LinkedIn (NYSE:LNKD) is taking the right steps to keep its users more engaged on its site. The newest addition to its growing features list is “Apply with LinkedIn,” a web plug-in that allows job seekers to directly contact employers. Meanwhile it’s also focusing on upgrading its mobile apps on Android and iOS based devices given the exponential growth in its mobile page views last quarter. We believe these initiatives will benefit the company by translating into higher number of page views. LinkedIn mainly competes with online job portals such as Monster (NYSE:MWW) and Craigslist, and with Facebook, Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) in the online advertising space.

While we estimate the average number of monthly page views per LinkedIn visitor will increase from 38 in 2012 to 43 by the end of our forecast period, Trefis members expect a rise from 53 to 57 during the same period. The member estimates imply an upside of over 10% to our LinkedIn’s stock price estimate.

We currently have a Trefis price estimate of $34 for LinkedIn’s stock, about 67% below the current market price. We’ve discussed earlier on why we think that stock is overpriced.

New Features Boosting User Experience

Few features introduced by LinkedIn earlier this year like LinkedIn Today and LinkedIn Skill have boosted its total page views, which stood at around 7.1 billion in Q2 2011, up from its 4.5 billion same period in 2010. The company recently launched a web plug-in Apply with LinkedIn which aims to benefits both the employer and the employee. With this plug-in, job seekers can contact the company directly while the employer gets instant access to interested candidates eliminating the need for a recruitment consultant or a middleman. The plug-in also allows the applicant to view any connections he has in the same company who can provide referrals. This initiative can attract more users to LinkedIn expanding its subscribe base further. (See LinkedIn Uses New Tool to Link Employers and Applicants)

Updating Mobile Apps to Increase Page Views

LinkedIn saw massive growth of 400% year-on-year in its mobile page views last quarter driving it to make further upgrades to its mobile apps on Android and iOS based mobile devices as well as debuting its new mobile website with HTML5. The company claims that the new mobile apps are 2 to 10 times faster across all features, from search to reading your update stream, and will provide access to LinkedIn groups and discussions.^[1]

Our complete analysis for LinkedIn’s stock is here.

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