update Twitter statuses throughout the day. Others lock 'em down, keeping non-business site access to a minimum.

A recent study found that, in the United States, 77% of employees with Facebook accounts check in with the community from the office. And, the amount of time they're spending in this part of the online world is growing. In the United Kingdom, another study found that 57% log in regularly from work, costing their employers 40 minutes a day.

Philip Wicks, a consultant at Morse PLC, a technology research firm in London, "It isn't just something you can do for half an hour during a lunch break but all through the day and because of that, it has a huge impact because people aren't necessarily concentrating on what they should be doing during the day." He estimates that this translates to lost productivity of $2.25 billion a year.

It seems like the obvious move would be to block the sites, but William Beers of PricewaterhouseCoopers disagrees. "Instead of trying to shut it down, I think we should try to embrace these technologies, put in a nice policy that governs it and explain to users the risks related to it, provide some training and then see what business benefits we can have from it," he said.

Continue reading Social media at work: not just a yes/no question any more

Social media at work: not just a yes/no question any more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Streetsmart Guide to Short Selling: Techniques the Pros Use to Profit in Any Market. He is also the founder of BizEquity

LinkedIn connects with $22.7 million originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CNBC hooks up with LinkedIn originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.