With the launch of BranchOut, Facebook is giving LinkedIn a punch in the chops. BranchOut is an app that piggybacks on Facebook’s existing structure, just like Farmville and other independent add-ons. But BranchOut is no kiddie game - it’s all business.

You can install the app, create a professional profile, and start “building your empire” without affecting your normal everyday Facebook page (though it will post content on your wall).

Everyone’s favorite thing to do is create yet another social media profile, right? BranchOut soothes the pain.  If you have a LinkedIn profile, you don’t have to create a new one for BranchOut. One click allows you to import your LinkedIn profile. No muss, no fuss, no tweaking. Of course you can edit your profile once you have imported it from LinkedIn.  Your Facebook profile headshot will appear, but you can easily replace that.

Once you’ve signed up, BranchOut gathers the workplace data from user Facebook pages. You’ll be able to invite friends to BranchOut, and write a quick blurb to endorse or recommend them, as well as ask for endorsements from your friends. It’s a little easier to get someone to write one line for you than a longer LinkedIn recommendation … plus those one-liners are great to place on a job-seeking or business website.  There’s also a function which allows searching for job postings (free for 30 days).

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