1. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
LinkedIn 101:
Creating and Using Your Social Network
Business Women’s Round Table
June 18, 2009
understanding
2. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Agenda
• Introduction
• Objectives
• Why Use LinkedIn?
• Ways to Use LinkedIn
• Questions
understanding
4. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Why Use LinkedIn?
“The average number of LinkedIn connections for people who work at Google
is forty-seven.
The average number for Harvard Business School grads is fifty-eight, so you
could skip the MBA, work at Google, and probably get most of the
connections you need.
People with more than twenty connections are thirty-four times more
likely to be approached with a job opportunity than people with less
than five.
All 500 of the Fortune 500 are represented in LinkedIn. In fact, 499 of them
are represented by director-level and above employees.”
-- Guy Kawasaki http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2007/01/ten_ways_to_use.html#ixzz0IcOuG3EF&D
understanding
5. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Objectives of this Session
• Enhanced knowledge of why LinkedIn, and social
networks are important
• Learn ways to use LinkedIn, rather than just “being
there”
• Begin thinking about the creation of a plan for
developing and using your network, strategically and
effectively
understanding
6. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
What is LinkedIn?
• A business-oriented social networking site
• An interconnected network of professionals in more than
170 industries and 200 countries
• The average age of the LinkedIn user is 41
• Average salary is $110,000
• Men and the 24-35 year-old demographic are more
likely to use LinkedIn
understanding
7. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Latest LinkedIn Facts:
• LinkedIn has over 41 million members in over 200
countries and territories around the world.
• A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every
second, and about half of our members are outside the
U.S.
• Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn
members.
understanding
8. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Find a New, (or Better) Job
• It is who you know
• Make your resume easily searchable
• Ask for introductions
• Request endorsements and offer them to others
• Keep your name top-of-mind with connectors and
people who may be hiring
understanding
9. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
LinkedIn in Plain English
understanding
10. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Ways to Use LinkedIn
• Increase your visibility
– By adding connections, you increase the likelihood
that people will see your profile first when they’re
searching for someone to hire or do business with
– In addition to appearing at the top of search results,
people would much rather work with people who their
friends know and trust
understanding
11. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Ways to Use LinkedIn
• Increase your ability to connect
– Include past companies, affiliations, interests and education
– Add your LinkedIn profile link to e-mail signatures and online
profiles
– e.g., http://www.linkedin.com/in/marijeanjaggers
• Bump up your Google juice
– Allow search engines to index your LinkedIn profile
• Create a public profile and select “full view”
• If you’re not a blogger, or do not have a Web site, use your
customized LinkedIn URL (see mine above) when you
comment on blogs or online articles
understanding
13. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Ways to Use LinkedIn
• Perform a reference check
– Does LinkedIn profile match resume?
– Does the candidate have recommendations? Have they given any?
• Ask for advice or referrals
– Answers section can be a wealth of information and resources for your
industry or your career path
– Increase your credibility in your field and demonstrate your thought
leadership by replying to questions related to your industry, or to which
you can respond intelligently
understanding
14. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Prospects: Local Company Search
understanding
16. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
LinkedIn Connection Example
• Find people you know in targeted companies
understanding
17. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Good Invitation to Connect
As you may know, I resigned my position as [TITLE & COMPANY]. It
was a rich experience and I value the privilege of access to a very high
level of thought leadership during my years there.
Recently, I have begun to work with the [COMPANY] to [DETAILS OF
JOB AND INDUSTRY] Using “best practice” as a baseline, we are
looking at regional, national and international models that use an
integrated approach to create successful outcomes.
As I value our relationship and appreciate the depth of experience you
bring to your profession, please join my network so we can stay in
touch on this and more.
Warm regards,
understanding
18. standing together. moving forward.
public relations • strategic communications • issues management
Steps to Take
• Today – upload your e-mail contacts from all sources
• Today – get your profile to 100% by completing all of your
information and adding a photo
• Next week – write a recommendation for a colleague, partner or
friend (and hope they return the favor
• Next week – create a schedule for yourself to ask one new person
a week for a recommendation
• Going forward, each time you get a new contact’s card, enter them
in
• Each week, spend about 10 minutes researching new, desired
contacts or prospect companies
• When necessary, UPDATE your profile and keep it current
understanding