There is no question that LinkedIn is one of the most powerful networking platforms around. It connects, credentializes, and recruits. It provides a glimpse into the professional lives of those we know, and those we want to know.

But it has been providing less, and less, and less. Consider the following:

• LinkedIn answers – gone
• LinkedIn polls – gone
• LinkedIn company page “product and services” tab – gone

LinkedIn isn’t alone. Google is one of the great financial success stories, but they have been slimming down:

• Google Reader – gone
• Google Wave – gone
• iGoogle – gone

The question of why these sites (and MANY others) are on a diet shouldn’t surprise. Removing features reduces costs, while simultaneously focusing users on the features that generate revenue.  And those features that remain are sprouting new price tags.

• LinkedIn groups, jobs tab: the tab still exists, but posting has a price tag.
• Facebook page posts: At one time all people saw your posts; today, almost no one will… unless you ‘boost’ the post for a fee.

As high-traffic sites become more and more indispensable, pay-to-play has become the norm.

As many non-prime social media sites are now discovering, without a steady flow of income, eventually they will be forced to shut down. This has already happened to Booktour, Vizify, Amplicate, Hellotxt, Timely, Retagr, Gowalla, Skribit, and many more. (More:  Social Media Going Out of Business.)

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