LinkedIn 2015 Annual Report Download - page 29

or different market focus. Any such increased competition could cause pricing pressure, loss of
business or decreased member activity, any of which could adversely affect our business and operating
results. Internet search engines could also change their methodologies in ways that adversely affect
our ability to optimize our page rankings within their search results.
Enterprises and professional organizations-Talent Solutions. With respect to our Talent Solutions,
we compete with online recruiting companies, talent management companies and larger companies
that are focusing on talent management and human resource services, job boards, traditional recruiting
firms, and companies that provide learning and development products and services. Additionally, other
companies, including newcomers to the recruiting or learning and development industries, may partner
with Internet companies, including social networking companies, to provide services that compete with
our solutions, either on their own or as third party applications. If the efficiency and usefulness of our
products to enterprises and professional organizations do not exceed those provided by competitors,
we will not be able to compete successfully.
Enterprises and professional organizations-Marketing Solutions. With respect to our Marketing
Solutions, we compete with online and offline outlets that generate revenue from advertisers and
marketers. To the extent competitors are better able to provide customers with cost-effective access to
attractive demographics, either through new business models or increased user volume, we may not be
successful in retaining our existing advertisers or attracting new advertisers, and our business would be
harmed.
Enterprises and professional organizations-Premium Subscriptions/Sales Solutions. With respect
to our Premium Subscriptions and Sales Solutions, we compete with online and offline companies for
customers with lead generation and customer intelligence and insights. Our Sales Solutions product is
in the early stages, and we may not be able to compete effectively in this area.
If we do not continue to attract new customers, or if existing customers do not renew their
subscriptions, renew on less favorable terms, or fail to purchase additional solutions, we may
not achieve our revenue projections, and our operating results would be harmed.
In order to grow our business, we must continually attract new customers, sell additional solutions
to existing customers and reduce the level of non-renewals in our business. Our ability to do so
depends in large part on the success of our sales and marketing efforts. We do not typically enter into
long-term contracts with our customers, and even when we do, they can generally terminate their
relationship with us. We may not accurately predict future trends with respect to rates of customer
renewals, upgrades and expansions. Furthermore, the nature of our products and solutions is such that
customers may decide to terminate or not renew their agreements with us without causing significant
disruptions to their own businesses.
We must demonstrate that our Talent Solutions are important recruiting and learning and
development tools for enterprises, professional organizations, and individuals and that our Marketing
and Sales Solutions provide them with access to an audience of one of the most influential, affluent
and highly educated audiences on the Internet. However, potential customers may not be familiar with
our solutions or may prefer other or more traditional products and services for their talent, advertising
and marketing needs.
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