Part 3: Networking Using LinkedIn

Out of all the online social networking websites LinkedIn is considered the most professional. This is a network that you definitely want to be on. Individuals on LinkedIn are looking to network with other professionals and companies. How can you start making powerful connections right away with this platform?

Below I describe five strategies to network effectively using LinkedIn.

1. The best way to start out your network is to search your gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com and aol.com email accounts on LinkedIn. You can do this by going to the ‘Contacts’ tab and clicking on ‘Add Connections’. Here you will add your email and password for one of the above email accounts. LinkedIn will automatically scan your address book and find people from your contacts to connect with on LinkedIn. They understand you may not want to connect with all the connections it finds so it let’s you uncheck a box next to their name if you do not want to connect. Adding people this way is the best way to initially begin your networking process on LinkedIn.

2. Use the advanced search feature by clicking ‘Advanced’ next to the search field box in the upper right. Here you will find a variety of ways to seek out the individuals in your specific market. For example, you can search by company and find individuals in specific roles that way (CEO’s, COO’s etc.). Using the ‘Keywords’ box is also a great way to locate potential connections in you field that can eventually lead to greater opportunities. I recommend exploring all the search options you can perform in the Advanced People Search.

3. Search groups on LinkedIn and find some that have to do with your market. Join these groups and begin answering/asking questions and getting involved in the discussions. Within these groups you will most likely find people to connect with in addition to people finding you. Gradually build your strong network this way.

4. On your ‘Home’ page on LinkedIn you will see a section to the right titled ‘People you may know’ click ‘see more’. Here you will find a list of people LinkedIn thinks you could possibly know based on your current connections. Search and you might find some interesting people to connect with. If you don’t know the person or don’t have the persons email address, LinkedIn won’t let you request a connection. This is another reason you will want to join groups. LinkedIn does allow you to connect with people by requesting a connection based on being in the same group. This person does have to accept your connection on their end in order to make it complete.

5. Build up your recommendations by sending a client an invite to recommend you on LinkedIn. You can do this by going to ‘Recommendations’ under Profile in the top bar and then selecting ‘Request Recommendations’. If people are happy with your services they will be glad to recommend you. This is a great way to build up your credibility as a professional in your industry on LinkedIn and will set you apart from others in your same field.

Start Rockin’!

Eric