LinkedIn Gets the Ball Rolling

 

Well all this updating, linking, poking, tweeting, sharing, posting, and friending my pay off for some lucky investors. Social media may be the new upswing in the economy.

 

LinkedIn, a professionals social media, went public on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday as "LNKD" and sold shares starting at $45 apiece selling 4,827,804 shares from the corporation and 3,012,196 shares from selling stock holders. Today that makes LinkedIn worth $4.3 billion. Yes, with a B. And other social networking companies are looking to follow such as Facebook and Groupon.

Lots of people are saying this could be the beginning of another "dot come era" or bubble like back in the '90s and venture capitalists are excited to start backing well-established companies and start making some money.

LivingSocial like the rest of us

Groupon has some competition from LivingSocial.

I wouldn't really say competition because people can sign up for both of them, but Groupon's business model is spreading.

LivingSocial works just like Groupon in that you receive daily e-mails about steep group discount deals in your area and have a limited amount of time to snatch them up. It even has a similar layout.

However, there are some advantages to being second in existence for improving that business model.

Livingsocial includes deals of the day for areas around you in your e-mail and supplies a Googlemap for the deal of the day's location(s).

It also has LivingSocial Family Edition so parents can do fun things for cheap with the whole gang.

Possibly the best perk though, is the possibility of a completely free deal.

I think this is brilliant because then OF COURSE people are going to share their deals with other people doing some advertising for the business AND LivingSocial.

There is also an Escapes LivingSocial that packages a discount weekend getaway in some pretty cool locations.

LivingSocial takes "finding the best places in your city" to the next level. They have a "356 things to do in ___" list for major cities.  Users can comment on that choice supporting or refuting that claim while recommending somewhere else that is better. It's a cool forum for people to share and discover the cool things in their city.  

Now if only LivingSocial and FourSquare could combine, think of that social media network...

Let me know if you sign up and get any great deals!

No Deal for Google

Groupon decided to reject Google's offer of $5.3 billion.

According to Chicago Breaking Business, Groupon is considering going public but not until 2011 if it does indeed happen.

Groupon's presence in 35 countries worldwide with more than 3,000 employees and an annual revenue of $500 million is an impressive thing for a start-up business.

Google could have really benefited from these lucrative local/interpersonal advertising clusters all over the world. It also doesn’t have to create its own carbon copy of the deals site. Thirdly, it can ride Groupon’s instant brand recognition.

There are several reasons why a company might not want to sell out. The founders of Groupon have discovered a new flourishing working model and could want to see it all the way through regardless of how much money is dangled in front of them. Or they could just be holding out for a higher number.

But Groupon is expanding and hiring more employees this year, so whatever happens, Groupon is not going away.

G(oogle)rupon Update

Forbes magazine named Groupon the fastest growing company ever. Again, no wonder Google wanted it.

Evidently the bid for Groupon has increased to $5-$6 Billion and Groupon is "considering it." That means they have other offers. This company is making sure it picks the best offer because they've already brushed off Yahoo's earlier $3 billion offer.

But neither party is talking so right now everything is mere speculation. I'll keep you updated when more surfaces.

For your entertainment, here is an article from PaidContent.org explaining "Why Google Buying Groupon Is a Bad Idea."

Groupon's Been Googled.

It's been rumored that Google just bought Groupon for $2.5 billion.

It is estimated that Groupon is worth $1 billion and grossing $50 million per month for its venues. This is quite an accomplishment for a business that has been open only two years. No wonder Google wants them.

There have been Groupon copycats such as BuyWithMe, Qponus, LivingSocial and many others. 

This acquisition would separate Groupon from the rest of the copycats while also making GooglePlaces, which is designed to help local business owners gain an edge in search engine marketing, a database for venue choices.

But I ask, what about the little guys? Why do all start-up businesses need to be bought out? Why does Google need to own everything?  I'm not a fan of how these brilliant innovative ideas are being gobbled up by now corporate conglomerates.