CarbonFoot Interactive

LinkedIn | IPO – 5 Tips to Leverage The Hype

Written on June 22, 2011 at 11:59 am, by gzola

There is networking, and then there’s networking after your morning Starbuck’s Grande Iced Coffee – “Black Eye” (2 extra espresso shots added).    The latter is how networking works using LinkedIn.   Yes, it’s all about relationships, but the tools available through LinkedIn offer you a powerful way to stay top of mind and reach potential clients.

1) LinkedIn Applications Directory

Before you start populating your profile with your social media content to help differentiate you from the pack, make sure you have the basics covered with a completed profile:

You have a myriad of ways to integrate content from your other social media properties for your LinkedIn profile via applications found in the LinkedIn Applications Directory.

2) Build Your Personal Network – “Personally”

Start with the people you know (see list below).   Then, as those people accept your invitation, look at their network to see if there is anyone with whom you would like to connect.    For the first phase of networking with those that you know,  make sure to personalize each invitation.

Say you haven’t heard from a former colleague in years.   Are you more likely to accept their LinkedIn profile with this message:

“I’d like to add you to my LinkedIn network”

OR

“Hi Frank.  I’ve recently started a new job with Company X  [or - ... just getting up-to-speed on LinkedIn] and was going through my contact list and realized we’d lost touch.  How have you been since … ?”

Send invitations to these people:

• Co-workers at your present employer
• Customers, Suppliers and other relevant vendors for your work
• Old High School & College Classmates
• Friends &/or Family (Only if there’s an expectation that comments are kept professional)

3) Power Networking on LinkedIn

Using LinkedIn to really build your network besides those you already know?  Then engage with the community via the different LinkedIn features such as Polls, Questions or Groups.

Start with a group aligned with your profession (say DMA – Direct Marketing Association).    Whatever group is tuned to your specific area of interest is the way to engage.   As you meet others, include them in your network.

Answering Questions is good exposure if you’re a subject matter expert, or you can choose to put a questions out there yourself.   Others can vote on which is the ‘best’ answer – and if you become the provider of “best answer” confirmed by many others, it’s good ‘cred’.

4) Recommendations

If you’re late to the game and feel comfortable, reach out to old colleagues from prior employers to get a sampling of recommendations to publish on your profile.    I’ve seen profiles with tons of recommendations.   They start to get watered down when they’re a dime a dozen.   Choose carefully whom you would like to ask.

5) Leveraging LinkedIn Networking Potential

• Review the profiles of someone with whom you want to connect. It’s valuable when contacting them to reference a point of interest or commonality
• Share relevant information through status updates, but be careful not to inundate your network with needless dribble.   This isn’t Twitter, or Facebook for that matter.
• Comment on someone else’s posts or updates.   Keep it professional and add useful info when you can.
• Make a point to check-in with LinkedIn regularly (weekly).   It’s easier to do with the Blackberry and iPhone mobile LinkedIn apps.

Happy Networking!

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