How Will Websites Like Meetup and Eventbrite Be Impacted by LinkedIn’s New Event Functionality?

Introduction

With the release of LinkedIn's new Event functionality, it's natural to wonder how this new feature will affect established event management platforms like Meetup and Eventbrite. This article delves into the current landscape, the potential impact, and what the future may hold for these platforms.

The Current Landscape

As of now, LinkedIn is not positioned to compete directly with Meetup and Eventbrite in the world of event management. LinkedIn Events, while a useful feature for promoting events within one's LinkedIn network, lacks the extensive functionality and features that these other event management platforms offer.

According to industry experts, LinkedIn Events serves more as a means for event promoters to advertise their events within their LinkedIn networks. This is valuable but limited in scope compared to services like Meetup and Eventbrite.

Facebook also has a robust Events product that competes in some areas with these other event management platforms. However, LinkedIn Events' primary function is still centred around professional networking and promoting events within the LinkedIn ecosystem.

Potential Impact on Meetup and Eventbrite

Despite LinkedIn's new feature, Meetup and Eventbrite are unlikely to face an immediate or substantial challenge. Many users, particularly those in the professional sector, already utilize LinkedIn for networking and professional development. These platforms still cater to a broad demographic that does not frequent LinkedIn, ensuring their relevance and user base remain robust.

One potential downside for these established platforms could arise if LinkedIn decides to start charging for the use of this feature. If LinkedIn were to implement paid services, it could limit the reach and functionality of these services, potentially affecting their user numbers and revenues. However, this is a speculative scenario and not something that has been publicly announced or implied.

Furthermore, there's a possibility that LinkedIn's new event functionality may further segment users, creating a division where some are more heavily involved in professional-oriented events on LinkedIn, while others continue to use Meetup and Eventbrite for a more diverse set of social and community-based events.

Conclusion

In summary, while LinkedIn's new Event functionality introduces some competition, it is unlikely to significantly impact the market share of established platforms like Meetup and Eventbrite. These platforms will remain relevant, primarily catering to a wider demographic that values their user-friendly interfaces and extensive functionality. However, the potential for LinkedIn to charge for premium access or additional features could introduce a dynamic that changes the competitive landscape over time.

Future Outlook

The future of Meetup, Eventbrite, and LinkedIn's event management features is likely to be characterized by continued coexistence. While LinkedIn's capabilities in the professional networking space will expand, Meetup and Eventbrite will continue to serve their broad community-based user base. The key will be for these platforms to adapt to changing user preferences and technological advancements.