Linkedin is in a resurgence. Since adding applications and mimicking some other Facebook-style functionality, the Grandaddy of social networks is becoming more relevant.
Its important to recognize that Linkedin has different demographics than Facebook, Myspace and other social networks. Linkedin is older (68% are 35+), wealthier (66% make $60/year+), and better educated (72% are college grads).
The Good News
For many people that enjoy social network connectivity, but are not ready to live and breathe it, Linkedin is an ideal option because it’s safe, and it’s strictly business. There are very few interactivity options on Linkedin, and you are never faced with the “wow, I wish my client didn’t see that picture” dilemma that’s all too common on Facebook.
Linkedin works because it purposefully does less than Facebook and MySpace. Connections are controlled. Easy to use. Very little layout control. Minimal advertising. Few applications. No multi-media. And organized like an address book, a familiar paradigm.
The Bad News
The trouble is that the address book approach makes it easy to treat Linkedin as nothing more than Outlook contacts with personal profile data. The reality is that Linkedin offers an amazing opportunity to grow your network and your business – whatever it may be. But, because it’s much less flashy and in your face than other social networks, you have to dig a little to find the good stuff.
22 Ways to Dominate
Here are my 22 tips for dominating Linkedin. I put this presentation together for my good friends at Off Madison Ave in Arizona. Slides are available below via SlideShare.
Linkedin Profile
1. Upload a Good Photo
2. Complete Your Entire Profile, Including Prior Jobs
3. Include Email Address In Your Last Name (easier to contact you)
4. Use Keywords Liberally in Your Profile (think of it as an SEO page)
5. Link to Web Sites Using Keywords, not “My Web Site”
6. Link to Your Blog’s RSS Feed
7. Update Your Profile Often (keeps you on your contacts’ news stream), but Not Egregiously
8. Create Status Updates (like Twitter and Facebook)
Linkedin Applications
9. Activate Linkedin Applications that Connect to Your Content
- WordPress & Bloglink
- SlideShare
- Company Buzz (Twitter search)
Linkedin Connections
10. Invite Anyone You Meet in a Business Setting
11. Use Custom Invite Text
12. Find Connections Through Linkedin Search (company search is especially good)
13. Browse Your Connections’ Connections to Find People You Forgot or Missed
14. Invite Your Contacts from Outlook, Gmail, et al
Linkedin Recommendations
15. Liberally Provide and Request Recommendations
- Use Custom Request Text
- Provide Guidance to Reviewers on Themes and Keywords You’d Like Included
Linkedin Messages
16. Send Messages to Your Connections About Job Openings, Events
- Breaks Through Clutter of Inbox
Build Your LinkedIn Reputation
17. Set up a Search and Answer Questions in the Linkedin Answers Section
- Search can also be set as an RSS feed
18. Join Groups (only enough so that you can participate in each one)
- Great way to meet new connections through group discussions
19. Consider Creating Your Own Group
Using Linkedin for Business Development
20. Connect with Clients, Former Clients, and Prospects
21. Use Search to Find Appropriate Contacts at Target Companies
22. Use Search to Find Background Information on Personnel at Target Companies
(photo by DidbyGraham)
This is a great list of tips and tricks to use LinkedIn to your advantage. I agree with your negative analysis of LinkedIn, and have found trouble getting anything out of it myself. I can see the opportunity, and will definitely put some of your ideas to work.
Thank you.
Zach Heller’s last blog post..Lend a Finger Follow Up
Really useful material!!!
Guillaume’s last blog post..Green Issues and Economic Downturn
Great post Jason. I’ve gotten quite a bit of work through linkedin, so I’m sold. I’m still bitter though that my profile is at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyvaught and it doesn’t work without the www. You think they would have figured that out by now.
Cheers!
Jeremy Vaught’s last blog post..Social Media 101: Owning your name
Hi Jason,
I have to say that answering questions on LinkedIn adds much value to your credibility. I mean, haven’t we all learned by now that fragmenting your own discussions and feedback on different platforms is a much more effective way to turn yourself into someone like, I don’t know, Chris Brogan? Brogan says it’s all about interaction. Spot on!
Regarding the e-mail following your name– didn’t know that was even a possibility on LinkedIn. I’ll heed a lot of these ideas from this point forward!
Tim Otis’s last blog post..What Lois Whitman-Hess would really like to know about the New PR Landscape
Nice roll-up. I still think for business, LinkedIn is it.
As per item 13, “Browse Your Connections’ Connections”. I have noticed more and more that people are turning off access to their connections, so that you can’t browse them. I sort of understand why someone would, but ultimately I think it’s really bad form. I think LinkedIn should even remove the option — it just goes against what social media is all about, and will ultimately make it much less useful.
A great tool
I have been using for a long time now.
Pros – This site gives me a jump start on professional networking and keeps all my contact details updated – by the contacts. Scanned business cards are not a living document.
