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Your idea of a skills-based matching platform, particularly for those seeking an alternative to LinkedIn, places you in a challenging space. The "Run Away" category suggests that similar ideas have faced significant hurdles. While there are a few comparable products (n_matches=3), indicating some validation, it also means that you're not alone in this space, and you'll face competition. The existing products have garnered relatively high engagement (avg n_comments=12), suggesting that there's an interest in the general idea, but the lack of any net positive use or buy signals is concerning, suggesting that people aren't finding enough value in existing solutions to actively use or pay for them. The criticism and discussions of those similar products suggest spam and privacy issues. Given the challenges and negative feedback associated with comparable products, it's crucial to tread carefully and thoroughly re-evaluate the approach and execution.

Recommendations

1. Carefully review the negative comments from similar products, especially concerning spam, onboarding length, data privacy, and unclear value proposition. Understanding these pain points is crucial for differentiating your platform and avoiding the same pitfalls. The discussions around LinkedIn dependency, user base confusion, and sign-up issues are particularly insightful.
2. Consider pivoting your skills and focusing on a specific niche within the broader professional networking space. Instead of competing directly with LinkedIn, identify underserved users or a specific industry that could benefit from a more tailored matching approach. Focus on that niche and make sure that onboarding is short and non-intrusive.
3. Instead of building out the full matching platform see if you can validate the problem in your target niche via a series of manual 1:1 intros. This will allow you to learn about user needs and get feedback more quickly. If the feedback from your users is positive, that is when you should start automating it!
4. Conduct in-depth interviews with at least three individuals who have tried similar platforms, focusing on their frustrations, unmet needs, and desired features. What is the core problem they are trying to solve with this "matching" and how could you solve this core need in a more organic way?
5. Before investing significant resources, focus on building a minimal viable product (MVP) that addresses the core pain points identified in your research. Start with a single, well-defined use case and iterate based on user feedback. Don't try to be everything to everyone early on.
6. Develop a clear and compelling value proposition that resonates with your target audience. Explain precisely how your platform solves their specific problems and why it's different from existing solutions, particularly LinkedIn. Address the privacy and spam concerns that surfaced in similar product discussions.
7. Prioritize a seamless and user-friendly onboarding process to minimize friction. Address any technical issues, such as SSL certificate mismatches or sign-up problems, promptly. Strive for a simple, clear signup process and DO NOT require a LinkedIn account in the beginning.
8. Implement robust data privacy measures and clearly communicate your data usage policies to build trust with your users. Emphasize your commitment to ethical practices and avoid misleading use of logos or intrusive pop-ups, as these issues were flagged in the competitive analysis.

Questions

1. Given the criticisms surrounding LinkedIn dependency and data privacy in similar platforms, how can you build a skills-based matching system that respects user privacy and doesn't rely on existing social networks?
2. The 'Run Away' category suggests significant challenges. What is the one key aspect of your platform that will demonstrably solve a problem better than existing solutions, addressing the core reasons why similar products failed to gain traction?
3. Considering the concerns about unclear user base and purpose in similar networking tools, how will you define and target a specific niche, ensuring your platform's value proposition resonates strongly with that audience, and how can you measure that resonance?