LinkedIn reports a record quarter in the advertising business

Microsoft yesterday reported the earnings for Q4 2020. In the earnings release, Microsoft says LinkedIn’s advertising business had a record quarter. LinkedIn’s advertising business accounted for more than a third of LinkedIn’s total revenue.

LinkedIn Marketing Solutions was up over 50 percent. Microsoft says advertisers are "increasingly turning to the platform as the trusted way to reach professionals ready to do business."

According to Microsoft, LinkedIn is reaching nearly 740 million members. Sessions increased 30 percent in Q4, 2020, and conversations were up 48 percent. Microsoft states that hours spent on LinkedIn Learning were up 2X, compared to a year ago.

In 2020, LinkedIn launched Retargeting by Video Views & Lead Gen Forms, integrated IAS as default pre-bid in Campaign Manager, and included Flipboard, Microsoft News, and MSN.com in the Audience Network.

Microsoft bought LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in 2016.