I’ve been involved in several presentations lately on using LinkedIn. Everyone should use LinkedIn and it’s never to late to start growing your network.
LinkedIn Has a Variety of Uses
- It is a great way to connect immediately after you meet someone with a follow-up email to become part of your online rolodex.
- It is an effective way to research people you want to meet, get introductions and find work. You can research companies and people before interviews and meetings. Even posting that you are looking for work can be helpful to get the word out about your job search.
- It can be your extensive online resume that shows up within LinkedIn and on search! (LinkedIn has a PR ranking of 17 the last time I looked). Endorsements can be gained easily.
- LinkedIn can help you maintain connections, build credibility and remind your network about yourself. This also is an integrated part of your social media outreach and staying forefront in the flow.
- You can use LinkedIn to build business through groups, events, PPC, company profiles, answers and more.
- The free service is very good. However there is a paid service that has more benefits such as the ability to send and receive emails, see who has looked at your profile, create lists and more.
Some Tips for Success Using LinkedIn
- Have a good profile – good picture, complete work history, add projects, add your specialties (very important for geting click endorsements)
- Optimize your page by making sure you use keywords that clients will search for your service.
- Do frequent status updates.
- Create a catchy headline that will stand out.
- Seek out endorsements and endorse others. There is a new endorsement feature now that is very easy to use.
- Make LinkedIn part of your networking routine.
