Hi, I've been on LinkedIn for over a year now and I have more than 50 connections. What now?! I'm a self employed consultant and work mostly with large organisations. I was talking to a senior client manager recently and found she was also unsure of how to use LinkedIn. So - can you give us both some strategies for using this network effectively? We both feel sure we're missing out on lots of really useful stuff! Thanks.

We turned to Linda Coles, a social media expert, to help us answer this question (and it's one we've been keen to hear the answer to)!

 

Answer: Your Linkedin profile is your online CV but with so much more! So many people join up to LinkedIn because they have had an invitation or heard about the site, but don't understand the benefits of using it.

There are more than 50 million users on LinkedIn worldwide now, and it is growing at about 1 person per second. Here in New Zealand, there are around 150,000 people registered which is a huge chunk of the business population, and of that nearly half are looking to do a deal with other companies in some way. The top positions registered are those of owner, director and then manager, so if you are looking to network with these types of people, you are in the right place.

Let's get started.

Your Profile

The first thing to do is get your profile fully updated and completed. Fill in all the gaps of your past employment and add a good head-and-shoulders picture. There is space to add your hobbies, and any clubs and organisations you belong to. Feel free to add your blog feed so that visitors can read your blog from your profile page; this is a good way of generating blog traffic.

Have a look at the different applications that you may want to add such as SlideShare or Box. These are particularly useful if you want to add a Powerpoint presentation to support your CV or maybe even the first chapter of a book you are writing.

When you are happy with your profile, add your Outlook contacts and send your friends and collegues an invitation to join your network. LinkedIn automatically tells you who is already on LinkedIn that is also on your contact list, and you may be surprised at how many people you already know but have perhaps lost touch with.

How to Network

The best way to network now that you have a great profile, is to join some groups, and answer questions in the Answers section. There are simply hundreds of groups to choose from, so try putting a search term in the "search groups" box to find one in your industry. It is a good idea to join industry groups both here and abroad such as in the US, to see what they are doing over the other side of the world. I have always found this helpful and a great source of ideas. Don't just stick to your industry groups though, that might not be where your customers hang out, so think about what groups they might be in and join those ones, too.

Start your own discussion within the group, or add a news item of interest that you have come across. When you start a discussion, it is just that: a discussion and not a place to simply self promote and push your business. Maybe you need some help with a business problem, or would like to find out the views of others within the group before you proceed with something. A good example would be naming your first book, what should the title be?Or you may want to explore how to deal with a difficult work situation.

If you would like a more specific answer to a question, go the Answers tab and ask, it's that simple. I can virtually guarantee you will have a few answers to help you by bed time.

By taking part in both of these areas, your name and picture will be popping up all over the place and giving you valuable exposure. Don't then be too surprised when others that are perhaps in the same groups as you, ask to connect with you, that's the whole point.

I recently met someone for a coffee in Auckland, and because we had connected in a group on LinkedIn, the first thing she said to me upon arrival, was "I feel like I know you already". It simply takes the cold out of cold calling. Now, we might not do any business immediately, but down the line a little, who knows, but you have made a new business connection.

Recruiting

Another great use for LinkedIn is recruitment. Most of the best people are currently employed. If my calculations are correct there are nearly 40,000 people on the site in New Zealand whohave ticked the box indicating that they are open to new job opportunities. And guess what? They are at your finger tips!

Ever wondered where Bill went to when he left your company 4 years ago? Look him up on LinkedIn, and provided that he is on there and up to date, hey presto, you have found him.

I have a "virtual bench" where I sit a handful of people that I would like to work with. I may be in a group that they are in, or try and answer any questions they have, or I simply nurture them in the hope that we can slowly build a working relationship together, or that they think of my services when the time arises for them. As someone on your "bench" moves out into the field because your goal has been achieved, you need to replace them with another person to start and work with.

This truly is a great tool for recruitment, as your bench could have both candidates and clients on it. A word of warning though, don't become a stalker!

Dive In!

You definitely only get out what you put in, so don't sit on the sidelines, dive in and get going. It is like being at any networking event, ask questions about the people that are surrounding you, get to know them, and they will in turn get to know you. The only difference is that you are online, and you can network at a time that suits you, 24/7.

Good luck, and if you see me in one of the groups you have joined, say hi!

 

Acknowledgement

Linda Coles of Blue Banana is a Social Media Trainer, Speaker and Search Engine Optimisation Consultant. She runs workshops on how to get the most out of the online networking sites so that you can be productive and proactive. Her latest workshops offer a free hour on search engine optimisation too!

For more information, you can visit her Blue Banana website or telephone 021 675 745. You can also find her on LinkedIn!