LinkedIn Introduces Connection-Based Leaderboards for In-App Games

LinkedIn has added a brand-new edge to competition by introducing connection-based leaderboards for in-app games.

LinkedIn is introducing group leaderboards to its gaming feature, letting you compare scores directly with your connections.

As you can see from the above example, coming next month, the leaderboards will display how you rank against your LinkedIn connections in various games in LinkedIn, providing the perfect personalized and exciting experience.

How It Works: Personalized Rankings

This new leaderboard feature will show daily ratings for every game, and compare your performance with the performance of your friends (provided you’ve chosen to use this feature). This can add a fascinating level of interaction, since you’ll have the opportunity to play and debate strategies for gaming with those you know.

A pop-up alert inside the app can inform users of the forthcoming leaderboard feature within the next week, so that you can get ready for its debut.

Although LinkedIn in May last year has provided leaderboards that gave players a chance to compare their performance across various groups (e.g. corporations and schools, etc.). The new version is focused on your immediate circle. If your contacts are playing similar games, you’ll be able to see exactly where you are with respect to your peers.

The Popularity of LinkedIn’s Games

According to LinkedIn the games in its app have been relatively popular in the last few years, with “millions” of members playing every day. Amazingly, 84% of those who play with the games continue to play them again. 

In spite of LinkedIn’s huge membership base with a billion total members, and around 400 million active users, the amount of active players may still only represent a small proportion of the overall user base.

However, LinkedIn seems committed to increasing its gaming options. The platform has recently added new games as well as features like leaderboards that further boost the engagement of its users. It is evident that LinkedIn sees the potential of the features it has added as a method to increase “record levels” of in-app engagement in recent months.

What Does This Mean for Users?

For some, the idea of leaderboards for gaming competitions could seem a bit odd on an organization’s professional network. But, the concept of fostering friendly competition between friends as well as past friends might provide new opportunities to interact and connect with other users on LinkedIn.

While gaming on LinkedIn is not yet a priority to its main purpose of networking but it could be a new way for professionals to engage, whether it is through discussion, collaboration, as well as healthy competition.

Looking Ahead

LinkedIn plans to launch the updated leaderboards later this month. For those who love gaming, this upgrade can provide a more fun and personal-relevant method of connecting with their friends. The time will tell whether this is an important attraction for users. However, it’s evident that LinkedIn is looking for new ways to boost user engagement and expand the use of its social media tools.