Seven Steps to LinkedIn Enlightenment

35 Million

People

1. Optimize Your Profile

Put your Headline to work.

1. Optimize Your Profile

Put your Headline to work

Let them know you’re alive

1. Optimize Your Profile

Claim your name

1. Optimize Your Profile

Summarize for your audience and for search Include information about your company or group as appropriate

1. Optimize Your Profile

Use applications to provide more context and increase connections.

1. Optimize Your Profile

Solicit meaningful recommendations from People relevant to your target audience People who have well-developed networks

2. Connect Your Network

Import contacts

Search colleagues and classmates

Use LinkedIn Outlook toolbar

3. Promote Your Company

New feature added November 2008 Edit copy for target audience and search More robust elements coming soon

4. Find People Advanced Search

Input field Sidebar search

Saved Searches

Reference Search

4. Find People

5. Make New ContactsIntroduction - Free

InMail - Paid

6. Join Groups

6. Join Groups Introduce yourself

Participate – join discussions, ask questions

Give before your ask

Avoid shameless self promotion

Don’t start a new discussion if an old one fits

7. Ask & Answer Questions

7. Ask & Answer Questions

“I've had luck simply posting that "I'm looking for connections in such and such a city", when I'm headed there for a sales trip. It's been really great to have referrals or for people whom I've forgotten about show up. Especially when I'm busting into a new market and mostly cold calling. I'm in Austin right now and 3 of the 9 appts. that I have while I'm here are from Linked In leads.”

7. Ask & Answer Questions

“Can you please put something in your presentation on how unacceptable it is to use your LinkedIn contacts to spam people?! I am on this for business connections, etc. NOT to get ridiculous emails from [NAME DELETED] about his ridiculous [PRODUCT DELETED]. This sours me to accept anyone with a sales background. “Just my two cents. :)

7. Ask & Answer Questions

“Hey Mark -- Good to hear from you! Would LOVE to talk with you about LinkedIn, but my thoughts are too numerous for email. Call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX and I will tell you how I use LI from a B2B standpoint.

+1

linkedin.com/in/marklogan

mlogan@barkleyus.com

mark-logan.blogspot.com

twitter.com/mlogan

Learning More LinkedIn Learning Center - http://learn.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn Blog - http://blog.linkedin.com/

Using LinkedIn Q&A - http://www.linkedin.com/answers?categoryHome=&category=ULI