Top 10 LinkedIn Tips

4th Feb 2011

LinkedIn is fast becoming an essential business tool for both job seeking and social media marketing. James Potter, The LinkedIn Man has kindly shared some of his expertise with us.

Connections:
Only connect to those you know, like, trust or need – disconnect others. Your network reflects you, enables you, and others can use it as a way of measuring your choices in connections, network and friends. A poor choice of connection could reflect badly on you.

Network expansion:
Have a strategy to expand your network and consider if you want a wide network with lots of connections or a deep network with fewer connections that know you and your business well. A wide network gives you greater scope to search and find the connection you need but less ‘engaged’ at a relationship level. A deep network acts as eyes and ears for your business; they understand your offerings, your value and will be advocates for you.

Ensure your profile and status is full of value:
Most profiles are full of facts, which we all assume people will translate into value. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying we should all turn overt and more like our American cousins but we DO need to stop being so very British about it. Stop hiding the outcomes that we bring to our clients, the value we imbue in the businesses we work with and the changes in performance we realise. So what if you deployed SAP? But we might care if you successfully deployed SAP to 47 countries saving the business £2m and making an extra £15m of sales! Which would resonate more? Try it – it’s not about what you do – but the so what!

Never use standard text for invites:
Paint the picture in your head, you bump into the perfect client at a network meeting, they have budget, know of your services or products and are in urgent need. You do the right thing offering to get in touch the next day and invite them to connect on LinkedIn. You then send them a “I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn”. Wouldn’t they feel special? Well no, you’re networking to build a relationship, to invest, give and help, to make the person feel a little special and that you’re considering their needs and how you might help. Then you don’t send a personalised note – ruined!

Review your home page every day and update your status:
LinkedIn runs a bread crumb trail of all the activity of your closest connections right on your homepage on LinkedIn. Every network update, every status message, connection and question you ask or answer appears there, as do all your closest connections. If you do nothing else then put a message up telling everyone else what you’re up to, its value and the outcome you’re generating. If you have a little more time, check out your networks activity, what they’re up to, if they have posted about needing your services or talents or perhaps connected to the person you most want to meet.

Use the advanced search:
The question I get asked a lot is what is the most important bit on LinkedIn. Well, to find the people you want to meet it has to be the advanced search. LinkedIn is just like a big room full of people, well over 90 million now. LinkedIn advanced search let’s you find the person, company, group or job that you most desire using keywords, location, connection levels and more. Check it out, it will help you find the people you most want to meet.

The prime contacts are second level:
I think the most important people in your existing network are your level two connections. Why? Because your level ones are your closest associates, you have invested time meeting them, sharing with them the values you hold, the value your business shares with others, and vice versa. You have an understanding of them, you know how they work and vice versa. So if one of your closest colleagues popped up and said could you introduce me to xxx, you wouldn’t hesitate would you? So why aren’t you using the search to look for those people you want to meet in level two and ask your level ones to connect you? But don’t go using a standard text template now will you!?

Personal brand:
Less than 20% of people believe advertising but nearly 80% believe their peers. This is why LinkedIn is founded on the personal profile, the profile that represents you and what you stand for. It is your brand in the LinkedIn world, the foundation that enables you to build a great network and to exploit the platform to the full (once you have the skills). It should be packed full of your values, and the value that you have provided in your current and previous roles. Make it easy for people to find you, to engage with you, and share in the value that you share.

Do unto others …., share, help, don’t sell and don’t spam:
Manners and etiquette is often talked about around social media but I prefer to think of it within a room full of people. If you were to meet your closest friends and colleagues in a room, I would hope you wouldn’t leap into ‘sales mode’ pushing your benefits and trying to close, close, close. So why do it on social media? You’re only a screen and keyboard away. The best advice I can give you is don’t push sales and treat people as you want to be treated and you’ll be fine. If you want to sell the company then create a company profile together with products and services as a sales vehicle. Your profile and your relationships should enable your success. You too can sell millions within LinkedIn just as I did – just change your approach a little. Make it easy for people to buy from you.

It’s a network - work it, interact, comment and engage:
When you go to a network event, you work around the guests, you talk to people and you engage. So why when it comes to business social media like LinkedIn, do people expect the door to open up to commercial success just for having a profile? It’s like being on the guest list of an event, not going and wondering why no one got in touch afterwards! Like having a bike in the garage and wondering why you’re not getting fit! You have to engage with people, invest in them, share with them, and help them before they will appreciate you, your value and your efforts. Go on, invest a little, the returns are fabulous!

WANT TO LEARN MORE? WHY NOT ATTEND OUR SEMINAR ON FEB 28TH 2011 in CENTRAL LONDON.

There are many ways that Contractors and Interim Managers can develop their LinkedIn strategy. For more information about how you can maximise your LinkedIn account, you can attend our seminar in Central London on February 28th 2011. This event is being jointly delivered by The CV & Interview Advisors and James Potter, The LinkedIn Man. Copy the link below into your browser for more details:

http://www.cvandinterviewadvisors.co.uk/ivc/13