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LinkedIn Is Getting Smarter With Enhanced Search Features & Improved Query Results

Amy Gesenhues on March 25, 2013 at 11:01 am

Starting today, LinkedIn members will begin seeing a number of enhancements to the professional networking site, including a new unified search feature and a smarter query intent algorithm that continuously serve up more relevant results.

With over 5.7 billion searches performed on LinkedIn last year, the new unified search experience is one of the most anticipated upgrades to the site. During a product overview last week, LinkedIn’s Brad Mauney, Product Lead, and Asif Makhani, Engineering Lead, demonstrated how the new unified search feature serves up a list of people, companies, jobs and groups all in one comprehensive page of results. Members can then narrow their search results by modifying their filter selections.

LinkedIn’s new unified search results page

In addition to the unified search experience that pulls content from across the site, LinkedIn is upgrading back-end functions with the roll-out of a smarter query intent algorithm that learns and understands a user’s intent over time, serving up more relevant results with every search performed.

Other LinkedIn upgrades include a new look to the advanced search page with additional filters that let members search by location, company and school. The new auto-complete feature prompts a list of search options as members type their search terms. The more searches a member performs, the more relevant their auto-complete options will become at predicting the type of content the member wants.

Along with the auto-complete upgrade, a suggested search feature will help members quickly find content by offering people or jobs related to their search terms as well as a preview of top results.

Members will also have access to automated alerts that send notifications when saved search results have changed.

LinkedIn’s new upgrades will start rolling out today and be available to all global members in the coming weeks.

About The Author

Amy Gesenhues

Amy Gesenhues is Third Door Media's General Assignment Reporter, covering the latest news and updates for Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. From 2009 to 2012, she was an award-winning syndicated columnist for a number of daily newspapers from New York to Texas. With more than ten years of marketing management experience, she has contributed to a variety of traditional and online publications, including MarketingProfs.com, SoftwareCEO.com, and Sales and Marketing Management Magazine. Read more of Amy's articles.