Cons – now my competitors have access to the same tools as the Emerson Sales team
Its a must for any sales professional !
[...] Twitter Tips for Newbies Great article- 100 Tools and Tips to Tap the Facebook Customer Base Comprehensive blog post from Jay Bear: 22 Ways to Dominate on LinkedIn Blog post by Guy Kawasaki: Ten Ways to Use Linkedin [...]
LinkedIn is an excellent tool. But unless something has changed, placing your email in your name is against the guidelines of the network.
[...] 22 Ways to Dominate LinkedIn from Convince and Convert Blog [...]
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Linkedin: 22 Ways to Dominate – [link to post] #b2b #marketing #sales20
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RT @B2B_Sales_Leads: Linkedin: 22 Ways to Dominate – [link to post] #b2b #marketing #sales20
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From @jaybaer: 22 Ways to Dominate on LinkedIn (how many of these are you doing?) [link to post]
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Linkedin 22 ways to dominate [link to post]
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[...] LinkedIn: 22 Ways to Dominate: Link with me, if you haven’t already. [...]
[...] in your company’s LinkedIn Group page. (Check out this great article by Jason, “22 Ways to Dominate LinkedIn,” for more [...]
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easy-to-do tips. RT @TheRealPRMan: Linkedin – 22 Ways to Dominate | [link to post]
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Good list, but why stop at 22? How about:
#23 – add a direct link to your LinkedIn profile in your default email signature saying “Join my LinkedIn network for mutual benefit at no cost”
#24 – increase your viewable/searchable 3-degree network by 5 million in 5 minutes by connecting to several of the top 50 most-connected LinkedIn users at http://www.toplinked.com
#25 – provide an unsolicited recommendation to the LinkedIn profile of someone you respect
For many more, get Shally Steckerl’s LinkedIn CheatSheet bundle for search and networking tips at aces.arbita.net/products/cheatsheets (he’s in the top 20 most-connected of the 40+ million members of LI).
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RT @TheRealPRMan Linkedin – 22 Ways to Dominate | [link to post]
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RT @TheRealPR ManLinkedin – 22 Ways to Dominate | [link to post]
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Linkedin – 22 Ways to Dominate | [link to post]
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Tuning up my LinkedIn profile per Jason Baer’s recommendations. Smart stuff here: [link to post]
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Good info! @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post] Good article
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RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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Thanks for the great tips, Jay. One of the factors that turned me off from LinkedIn in the past was it seemed like there was an attempt to make it tough to connect with people you hadn’t met before without getting an intro.
While the intro idea is a good one in principal, I’d like to just reach out and introduce myself as I would at a face-to-face networking event or on Twitter. Also, I don’t always have time to wait for the intro considering my purpose for connecting may be to ask a question, get someone’s perspective.
Is the intro process easier, less formal these days? I need to spend more time than I do on LinkedIn, especially exploring the groups. Do you agree that’s where the most value is?
Thanks,
Justin
.-= Justin Goldsborough´s last blog ..What I’ve learned about social media at Sprint =-.
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& Gini would know! RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post] (Agree, luv title: 22 ways 2 dominate LI)
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RT @ginidietrich: how to use LinkedIn (22 ways to dominate LI) [link to post] (via @JGoldsborough)
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Content is timely as usual, Gini! RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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Good advice! RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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No argument here. Worth the read. RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @EvaEKeiser: Good info! @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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Excellent ideas RT @gtiadvisors: RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @CCinHighHeels RT @PRjobs: RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on using LinkedIn. [link to post] Changes make it more useful too. (via @ginidietrich)
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RT @gtiadvisors: RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post] I agree; great post!
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This is gr8! My account is def. lacking. RT: @PeterFaur @ginidietrich: The best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @gtiadvisors RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use #LinkedIn [link to post]
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Best blog I’ve read on how to use #LinkedIn [link to post] [RT @constructionlaw (via @AdvertisingLaw @gtiadvisors @ginidietrich)]
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RT @AdvertisingLaw: RT @gtiadvisors RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use #LinkedIn [link to post]
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Thanks @ginidietrich, I agree! This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT@constructionlawRT @AdvertisingLaw: RT @gtiadvisors RT @ginidietrich: This is the best blog on how to use #LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT@RT@constructionlawRT @AdvertisingLaw: RT @gtiadvisors RT @ginidietrich: This is the best blog on how to use #LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @mdbarber This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on using LinkedIn. [link to post]
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RT @eduarteRT @gonzoogle: RT @PRjobs: RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT I agree with @jlipschultzRT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @jlipschultz: RT @ginidietrich: This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post] #Jobseeker
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RT @juanlanteri: RT @gonzoogle: The best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @gherebia: RT @juanlanteri: RT @gonzoogle: The best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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RT @rwohlner @gtiadvisors @ginidietrich This is, by far, the best blog I’ve read on how to use LinkedIn [link to post]
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