There is a lot more to do on LinkedIn than just connect

1. So you are on LINKEDIN now what? Networking is a contact sport Rick Curry The Coach Networkinmaniac

2. What’s your plan?

3. You Can Not Afford to Ignore LinkedIn LinkedIn has more than doubled in size (OVER 110 Million Members) in the past year with one user added every single second! Executives from ALL Fortune 500 Companies are registered on LinkedIn! 45% of LinkedIn’s members are considered the major decision makers for their companies. (Twitter and Facebook account for only 24-29%!) LinkedIn holds the record for the Highest Average Household Income over all other Social Networking sites at over $109,000 per member! There are no distractions! On LinkedIn, you’ll only find high-caliber individuals with a business mindset, focused on networking for results!

4. LinkedIn Profile 1. What’s the purpose? Only once you are clear how you will use LinkedIn will you get it to efficiently achieve your business goals. 2. No typos, spelling or grammatical errors please That on-line first impression counts just as much as face-to-face first impressions. 3. Who do you want to be seen as? Every time you appear on LinkedIn your headline or personal tag line goes with you. Make sure you brand your headline as what you want to be seen as by the on-line community. 4. Write your elevator pitch The summary box in your profile needs to be your personal elevator pitch but targeted at the people you want to see it – i.e. potential employers and recruiters.

5. LinkedIn (continued) 5. Public Profile and URLs Fight for the right to have your personal name in your LinkedIn profile URL, i.e. http://linkedin.com/in/yourfullname. 6. Recommendations Most social networking sites have an ability for members to collect recommendations and testimonials. LinkedIn is no different – and your recommendations are very prominently displayed. Do take the time to ask your clients and colleagues to recommend you on LinkedIn. 7. Make it consistent Consistency just like integrity and reliability is very important in the on-line world. Make sure the messages on your website, twitter biography, Facebook page and other on-line sites you maintain a profile are all consistent. 8. Keywords Search Engine Optimization is still important on LinkedIn. Annoying, but true I'm afraid. Similar to thinking about keywords for your website you need to identify the keywords that you would like your profile to show up in Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn!

6. Connections LinkedIn is only as effective as your contact list. Send personalized invitations The larger the network the more powerful If you want to grow your business, the best approach is to connect with as many people as possible (quantity and quality) Look through your LinkedIn connections weeklyEvery week, take 10 mins to look through your LinkedIn connections and comment on people's status updates. Use the status updates, or new jobs as an excuse to get in touch and have a phone call or meeting with them.

7. Message Key Network Contacts Use an “inside connection” to help get you access to company or job you are interested in. When you browse to a job listing on LinkedIn Jobs, you can see which of your connections are at that company. Leverage these connections to help you find the right contacts at the company you are interested in. You can also use the Advanced Search to find a user by keywords or companies. You can directly contact users through inMails or request an introduction through one of your contacts if you have common connections.

8. What’s on a Company Page More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn Company Pages For LinkedIn members, Company Pages are a great way to research companies you’re interested in, follow them to stay updated, see what kind of people work there, and even review the products and services you use. Overview- The reception area of theCompany Page – the Overview Tab provides a friendly introduction to theirbrand. When a member visits this tab, they see everyone in their network who works at thecompany, thecompany’s blog posts and Twitter feeds. Careers- This section provides the company with a unique opportunity to interact with millions of passive and active job seekers on LinkedIn. Investing in a Silver or Gold Careers Page allows the companyto feature additional content about theiremployment brand and thecompany’s culture, showcase their best employees, and tailor their messaging and job postings to target audiences. Products & Services - When a member visits this page, they see how many of their network connections recommend your product or service as well as their recommendations.

9. Groups LinkedIn Groups allow you to: Quickly discover the most popular discussions in your professional groups. Have an active part in determining the top discussions by liking and commenting. Follow the most influential people in your groups by checking the Top Influencers board or clicking their profile image to see all their group activity. See both member-generated discussions and news in one setting. Answers

10. Search on LinkedIn Jobs LinkedIn Jobs has thousands of job listings for each category. You can search using keywords, title, company, and location to find the perfect opportunity for you.

11. Use the JobsInsider Toolbar The JobsInsider toolbar integrates into your web browser, so when you are viewing a job listing on an external job site, you can automatically see your inside connections at that company. Download the toolbar today. JobsInsider shows you the people in your network that work at the hiring company Request an introduction to the hiring manager, get your resume to the right person, or find out more about the company

12. The Game Plan Regularly connect with 5 current or former business associates. When you connect with people, you and your business jump to the top of their mind. Join several Groups. Why several? Because it’s not 2 or 3, which is the number most people join. Your goal is to spread your visibility online, and the best way to do that is by joining many Groups, not just 2 or 3 Start a discussion in each new Group every day for 5 days after you join them. Add applications on your Profile Page. Rinse and repeat the above steps. The key to making LinkedIn work is consistency.